Donington Park - Nickel & Dime British Grand Prix
Race Date: July 26, 2009- Pole Position: Left
- Track Length: 4,023 m
- Track Width: 10 m
- Longest Straightaway: 564 m
- Left Turns: 4
- Right Turns: 7
- Year Track Opened/Upgraded: 1931/1984
- Track Location: North West Leicestershire, United Kingdom
- Event Promoter: N/A
- Event Website: www.donington-park.co.uk
- 1st Place: Casey Stoner (Ducati)
Donington Park is a track of two halves. One section is slow and less interesting for the riders and spectators alike, the other is faster and more flowing. Machine set-up is also therefore something of a compromise, with strong front fork springs and sharp steering the ideal solutions for hard braking and swift flick-in at the chicane and last two hairpins, while the rest of the undulating fast and medium corners require suppleness from the front suspension and a high degree of stability mid corner, and a firmer set-up on the rear to help with corner exit traction.
Horsepower is less of a factor at Donington than some circuits, but clean engine response and exact gearing choices are essential to handle such a variety of corners, as the track runs downhill from the start to the Old Hairpin, then back uphill to the flat section behind the pits.
Working conditions at the ageing Donington track are far from ideal but the track layout is the type that provokes either love or hate, such is its individuality. The prevalent off-camber nature of Donington is one of the main factors at play during any British GP weekend, with a large tendency for the front tyre to push, making the right, left, right flick down the Craner Curve section something of a high tension rollercoaster ride. A dramatic viewing experience, Donington sits inside an amphitheatre style setting, with the spectator bankings ringing around the outside.
Donington Park Leisure Ltd
Donington Park
Castle Donington
Derby, DE 74 2RP
England
Tel +44 1332 810048
Fax + 44 1332 850422
e-mail: reception@donington-park.co.uk
HOW TO ARRIVE:
Located in the middle of English Midlans, is in the centre of motorway networks and near the 23 M1/A42 junction and the 24A M1/A50 one. Derby, Nottingham and Leicester, are the adjoining cities, everyone in radius of 30 km. East Midlands airport is next the circuit.
Horsepower is less of a factor at Donington than some circuits, but clean engine response and exact gearing choices are essential to handle such a variety of corners, as the track runs downhill from the start to the Old Hairpin, then back uphill to the flat section behind the pits.
Working conditions at the ageing Donington track are far from ideal but the track layout is the type that provokes either love or hate, such is its individuality. The prevalent off-camber nature of Donington is one of the main factors at play during any British GP weekend, with a large tendency for the front tyre to push, making the right, left, right flick down the Craner Curve section something of a high tension rollercoaster ride. A dramatic viewing experience, Donington sits inside an amphitheatre style setting, with the spectator bankings ringing around the outside.
Donington Park Leisure LtdDonington Park
Castle Donington
Derby, DE 74 2RP
England
Tel +44 1332 810048
Fax + 44 1332 850422
e-mail: reception@donington-park.co.uk
HOW TO ARRIVE:
Located in the middle of English Midlans, is in the centre of motorway networks and near the 23 M1/A42 junction and the 24A M1/A50 one. Derby, Nottingham and Leicester, are the adjoining cities, everyone in radius of 30 km. East Midlands airport is next the circuit.
