- Martin Donnelly (racing driver)
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Martin Donnelly Born 26 March 1964 Formula One World Championship career Nationality British
Active years 1989 - 1990 Teams Arrows, Lotus Races 15 (13 starts) Championships 0 Wins 0 Podiums 0 Career points 0 Pole positions 0 Fastest laps 0 First race 1989 French Grand Prix Last race 1990 Spanish Grand Prix Hugh Peter Martin Donnelly (born in Belfast, 26 March 1964), is a former motor racing driver from Northern Ireland. After competing in Formula 3 and Formula 3000 where he won 3 races and was a championship contender, Donnelly raced in Formula One in 1989 and 1990, until a serious crash during qualifying at the Jerez circuit ended his Formula One career.
Contents
Racing career
Formula One
During 1988, as well as his racing commitments, Donnelly was the test driver for Lotus Formula One team. But it was during 1989 that Donnelly got his first race start when he substituted for Arrows driver Derek Warwick at the 1989 French Grand Prix after Warwick injured his back in a non-competitive karting accident. He impressed in France qualifying 14th compared to his much more experienced team mate Eddie Cheever who started 25th on the grid. Donnelly finished his first F1 race 3 laps down in 12th place and was the last car running to finish while Cheever's experience told and he had a better race finishing only 1 lap down in 7th place.
In 1990 he continued in F1 with Lotus though this time not as a test driver but as a race driver alongside new team mate Derek Warwick. However, after a frustrating season of scoring no points driving the V12 powered Lotus-Lamborghini which often saw him retire with engine failure, he suffered a serious crash during qualifying at the Jerez circuit which ended his Formula One racing career. He sustained multiple injuries in the crash, in which he was ejected from his car on to the track, with his seat still attached to his back.
After Formula One
Donnelly has since managed to race in smaller club events, and managed a Formula Vauxhall team.
In 2004, Donnelly raced a Mazda RX-8 in a Britsports 24hr race at Silverstone and finished in 27th place. 2006 saw Donnelly return to Lotus, participating in a track day sponsored by a Lotus owner's club.
In September 2007, Donnelly beat 35 other Lotus Elises to win Class A in the Donington Park round of the Elise Trophy. This class win was closely followed by the race win in the 2nd Elise Trophy race of the day. Later in the season he raced at Spa-Francorchamps and in 2008, campaigned and won races outright in a Lotus 2-Eleven.
In June 2010, Martin Donnelly drove as a guest in the Ginetta G50 Cup at Oulton Park.
On July 2, 2011 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Donnelly drove a Lotus 102 similar to that which nearly took his life. The Lamborghini-powered car was the same specification as the car he drove in 1990, the original car having been completely destroyed in the crash.
He has been appointed as the driver representative on the FIA stewards panel for the 2011 Korean Grand Prix.
Having worked as sporting director and driver development manager at Comtec Racing, Donnelly has recently formed the Donnelly track academy specialising in Lotus trackday events and racing services in Norfolk.[1]
Racing record
Complete International Formula 3000 results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 DC Points 1988 Jordan Racing JER VAL PAU SIL MNZ PER BRH
1BIR
2BUG
2ZOL
RetDIJ
13rd 30 1989 Jordan Racing SIL
RetVAL
DSQPAU
RetJER
RetPER
RetBRH
1BIR
3SPA
RetBUG
7DIJ
178th 13 Complete Formula One results
(key)
Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 WDC Pts. 1989 Arrows Grand Prix International Arrows A11 Ford V8 BRA SMR MON MEX USA CAN FRA
12GBR GER HUN BEL ITA POR ESP JPN AUS NC 0 1990 Camel Team Lotus Lotus 102 Lamborghini V12 USA
DNSBRA
RetSMR
8MON
RetCAN
RetMEX
8FRA
12GBR
RetGER
RetHUN
7BEL
12ITA
RetPOR
RetESP
DNSJPN AUS NC 0 References
- ^ "About Martin Donnelly". Donnelly Track Academy. http://www.donnellytrackacademy.com/about-martin.php?readmore=1. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
External links
Sporting positions Preceded by
Andy WallaceMacau Grand Prix
Winner
1987Succeeded by
Enrico BertaggiaCategories:- 1964 births
- Living people
- Formula One drivers from Northern Ireland
- Lotus Formula One drivers
- Racecar drivers from Northern Ireland
- British Formula Three Championship drivers
- People from Belfast
- International Formula 3000 drivers
- 24 Hours of Le Mans drivers
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