The “Donington Park Circuit” is located in the heart of England, about 25 kilometres south-west of Nottingham. The iconic circuitwas opened in 1931. Since then it has been modified and extended several times. In its early years, the track was 3.525 kilometres long. Today it measures 4.023 kilometres. Donington is a permanent fixture in the Superbike World Championship calendar and has hosted the series since its debut season in 1988. BMW Motorrad factory rider Leon Haslam knows the circuit as well as anyone, as this is his second home. The Brit grew up at the circuit and still lives nearby. Donington is also a special racetrack for Marco Melandri: Like Haslam, Melandri also lived near the track for many years, making it a home race for both riders.
Donington is a fast and flowing circuit, but is also technically extremely demanding. Fast corners alternate with stop-go sections, which demand heavier braking than at any other racetrack in the Superbike calendar. These include the first chicane, the “Melbourne” hairpin, which must be taken in first gear, and the “Goddards” left-hander. The fastest turns are the “Craner Curves”, which the riders race through at over 190 km/h, requiring an extremely stable bike. One unpredictable factor is the weather: cool temperatures and rain can add to the challenges of Donington.
Donington Park
Castle Donington
GB-Derby DE74 2RP
Tel: +44 (1332) 810048
info@donington-park.co.uk