• Log In
  • Become A Subscriber
  • News
  • Features
    • Special Features
    • Moss Special
    • Photography
    • Featured Editorials
    • Racecar Features
    • Roadcar Features
  • Race
    • Racecar Mag.
      • News
      • Features
      • Profile
      • Interview
      • Racecar Gallery
    • Columns
      • First Turn
      • Fast Lines
      • Fabulous Fifties
      • Heroes
      • Legends Speak
      • Stirling Speaks
      • Greatest Racecars
      • Last Lap
    • Profiles
      • Grand Prix History
      • Can-Am Racing
      • Grand Prix Cars
      • Mille Miglia
      • Race Profiles
      • Racecar Profiles
      • Driver Profiles
    • More
      • Art History
      • Fast Exposure
      • Hidden Treasure
      • Hot Laps
      • Time Capsule
      • Market Guide
      • The Golden Age
      • Hard Drive
  • Road
    • Roadcar Mag.
      • News
      • Features
      • Profile
      • Interview
    • Columns
      • From The Editor
      • By Design
      • Driven
      • Flashback
      • Roadcar Gallery
      • Roadcar Video
    • More
      • Roadcar Articles
      • Roadcar Features
      • Roadcar Interviews
      • Roadcar News
      • Roadcar Profiles
  • Brands
    • A to C
      • Alfa Romeo
      • Alpine
      • Auburn
      • Audi
      • Austin
      • Aston Martin
      • Bentley
      • BMW
      • Bugatti
      • Buick
      • Cadillac
      • Chevrolet
      • Chrysler
    • D to L
      • Dodge
      • Duesenberg
      • Ferrari
      • Fiat
      • Ford
      • Hispano Suiza
      • Honda
      • Koenigsegg
      • Jaguar
      • Lagonda
      • Lamborghini
      • Lancia
      • Lexus
      • Lincoln
      • Lola
      • Lotus
    • K to R
      • Maserati
      • Mazda
      • McLaren
      • Mercedes
      • MG
      • Mini
      • Mitsubishi
      • Morgan
      • Nissan
      • Packard
      • Pagani
      • Porsche
      • Renault
      • Rimac
      • Rolls-Royce
    • S to Z
      • SCG
      • Shelby
      • Spyker
      • Subaru
      • Sunbeam
      • Toyota
      • Triumph
      • Vauxhall
      • Volkswagen
      • Volvo
  • Events
  • Cars
    • Iconic Cars
    • SCD Car Profiles
    • VRR Car Profiles
    • Car Profiles
    • Garage & Collection Profiles
    • People Profiles
  • Market
    • Auctions Hub
    • Buyer Guides
    • Cars for Sale
  • For Sale
    • Cars for Sale
    • Dealer Showcase
  • Members
    • Become Member
    • Premium Content
    • Member Help
    • Free Newsletter
Reading
A Celebration of F1 at Donington Historic Festival
ShareTweet
Events

A Celebration of F1 at Donington Historic Festival

 Casey Annis

Motor racing fans across the globe watched in awe on April 11, 1993, as triple World Champion Ayrton Senna gave a masterclass in driving in the wet at the European Grand Prix at Donington Park (pictured above). His extraordinary performance included the opening ‘lap of the gods’ – which has been hailed as perhaps the greatest ever in F1 history. On April 29 and 30, 2023, the Donington Historic Festival will pay homage to that unforgettable occasion, with F1 track demos and displays.

Senna’s Toleman TG-184. Photo: Pete Austin

F1 cars already confirmed for lunchtime track demonstrations on both days of DHF 2023 include a Toleman TG-184, which Senna drove in the 1984 Detroit GP and in qualifying for that year’s Monaco and Brands Hatch Grands Prix, and a Benetton-Ford B193 driven by Michael Schumacher during the 1993 season.

Michael Schumacher’s Benetton-Ford B193.

In addition, Festival organisers are inviting the general public to share their memories of that day and will display a photo wall of images and reminiscences from those who were lucky enough to be in the crowd at the time. Those wishing to contribute can upload their photographs and memories via the Donington Historic Festival website. Free-of-charge lunchtime pitlane walks will allow visitors to set foot on the pitlane that Senna famously drove through en-route to his iconic victory, while echoes of Ayrton Senna’s earlier days in motorsport will come in the form of a static display of historic karts from the British Historic Kart Club. Karting gave the legendary driver his first experience of competition, as it did with so many big names in the sport.

Senna’s – and Formula One’s – Greatest Lap

Ayrton Senna’s association with what he called ‘my best UK circuit’ began in July 1983, when the Brazilian driver got his foot on the F1 ladder when he tested Keke Rosberg’s Monaco GP-winning Williams Cosworth FW08 at Donington Park. But it is the 1993 European Grand Prix – the first GP held at Donington Park in 55 years – that is eternally etched on the memories of motorsport fans.

Starting from fourth position in his underpowered McLaren behind the Williams of Alain Prost and Damon Hill and the Benetton of Michael Schumacher, Senna mastered the torrential rain to secure first position by the end of the first lap. He went on to take the chequered flag a stunning 80 seconds ahead of second-placed finisher Damon Hill, Prost having fallen back to third following a stall in the pits.

Donington Historic Festival – action-packed on and off the track

The Donington Historic Festival (DHF) offers a wealth of on and off-track entertainment for spectators, with two days simply jam-packed with world-class race action, track displays and parades, an open-access paddock and pitlane walks, a trade village, plus the presence of hundreds of cherished classic cars in displays staged by dozens of car clubs. The event attracts a calibre of drivers that matches the calibre of cars, and past and present-day BTCC and Le Mans names are often seen on the entry lists.

This family-friendly event at a circuit renowned for unrivaled spectator viewing is also a great way to introduce the younger generation to the joys of historic motorsport – with the added advantage that you can take it all in on the Saturday and Sunday and still have the Bank Holiday Monday to relax at home!

For further information and tickets please visit www.doningtonhistoric.com.

Tags
Event (Donington Historic Festival)Events AllEvents All (Car Shows & Festivals)People (Ayrton Senna)

Get Our Free Weekly Newsletter

We bring you all the latest from the world of vintage and classic cars each week. News, auctions, events, vintage racing and more.

Casey Annis
Casey M. Annis is the Founder and Editor of Vintage Road & Racecar magazine, as well as Editor of Alfa Owner, The Oily Rag and BMW Ultimate Classic magazines. He founded Parabolica Publishing in 1997 after a career in neurobiology. Along with his passion for automobiles, Casey is a long distance open-ocean paddleboard racer who’s competed over 10 times in the 32-mile Catalina to Manhattan Beach race and the 32-mile Molokai to Oahu race. Casey still contributes and writes about the world of vintage road and racecars and edits and curates the content for this website.
Related

Lamborghinis on Lake Como

Cavallino Classic Modena 2025

2025 Hagerty Hill Climb at Shelsley Walsh

Petersen Museum Salutes 80s & 90s Icons

Last Corner Pass At Alfa Revival Cup Round #2

Marketplace: 1972 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • Free Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Paid Subscription
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • News
  • Cars For Sale
  • Special Feature
  • The Cars
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Meet the Team
Copyright © 2025 A07 Online Media
  • News
  • Features
    • Special Features
    • Moss Special
    • Photography
    • Featured Editorials
    • Racecar Features
    • Roadcar Features
  • Race
    • Racecar Mag.
      • News
      • Features
      • Profile
      • Interview
      • Racecar Gallery
    • Columns
      • First Turn
      • Fast Lines
      • Fabulous Fifties
      • Heroes
      • Legends Speak
      • Stirling Speaks
      • Greatest Racecars
      • Last Lap
    • Profiles
      • Grand Prix History
      • Can-Am Racing
      • Grand Prix Cars
      • Mille Miglia
      • Race Profiles
      • Racecar Profiles
      • Driver Profiles
    • More
      • Art History
      • Fast Exposure
      • Hidden Treasure
      • Hot Laps
      • Time Capsule
      • Market Guide
      • The Golden Age
      • Hard Drive
  • Road
    • Roadcar Mag.
      • News
      • Features
      • Profile
      • Interview
    • Columns
      • From The Editor
      • By Design
      • Driven
      • Flashback
      • Roadcar Gallery
      • Roadcar Video
    • More
      • Roadcar Articles
      • Roadcar Features
      • Roadcar Interviews
      • Roadcar News
      • Roadcar Profiles
  • Brands
    • A to C
      • Alfa Romeo
      • Alpine
      • Auburn
      • Audi
      • Austin
      • Aston Martin
      • Bentley
      • BMW
      • Bugatti
      • Buick
      • Cadillac
      • Chevrolet
      • Chrysler
    • D to L
      • Dodge
      • Duesenberg
      • Ferrari
      • Fiat
      • Ford
      • Hispano Suiza
      • Honda
      • Koenigsegg
      • Jaguar
      • Lagonda
      • Lamborghini
      • Lancia
      • Lexus
      • Lincoln
      • Lola
      • Lotus
    • K to R
      • Maserati
      • Mazda
      • McLaren
      • Mercedes
      • MG
      • Mini
      • Mitsubishi
      • Morgan
      • Nissan
      • Packard
      • Pagani
      • Porsche
      • Renault
      • Rimac
      • Rolls-Royce
    • S to Z
      • SCG
      • Shelby
      • Spyker
      • Subaru
      • Sunbeam
      • Toyota
      • Triumph
      • Vauxhall
      • Volkswagen
      • Volvo
  • Events
  • Cars
    • Iconic Cars
    • SCD Car Profiles
    • VRR Car Profiles
    • Car Profiles
    • Garage & Collection Profiles
    • People Profiles
  • Market
    • Auctions Hub
    • Buyer Guides
    • Cars for Sale
  • For Sale
    • Cars for Sale
    • Dealer Showcase
  • Members
    • Become Member
    • Premium Content
    • Member Help
    • Free Newsletter
All Access
  • Free Newsletter
Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close
Featured (Racecar Feature) Events All The Market (Auctions & Market) The Market (Auctions) Featured (Vintage Car Racing)
See all results

Get Our Free Weekly Newsletter

We bring you all the latest from the world of vintage and classic cars each week. News, auctions, events, vintage racing and more.