Donington - advice please
Discussion
Hello all
I wonder if any of you can help. We are looking at having a family day out at Donington with some friends for the F3 and GT3 races on 23/06. Having never been to Donington (or any other similar events) we don't have any experience or know quite what to expect so wondered if I could ask a few questions
1. Where would people recommend as a good place to aim to sit, ideally to see a good potential overtaking spot and perhaps have a wider view of the circuit? Hoping to keep it interesting and not be stuck with a narrow field of view and an uninteresting procession of cars going by!
2. Are the grandstands worth the extra money?? If so, where would be good to be (bearing in mind my first question)?
3. Facilities - how widespread are toilet and food facilities and what are they like?
4. Is there any grid or pit access likely? Extra cost?
Many thanks in advance
Mark
I wonder if any of you can help. We are looking at having a family day out at Donington with some friends for the F3 and GT3 races on 23/06. Having never been to Donington (or any other similar events) we don't have any experience or know quite what to expect so wondered if I could ask a few questions
1. Where would people recommend as a good place to aim to sit, ideally to see a good potential overtaking spot and perhaps have a wider view of the circuit? Hoping to keep it interesting and not be stuck with a narrow field of view and an uninteresting procession of cars going by!
2. Are the grandstands worth the extra money?? If so, where would be good to be (bearing in mind my first question)?
3. Facilities - how widespread are toilet and food facilities and what are they like?
4. Is there any grid or pit access likely? Extra cost?
Many thanks in advance
Mark
The best place to spectate is at the top of Craner Curves, you get to see the cars through Redgate, through Craners down to the Old Hairpin and then off up to the top of the circuit. A view of about half the circuit. The Old Hairpin and Redgate being the best overtaking spots.
The chicane is good for getting close up to the cars. Depending on which circuit layout they are using will dictate which side of the track to be.
I’ve never bothered with grandstands, although the new grandstand at the top of the Craners does give a good view
Plenty of new toilet blocks. Food stalls everywhere but ridiculously expensive! Bring your own picnic!
Open Paddock at every meeting and pit lane walkabouts at the bigger meetings such as the GT’s.
Donington is my local circuit and it’s a great place to watch any kind of motorsport. MSV and Palmer have done a great job in uprating the facilities.
The chicane is good for getting close up to the cars. Depending on which circuit layout they are using will dictate which side of the track to be.
I’ve never bothered with grandstands, although the new grandstand at the top of the Craners does give a good view
Plenty of new toilet blocks. Food stalls everywhere but ridiculously expensive! Bring your own picnic!
Open Paddock at every meeting and pit lane walkabouts at the bigger meetings such as the GT’s.
Donington is my local circuit and it’s a great place to watch any kind of motorsport. MSV and Palmer have done a great job in uprating the facilities.
1. Craner curves to Old Hairpin on the outside, but the infield has lots of options as well. Final corner is always worth watching from. I always move around and watch from different corners.
2. Don't bother with gandstands
3. Toilets - a number of toilets around the venue. Food outlets - Garage 39 in paddock, plus a number of burger vans in paddock area, and possible infield
4. Usually some sort of pit walk. Paddocks open.
2. Don't bother with gandstands
3. Toilets - a number of toilets around the venue. Food outlets - Garage 39 in paddock, plus a number of burger vans in paddock area, and possible infield
4. Usually some sort of pit walk. Paddocks open.
Infield is better now imo on the bank by the trees, you see them come down the crane curves through the old hairpin and upto the top side of the track and are close enough to see overtakes properly, redgate is good but the view down to the old hairpin is a bit compromised that side of the track.
Last chicane is also a good place to stand, it's where the do or die moves usually happen...
Last chicane is also a good place to stand, it's where the do or die moves usually happen...
1. Where would people recommend as a good place to aim to sit, ideally to see a good potential overtaking spot and perhaps have a wider view of the circuit? Hoping to keep it interesting and not be stuck with a narrow field of view and an uninteresting procession of cars going by!
Move around, final chicane is good, Craner curves are good. Grandstand on the start/finish straight/entrance to the pit lane is normally free on the GT day, so try there for an earlier support race.
3. Facilities - how widespread are toilet and food facilities and what are they like?
Good, especially now the circuit is MSV run.
4. Is there any grid or pit access likely? Extra cost?
Pit walk about will be lunch time, there will be a massive queue, but it will go down immediately once they open the pit lane, so no point waiting in it for ages, just roll up 5 mins after the pit lane opens.
You won't get grid access unless you have a VIP pass.
I've been to this meeting every year for the last ~10 years probably, it's usually the season closer, but they've shifted things around due to Rockingham closing, it's a good meeting normally.
Enjoy!
Move around, final chicane is good, Craner curves are good. Grandstand on the start/finish straight/entrance to the pit lane is normally free on the GT day, so try there for an earlier support race.
3. Facilities - how widespread are toilet and food facilities and what are they like?
Good, especially now the circuit is MSV run.
4. Is there any grid or pit access likely? Extra cost?
Pit walk about will be lunch time, there will be a massive queue, but it will go down immediately once they open the pit lane, so no point waiting in it for ages, just roll up 5 mins after the pit lane opens.
You won't get grid access unless you have a VIP pass.
I've been to this meeting every year for the last ~10 years probably, it's usually the season closer, but they've shifted things around due to Rockingham closing, it's a good meeting normally.
Enjoy!
You will be able to walk around the Paddock almost at will to look at the cars/ teams preparing for the support races. Public access from the main entrance leads in to the Paddock.
From there you can also walk easily up the back of the line of pit garages and may be able to see in sometimes. There is a grandstand over looking the chicane exit/ pit entrance/ grid at the top end of the pit garages.
You can also get to “Garage 39”, the new cafe / bar which is in the Paddock; through the tunnel to the infield or around the outside of the first corner, Redgate, to get to the Craner Curves and Old Hairpin.
Basically the Paddock is your starting point for everything else.
From there you can also walk easily up the back of the line of pit garages and may be able to see in sometimes. There is a grandstand over looking the chicane exit/ pit entrance/ grid at the top end of the pit garages.
You can also get to “Garage 39”, the new cafe / bar which is in the Paddock; through the tunnel to the infield or around the outside of the first corner, Redgate, to get to the Craner Curves and Old Hairpin.
Basically the Paddock is your starting point for everything else.
Edited by andy97 on Wednesday 15th May 14:44
It's a great track you'll enjoy it. I went most recently for BTCC a few weekends back as part of a hospitality package with one of the teams and i'm going next weekend for BSB.
I'd recommend taking a picnic, we take a cooler box full of food and drink for the day.
Also moving around isn't a bad idea as there are loads of great spectating areas. I've never sat in the grandstand but can't really see the benefit.
You'll probably be surprised how many toilets are located round the track, not a bad thing.
I'd recommend taking a picnic, we take a cooler box full of food and drink for the day.
Also moving around isn't a bad idea as there are loads of great spectating areas. I've never sat in the grandstand but can't really see the benefit.
You'll probably be surprised how many toilets are located round the track, not a bad thing.
And after you've been - and had a great day I hope - do go to Cadwell Park . The proximity of the cars may surprise you as much it will delight you . Donington is ,at best , only so so , these days , having been infected by GRD ( giant runoff disease) .when it got ideas above its station
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