The Donington Park Circuit is one of the most prestigious and traditional venues for motorsports in central England. It was the first permanent racing road course in the country, opening its doors for a motorcycle race in 1931, as an initiative of the local motor club secretary Fred Craner. Some of the high-profile events currently held at the FIA Grade 2 road course of Donington Park are the Superbike World Championship and the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, to name a few. The typical English weather with mild temperatures, cloudy skies, and lots of rain means the track surface in Donington Park is wet most of the time.
There are two layouts available for different competitions in Donington Park: the 1.96-mile (3.15-km) National Circuit and the 2.5-mile (4.02-km) GP Circuit, including The Esses and the Melbourne Hairpin. In general terms, Donington Park is a fast-paced raceway consisting of long sweepers with varying angles and remarkable elevation changes, which create some blind spots along the way. The GP Circuit elevates the technical level needed to maintain high speed and get the most out of the circuit, and the National Circuit layout favors velocity over control. The state-of-the-art safety measures, ample run-off, and grassed areas around the track guarantee drivers can feel secure to do the best they can to drive around it in the less possible time.
The National Circuit of Donington Park runs clockwise through the same rolling hills traveled on the GP Circuit but bypassing the highly technical segment of turns 10, eleven, and twelve, commonly known as The Esses, the Melbourne Hairpin, and Goddards. The average speed is higher than the GP Circuit's, as the Starkey's Straight and the Wheatcroft Straight are separated by a short, 90-degree corner number nine.