Donington Endurance History
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 16 hours ago
We made a small amount of club racing history yesterday, with one of the first (if not THE first) UK endurance race events using the petrol pumps. It was a brilliant event, judging by your many comments, emails and in-person compliments. Whilst refuelling at the pumps is the norm at the Spa endurance events, it required considerable planning and logistics to give this option at Donington Park. In the end about 60% of drivers refuelled in the pits, 40% at the pumps, with all travelling through the 1000 metre paddock lane to the pits.
For many drivers, in both the modern and classic 2 hour (and a minute) races, they have now experienced their first-ever endurance race, without the need for refuelling equipment or even team members.
We already have plans to make this event even bigger and better in 2027. With your support, we would like to grow and split the modern pack into two grids, to help with the pace difference.
The endurance races shouldn't overshadow a pair of excellent R-Werks Special Saloons & Modsports races, plus a 40 minute Adams & Page Swinging 60s race that saw a number of new cars and drivers add to the mix.
The results for every session can be found here: https://www.tsl-timing.com/event/262564
To be classified as a finisher in the endurance you needed to have completed 50% of the laps of the overall leader.
Official photography is, as always, provided by David Stallard Photography:
Look out for Donington video highlights from Marc Peters in a week or two.
Considering the heat, vast differences in experience and car types and the fact this was all-
new for everyone it was incredible that we had no safety cars in either endurance race. You prepared your cars well, read our instructions, listened in the briefing and showed each other the utmost patience and respect. A fabulous display of clean, club racing as it should be. Those of you who raced alone for the full two hours must have been getting weary by the end?!
All race meetings involve hundreds of people to make the events work, simply too many to name all individually, but a huge thank you to you all, it was a team effort.
Special thanks go to:
Andrew Swift, James Elkins, from Donington circuit, David Willey from MSV and their health and safety team. Dan Carter from Motorsport UK. When we proposed this unusual concept it would have been easy to dismiss, as too risky, or outside of the norm. Instead, they worked with us to embrace and develop the idea, making it safe, but practical for the club and drivers. Everyone who gave up their time on Saturday or Sunday evening to plan, set out or pack away the hundreds of crowd barriers, we appreciate your help. Without you, Hannah and David would still be lifting barriers now! Chief pits, Ashley Morton (and Karen Kirk)
John Baker Susanne Williams and Barry Tapping
Charlotte and Tony Rushforth
Richard and Charlie Thurbin Chief Marshal, Terry (and Sue) Mullen
Chief Scrutineer, Tony Harman Clerk, Mark Noble Senior Clerk, Graham Lindley Neil Jackson, Puma Cup driver
Thank you to Chief Assembly, David Jackson, for helping us to staff a spectator crossing point in both endurance races, something very different to his usual role.
Finally, our crack former and current committee team, who sweated with you in multi-layer nomex at the fuel station. They helped with belting up and keeping you safe. Andy Yeomans John Baker
Vicki Cairns Gill Duffy Stuart Levers
There are so many others who were busy doing their usual level of hard work. We are feeling proud.
We now move on to Cadwell Park this coming weekend. Don't forget, you can still enter online today, with tomorrow being the last day for entries.
