The antidote to Festival overload - no frills, just a cracking day's content of historic racing at its very best!
DONINGTON - arguably the competitors' first choice when it comes to historic racing. A fast, flowing track, which holds endless challenges - all the more satisfying when one nails a perfect lap!
Like many circuits, Donington has been going through some very troubled periods in recent times. Thankfully, the F1 debacle is long gone and the circuit's future is assured under the revived ownership and guidance of the Wheatcroft family, albeit now without the much-missed Tom Wheatcroft, whose innovative vision, tenacity and considerable wealth revived the circuit way back in 1977.
With the Wheatcroft management re-instated under the leadership of Tom's son, Kevin - ably supported by the immensely experienced Christopher Tate in his role as Managing Director - Donington is literally back on track and is vigorously rebuilding its reputation as a 'must do' venue for high-quality motorsport.
The HRDC - along with your input as a competitor - aims to be there to support and interact with this great circuit as a dynamic part of its onward progress to become the foremost independent race venue of choice!
The HRDC will run six historic races in a one-day programme at Donington on Saturday 28 July:
:: HRDC 'Touring Greats' for pre-1960 historic touring cars
(1 hour race / 25 mins practice)
:: HRDC 'GTS65' for pre-1966 historic GT cars over 1500cc
(1 hour race / 25 mins practice)
:: HRDC 'TC65' for pre-1966 historic Gp2 touring cars
(1 hour race / 25 mins practice)
:: HRDC 'Grand Touring Greats' for pre-1966 historic GT cars under 1500cc
(30 mins race / 15 mins practice)
:: HRDC 'MGB50' for FIA MGB cars and historic MGs
(30 mins race / 15 mins practice)
:: HRDC 'TC63' for pre-1964 historic Gp2 touring cars
(30 mins race / 15 mins practice)
As you can see, the format of 'Touring Greats' and the show-stealing stars of HRDC Castle Combe - 'GTS65' - has been elevated to 1-hour race duration. These mini-enduros are joined for the first time by HRDC 'TC65', which should see the return of the mighty 'big banger' Galaxies, Mustangs and Falcons and the feisty 'Homologation Specials' such as the Lotus Cortinas, GTAs, 1800 Beemers and Cooper 'S' Minis, all of which will undoubtedly be sliding, slithering and slugging it out down Donington's buttock-clenching Cramer Curves in fine style!
Our regular 30-minute race format remains for 'Grand Touring Greats', 'MGB50' - which will again include classes for selected historic MGs - and finally 'TC63' - our fast-emerging series for early-1960s touring cars. Altogether, these HRDC races form a high-quality, action-packed programme, which can be judged by the best of standards!
With a season already burgeoning under a surfeit of 'Festivals', which invariably demand long periods away from home and, dare I say, exorbitant entry fees - here is an antidote which should please not only the 'other halves', but also the bank managers and all the intricate variables which hopefully will endorse the HRDC's 'in and out in a day' programme policy, backed by good value for money and unrivalled camaraderie - both in the paddock and - most important - on track. This meeting will be run for us by the BRSCC and our good friends, BRSCC Competitions Director Drew Furlong and our BRSCC/HRDC Permanent Series Steward Barry Ashman, will be there to see that all runs smoothly on this action-packed day of high-quality historic racing!
So please, please, do support this meeting. It is the pinnacle of the HRDC season and has a lot riding on it for the future of the HRDC - not least our ongoing relationship with Donington, whose team will be keeping a close eye on the quality of all our grids and the standards of racing. I am hopeful that we can forge an ongoing partnership, whereby the HRDC and Donington work together on greater projects which will benefit all of us who wish to race at the very highest level of historic motorsport.
I look forward very much to seeing you at Donington - it's going to be a good one!
RACE ENTRY FORMS CAN BE DOWNLOADED FROM www.hrdc.eu .
