Donington Park as a Spectator

[ron130888]

I am just wondering what spectating is like at Donington Park. There were a lot of negative comments on various forums about the place at the BTCC media event this year but could of just been as the season hadn't started then.

Are you able to walk around the whole circuit like I have been able to at Brands Hatch & Knockhill?

Also, what is access in and out of Donington like? Hoping you're not just going to tell me that there is 1 gate for everyone to get out of!

Thanks in advance.

[andy97]

You can't walk round the whole of the outside of the circuit - probably about 2/3 of it but its the best bits. You can also get to the infield via a pedestrian tunnel and then get to about half the circuit from there.

There has been a lot of work going on to repair and improve the infrastructure but its a 3 year staged project, I think, and this is year 2. Lots still to do but nowhere near as bad as some people make out. The natural landscape rise and falls not only makes a great race track but it makes for great natural spectator banks too, making it one of the best spectator circuits in the country still.

Not sure about access but there will be at least a couple of traffic gates open and there maybe the new car tunnel open at Mcleans.

One of the problem with Donington is that you can get near it very easily, via M1, 42, A50, but the last few miles are a pain and you will be in a traffic jam!

[ron130888]

Thanks very much for your advice. As long as I can find somewhere to stand or sit I will be happy.
From some of the things I had read, it sounded like everyone would be packed into a smaller area but not the case.

Cheers for the heads up about the traffic as well.

[Phoenix]

You can get as far as Coppice around the outside of the circuit but then you have to turn around and go back the same way.

Best viewing spot is probably on the slope overlooking Old Hairpin.

I believe a small part of the infield may be open along the start/finish straight for the BTCC but the rest of the infield is still being worked on and I suspect may not be open to spectators for this season.

Traffic is not usually a problem, only BTCC where it can take an hour to get out on Sunday after the last race.

Not sure about traffic getting into the circuit as I arrive v early.

Edited by Phoenix on Thursday 10th April 10:03

[ron130888]

Thanks for your advice too, so plenty of spots by the sounds of it.
Hoping to get there early and will either leave before the last race or sit around for a while with a beer.

Cheers

[mike80]

There is loads of spectator banking most of the way round - finding somewhere to watch from won't be a problem! I used to like the Old Hairpin bank on race day, if you wanted to base yourself somewhere.

[ron130888]

Excellent, thank you for your advice.

I was doubting whether to go or not due to the distance from home but sounds like it is worth the trip

[BritishRacinGrin]

The tunnel wasn't open when I was there at the end of last month.

[andy97]

BritishRacinGrin said:

The tunnel wasn't open when I was there at the end of last month.

Which tunnel? The new car tunnel at Mcleans or the pedestrian tunnel from the Paddock? The Pedestrian tunnel is definitely open.

Ron, the best thing to do in my opinion is to enter the circuit via the Paddock entrance after parking the car near the western end of the site somewhere. Spend some time looking around the Paddock (at the support race cars, the BTCC lot will be in the garages and largely out of view) and then walk around the outside of the circuit back and forth to different locations to see different aspects of the circuit and racing from Redgate, Holly wood, the Craner Curves and round to the Old Hairpin.

FRom the Paddock you can also get to the infield via the pedestrian tunnel situated between the Scrutineering Bay and the Paddock Hospitality Suite. Bits of the infield will be open, just not sure how much.

I think it will be a busy day.

[ron130888]

Thanks Andy, will certainly take your advice on board.

I've done BTCC before at Brands so am expecting a big crowd but hopefully being a larger track, people will be spread out a bit more.

[coppice]

The pedestrian tunnel from paddock was closed on Sunday and half the place still looks like an abandoned building site. Hopefully things will improve but in the 30odd years since I first went to Donington it has been steadily declining since the mid 90s- spectators further away from the track (Old Hairpin and Redgate were originally far closer to spectator area)(yeah yeah spectator safety paramount and the usual guff) , lots of mature trees felled for no apparent reason, no foot , let alone vehicle , access to infield and a general air of decay. MSV have done a great job on Cadwell and Oulton - and I only hope that the Donington hierarchy can recapture some of the place's former glory. But I am not holding my breath .

[andy97]

coppice said:

The pedestrian tunnel from paddock was closed on Sunday and half the place still looks like an abandoned building site. Hopefully things will improve but in the 30odd years since I first went to Donington it has been steadily declining since the mid 90s- spectators further away from the track (Old Hairpin and Redgate were originally far closer to spectator area)(yeah yeah spectator safety paramount and the usual guff) , lots of mature trees felled for no apparent reason, no foot , let alone vehicle , access to infield and a general air of decay. MSV have done a great job on Cadwell and Oulton - and I only hope that the Donington hierarchy can recapture some of the place's former glory. But I am not holding my breath .

Coppice, I am amazed by some of what you have said as some of it is simply not true.

The circuit did suffer a lack of investment in the 1990s and early 2000s, as did many circuits, and it is only recently that the MSVR circuits have improved since the disaster of the Octagon era. Donington in particular suffered as a result of Gillet's well known experiment but is catching up, and there is a well stated programme to improve the infrastructure, which largely can only take place in the winter months, hence the long time it takes.

Donington did have new pit garages and media centre etc a few years ago and the paddock has been smartened up and made larger in the last 2 winters. There IS spectator access to the infield via the paddock spectator tunnel and whilst I accept that it was closed last weekend I have never ever experienced that.

The vehicle access to the infield is about to be re-established via the re-built "Williamson Tunnel" at McLeans. The infield improvements are behind schedule because of the weather, and will probably not be ready now until next season, and then the grass has to grow, but they have shifted thousands of tonnes of earth to improve spectator access, and terrace the infield to provide future parking and better viewing.

The place is NOT an abandoned building site It IS partly a current building site as they try to improve the infrastructure and build the new Formula E Headquarters.

Not sure why it seems necessary to knock the place. The hierarchy are investing massively in the place. Wish I had your magic wand to get it all done in a moment whilst running the place on a daily basis. Glad I don't wear your spectacles.

[coppice]

As I said . the tunnel was closed last weekend. The fact it may be open at other times isn't too much consolation is it ? It was closed the last time I went too - but that was a couple of years or so ago when the circuit was in such a disgraceful state that I got in for nothing . I am not against Donington in any way at all - God knows I have been there enough times- but the fact remains that through catastrophically bad decision taking in the past (ie the idiotic GP plan ) the place's aesthetic merit has been near destroyed and it is taking a lot of time to get even a semblance of the old appearance back . I hope they remedy it soon . Anyway, I shall be back again for the Historic meeting next month .

Edited by coppice on Thursday 10th April 18:59

[covboy]

coppice said:

As I said . the tunnel was closed last weekend. The fact it may be open at other times isn't too much consolation is it ? It was closed the last time I went too - but that was a couple of years or so ago when the circuit was in such a disgraceful state that I got in for nothing . I am not against Donington in any way at all - God knows I have been there enough times- but the fact remains that through catastrophically bad decision taking in the past (ie the idiotic GP plan ) the place's aesthetic merit has been near destroyed and it is taking a lot of time to get even a semblance of the old appearance back . I hope they remedy it soon . Anyway, I shall be back again for the Historic meeting next month .

Edited by coppice on Thursday 10th April 18:59

Don’t forget the current Donington hierarchy (the Wheatcrofts again) are having to spend a fortune putting right the debacle that was Mr Gillette and the disgraceful way the circuit was left with his ill found quest for Formula 1 – If you think it’s bad now, there a videos about showing the state it was left in before he did a bunk!


Nothing short of vandalism

[geeks]

Tunnels were closed off when i was there two weeks ago, no infield viewing. They may open up bits for the BTCC though depending on numbers but i wouldn' hold your breath!

[jurbie]

The paddock tunnel was closed on Tuesday during the BGT media day I'd guess because of the work on the infield. Last year the area where the Spitfire used to be was a popular viewing sport but now it's dug up and fenced off.