Donington Park Owner Tom Wheatcroft Has Died

Donington Park

The owner of the Donington Park circuit Tom Wheatcroft, has died at the age of 87 after suffering a long illness it has been confirmed.

The official statement read;

TOM WHEATCROFT 1922 – 2009

Donington Park is mourning the loss of the owner of the estate and circuit, Tom Wheatcroft.

The Leicester businessman succumbed to a long illness, passing peacefully away at his family home at 10.30 on the morning of Saturday 31 October.

Tom, as he was affectionately known throughout the sporting world, was first attracted to motor sport and Grand Prix racing as a schoolboy when he cycled from his Leicester home to watch the great races of the 1930 era of the circuit.

After military service, he returned to Leicestershire, soon owning and prospering a highly successful building and property development company.

Tom continued his enjoyment of racing, never missing a British Grand Prix and visiting others overseas, and at the same time supporting local drivers, and fostering the career of the highly talented Roger Williamson, taking him into Grand Prix racing.

He also owned a growing collection of racing cars, and in 1971 bought part of the Donington Park estate, opening there the world renowned Donington Collection of Grand Prix cars.

After a lengthy, often bitter and very costly, planning hearing, he was given consent to re-build and re-open the Donington Park circuit, which had lain derelict after military use during the Second World War.

Racing returned in 1977 and soon the circuit was hosting major events, bringing the world’s best motorcycle racers into action and then various FIA Championships for Formula 2, World Sports Cars and European Touring Cars.

Tom celebrated his 65^th birthday by securing the British Motorcycle Grand Prix ran for the first of 23 times on his circuit in 1987 – it was voted the best in the world, and then in 1993, and he achieved his dream, when at short notice, his circuit staged the award winning FIA Formula One World Championship Grand Prix of Europe.

Tom continued to take an active interest in the circuit and it development, under the direction of lease holders Donington Ventures Leisure Limited, through to his passing.

His contribution to the sport has been immeasurable, and the word ‘legend’ hardly does justice to the man who was Donington Park – Tom Wheatcroft.