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Historic touring cars set for Donington

Published 03 April 2017

Historic touring cars from the 1950s to the 1990s will return to Donington Park Circuit for this year’s Historic Festival. With plenty of high-profile grids line up, the weekend of 28-30 April is a perfect chance to see the origins of this exciting sport played out.

The HSCC Super Touring Car Challenge delivers the festival’s youngest cars of the weekend (1970 to 2000). The Super Touring era of the BTCC remains a highlight of the 59-year story of Britain's most successful race championship, and you can expect to see Honda Accords neck-and-neck with Vauxhall Vectras, Peugeot 406s and Volvo S40s – all in their original period livery. Races take place Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon.

The Tony Dron Trophy for Group 1 cars returns for the second year as part of the Historic Touring Car Challenge. Featuring landmark cars from the 1970s and 80s, high-profile drivers are expected to take to the track to settle old scores – with past combatants including Steve Soper, Nick Whale and Henry Mann. Cars will line up for this exciting race just after lunch on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the U2TC Trophy marks a welcome return for pre-1966 under 2.0-litre Touring Cars. The Ford Lotus Cortina might be the most popular car on the grid but recent winners of this thrills and spills event have included the BMW 1800 TISA and the Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA. The races take place before lunch on Saturday and just after the lunch break on Sunday.

Donington U2TC

Finally, the HRDC ‘Touring Greats’ for pre-1960 Touring Cars takes place Saturday afternoon, and the HRDC ‘Coys Trophy’ for pre-1966 Touring Cars is scheduled for Sunday afternoon. The HRDC’s ‘Touring Greats’ features a wildly diverse mix of tin-tops, ranging from Austin A35s and A40s to an Alfa Romeo Giulietta Ti Berlina and Volvo Amazon and, for those seeking out obscure British saloons, a Jowett Javelin!

In the HRDC ‘Coys Trophy’, expect David and Goliath action, with Mini Coopers lining-up alongside Jaguar Mk1 and Mk2 saloons, Lotus Cortinas and, for big-banger sound, the mighty V8-engined Ford Falcons and Mustangs.

Advance tickets for Donington Historic Festival 2017 range from £16 for a Friday pass, up to £48 for a three-day package that will give access to all the weekend’s racing and other attractions. Tickets are available online at www.doningtonhistoric.com.