Donington Park National circuit guide
A fast, flowing circuit with with ten turns over almost 2 miles.
Donington Park National hosts numerous major national and international events like the FIM Superbike World Championship, Bennetts British Superbike Championship and Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. Other large events include British GT and F3, British Truck Racing, the Donington Historic Festival and the Classic Motorcycle Festival.
Corner one – Redgate
When approaching the first corner of Donington Park National aim to brake hard just after the blue-painted triangle at the end of the pit lane. Don’t rush your turn in, otherwise you will hit an early apex and run wide on the exit.
On the inside of the corner there is an access road, and your clipping point for the apex is where the grass re-starts. Make sure you look through the corner to prevent running wide on exit.
Corner two – Craner curves
Leading into the top of Craner curves, follow the middle of the track then very slowly bring the car over to the right just as the track starts to dip (it’s a blind turn in ). Then slowly turn the car in so it clips the curb on the left as you go down the curves.
Allow the car to run to the middle of the track while keeping a constant left turn. Then bring the car over to the left ready to turn in for the Old Hairpin corner.
Corner three – Old Hairpin
This is a very important fast corner, and it is crucial not to enter carrying too much speed and run wide losing all your momentum for running up the hill. Depending on the car, the speed through this corner can be between 85 to 100 mph.
Aim to not brake overly hard, get the car turned in and use the entire flat curb on the inside to allow you to carry more speed through the corner. Always look along way up ahead of yourself to prevent you allowing the car to run out too far.
Good speed through here will allow you to have good momentum through the next flat left kink and up the hill.
Corner four and five – Mclean’s
On entry to the next left which runs straight into the right turn at Mclean’s, you need to approach it fully from the right and get your turn in point correct, which will allow you to go flat out round the left. Aim to use the later part of the flat curb on the left and then brake in a straight line ready for Mcleans.
Approaching Mclean’s you need to position the car a cars width in from the left so you don’t make the right-handed entry too tight. Aim for a late clipping point at Mclean’s to help prevent running wide and carry good power through the corner.
Corner six – Coppice
Don’t brake too hard when approaching this corner, just enough to get the front of the car turned into the first apex (clipping point). Then allow the car to follow the middle of the track line. Look along way up ahead to exit the corner with good speed and towards the end of the exit curb (don’t worry about the second apex).
Once turned into Coppice – accelerate hard.
Corner seven – Goddards
In this final chicane of the lap aim to brake late and hard. Continue trail braking in behind the first curb on the right. As you turn left, aim for maximum power and don’t release the steering angle too quickly. This will help carry good speed onto the pit straight and not running out wide.