The burgeoning Historic Karting scene will witness perhaps the most significant event of its kind anywhere in the world next May when kart racers from across the globe meet at Donington Park to compete for the inaugural Martin Hines Trophy at the Donington Historic Festival.

The event, open to Class I Direct Drive and Class IV Gearbox karts built between 1959 and 1982 that are powered by air-cooled engines, will see drivers from all over the world descend upon the famous Melbourne Loop section of the former Grand Prix venue.

Already being seen by many as the closest thing to a world title in Historic Karting circles, Hines’ family have supported the decision to name the event after the man known worldwide as ‘Mr Karting,’ who passed away in 2011.

Hines won three FIA World Karting titles, five European titles and six British titles in a top flight career that lasted more than 30 years. In addition to the naming rights, many of Hines’ old karts will be in action, some of them competitively and others solely for demonstration purposes alongside some of the earliest surviving examples of modern day karts deemed too irreplaceable to race.

More than 200 karts are expected to race competitively with entries already confirmed from Italy, Germany, The Netherlands and the United States and interested parties from as far afield as Australia. After confirming the title of the event at the Autosport International Show in Birmingham the British Historic Kart Club also confirmed that British Touring Car star Matt Jackson will be putting several historic karts through their paces at the official Donington Historic Festival media day on March 8th.

Among the list of drivers requesting entry forms are 1978 World Karting Champion Lake Speed, 1967
World Champion Edgardo Rossi, motor-racing celebrity and British Historic Kart Club patron Barrie ‘Whizzo’ Williams, Dodo Regazzoni (the late Clay Regazzoni’s brother), Lake Speed Jr, former European champion Reg Gange Jr and Hines’ former Zip Kart teammate Carolynn Hoy (nee Grant-Sale) who will drive one of Hines’ Zip/Yamahas in the 250cc Gearbox class.

Leading proceedings away from the circuit, former world champion Terry Fullerton will be in attendance
as will the kart that Fullerton’s old teammate Ayrton Senna used to finish second in the 1979 world
championship. Track demonstrations, trade stalls, static displays, on-stage interviews and much of Hines’ memorabilia will further enhance an event designed to capture the atmosphere and nostalgia of a bygone era.

The 2012 Martin Hines Trophy will take place on May 5th/6th and all interested parties are advised to visit www.britishhistorickartclub.co.uk for entry details and advertising opportunities. The Donington Historic Festival Preview Day for media at Donington Park on March 8th is by invite but for those wishing to be considered please contact the Donington Historic Festival organisers at media@doningtonhistoric.com
directly or Brian Malin from the British Historic Kart Club on brian@bucklercars.com.