Wednesday 20th March 2013

PH discount for Donington Historic Festival

20 per cent discount for PHers and a celebration of the legendary Ayrton Senna

---

Plans for the 2013 Donington Historic Festival are well underway with a celebration of Ayrton Senna being the main focus.

Thrills (and spills) are guaranteed

Taking place on May 3rd, 4th and 5th, this year's event promises to be superb with a mixture of static Senna displays in the Paddock and on-track demonstrations of cars which played a significant role in the career of the late triple World Champion. As we type, the organisers are working on appearances of further Senna cars, along with a selection of memorabilia and Keith Sutton’s personal collection of photographs from Senna’s early career.

In 1982 Ayrton Senna won the British and European F2000 Championships, and was rewarded with a drive in the season-end F3 race in a Ralt RT3. He famously won the race, and that very RT3 will be demonstrated on the track at the Donington Historic Festival.

Classic Le Mans machinery will be a highlight

During his championship-winning F3 season in 1983, Senna enjoyed his first-ever drive in an F1 car, testing Keke Rosberg’s Monaco GP-winning Williams-Cosworth FW08C at Donington Park. That very same FW08C is now a star feature of the Donington Collection, and this important machine is coming out of the museum for the Festival.

As a result of his impressive F1 tests in 1983, Senna moved into Grand Prix racing full-time in 1984, and his first Formula One race car - the famous 1984 Toleman-Hart TG-184-02 turbo - will also be displayed at the Festival. This is the car that Senna drove to a spectacular second place in the 1984 Monaco GP, overtaking Alain Prost for the lead but being robbed of his first Grand Prix win when heavy rain stopped the race the following lap.

6R4 was one of Senna's lesser-known cars

Also on display will be the 1986 JPS Lotus Renault Turbo in which Senna won the US GP at Detroit. The young Brazilian started the race in pole position, but tyre problems saw him initially fall back to eighth place, with the race lead changing hands six times between five drivers before – equipped with fresh tyres – Senna carved his way through the field to take victory.

And there will also be two unusual ‘Senna cars’ on display – an MG Metro 6R4 and the Brooklyn Motorsport Ford Sierra RS Cosworth.  These were among five rally cars that Ayrton Senna test-drove in a Welsh forest in November 1986, for a feature that appeared in Car and Car Conversions magazine.  At the end of the day, Senna summed up his experience of these very different type of competition cars:  “I think, overall, it has been much more exciting than I expected. Much more involving. I didn’t feel the time going by. It went so fast because I was finding out, and learning more and going harder and harder. Having some moments… it was very exciting. Feeling the car in the air and then bottoming. Something I have never experienced before in a road car. In a road car you go easy, eh?” The Cosworth will form part of the live rally demonstration on the Melbourne Loop.

The variety's set to be huge

The Senna tribute will be one of the highlights of a weekend of historic motorsport, with over 400 race cars spanning seven decades battling it out on the track, plus live historic rally car demos on the Melbourne Loop. And Senna fans can see even more of their hero’s racing machinery if they pay a visit to the Donington Collection over the weekend, where they will find a McLaren MP4/5/B-1 that Senna drove during his World Championship-winning 1990 season.

Advance ticket prices for the Festival start at £12 for the Friday, £20 for Saturday or Sunday and just £36 for a three-day weekend ticket. On-the-gate prices will be £15 for Friday, £25 for Saturday or Sunday and £45 for the three-day weekend, with Festival tickets also giving two-for-one entry to the Donington Collection. Children aged under 16 are admitted for free.

But PHers don't have to worry about all that as you can take advantage of a special PH discount by using code PHDHF13 when you book in advance to claim 20 per cent off the price of your tickets. Please note this code is NOT valid on the day, and only applies for advance tickets.

Tickets can be bought via the booking website and through the 24-hour ticket hotline [phone].

[MG511]

I've booked for the Friday and Saturday, can't make the Sunday as it's the FILs 80th. Went last year and really enjoyed it, despite the weather on the Saturday. Be interesting to see how their rebuilding work is going too, place was a bit of a mess last year.

[pSyCoSiS]

That BMW looks stunning during lift off!

Hopefully will be there this year.

[cmbayes]

Was good fun a couple of years ago, Ferrari 330GTO was amazing.
Shame they cant fit it in a little later in the year because its gonna be cold, wet and windy.....again!

[Skylinecrazy]

Or go on tuesday and see all the cars testing for free

I'll be going to both hopefully, it really is a fantastic event.

[Skylinecrazy]

MG511 said:

I've booked for the Friday and Saturday, can't make the Sunday as it's the FILs 80th. Went last year and really enjoyed it, despite the weather on the Saturday. Be interesting to see how their rebuilding work is going too, place was a bit of a mess last year.

It's still a total building site

[pcn1]

Went Sunday last year, had a great day out.
Booked again for the Sunday. Only one moan, and a lot of events do this, is say if you dont pay extra for secure delivery of your tickets then we wont replace them if you dont get them.
How do I know they even posted them to me if they dont turn up? If you can be sent your airline ticket online why cant they send you your race ticket online so no postal worries ?

Moan over...........

[vrooom]

I went there few year back it was a great day out.

[MG511]

Skylinecrazy said:

It's still a total building site

I'll take my wellies! Weather can't be as bad as the high winds and hailstones of Saturday last year, hopefully be more like the Sunday, when my nose got sunburnt!

[insideimsmiling]

Had a great time there last year, so many classic cars on show and the sights and sounds of the classic racing were memorable. The best part for me though was being able to walk around the team pits and get a close up of all those historic race cars. Just need to bring more cash for browsing around the stalls this time, but its such a good value event, its become the motoring highlight of my year.

[chevronb37]

I'm off on Sunday. Should have the Exige on the NYLOC stand so come over for a natter if you're in the area. Last couple of years have been awesome. Let's have some more of this, please:

[Housey]

chevronb37 said:

I'm off on Sunday. Should have the Exige on the NYLOC stand so come over for a natter if you're in the area. Last couple of years have been awesome. Let's have some more of this, please:

Seconded

[Ian974]

Just got booked for this. Down that way for a training couse a couple days before so thought it'd be rude not to. Will be excellent to get a chance to see the Group C cars!

[JayT]

I am looking forward to this as it was great day out last year - it was a great day out last year!

[snotrag]

This deserves a Bump, super looking forward to it. Best event I went to last year and before, relaxed, accessible, great cars.

I highly reccomend.

[T3LLIOTT]

Seconded! I went the first year and it was really good! Got to walk around the pits and talk to the owners of the cars as well! Couldn't make it last year though Just got to decide whether to go for the full weekend or one day! Hmmm decisions...

[TorqueR]

It was a great event last year and after getting a group of mates together, it looks like we are planning on attending on the Sunday.

Quick question though; one mate has a classic 80's Mini that he is planning on taking but I just wondered if there was anyone I needed to contact in order to get it displayed. Is it too late notice? What do I need to do?

[snotrag]

Its all done through owners clubs/forums.

The organisers have dished out loads of discounts and in-field parking to car clubs etc - I got my tickets through an MX5 club and there will be a parking area setup for us, its a great idea I think.

If your mate is a member on any forums or clubs, then that is the place to ask, alternatively speak to the festival organisers and see if any Mini clubs are attending.

They are really keen on all this sort of stuff which is great, so I bet they'll be able to help.

[TorqueR]

snotrag said:

Its all done through owners clubs/forums.

The organisers have dished out loads of discounts and in-field parking to car clubs etc - I got my tickets through an MX5 club and there will be a parking area setup for us, its a great idea I think.

If your mate is a member on any forums or clubs, then that is the place to ask, alternatively speak to the festival organisers and see if any Mini clubs are attending.

They are really keen on all this sort of stuff which is great, so I bet they'll be able to help.

Thank you for your quick reply, much appreciated.

I am seeing my mate tomorrow so will ask if he is apart of a club or forum. If not, I will get in touch with Donnington. Thanks again.

[MG511]

My tickets arrived yesterday, really looking forward to it, just a week away now.

[TorqueR]

I was planning to pre-order the tickets but with the delivery charges meant that I only saved a few quid. I felt the saving was so little that I will just buy them at the gate. Roll on Sunday!