Historics racer Julian Grimwade dies in crash at Donington Park

Popular historics racer Julian Grimwade was killed in a crash at a Vintage Sports-Car Club event at Donington Park, the second fatal accident in UK motorsport on Saturday (24 May).

Grimwade was driving his Oakland Romano Special in the Mephistopheles & Lanchester Trophy contest for pre-1925 machines, which opened the day’s racing, when he crashed on the first lap.

While the race was instantly red-flagged, two subsequent races were held at Donington before the rest of the single-day meeting was abandoned.

Grimwade was a prolific historics competitor who tackled a wide variety of events, including hillclimbs, predominantly in pre-war cars. He was regular at Goodwood, frequently tackling the SF Edge Trophy at the Members’ Meeting, including in a Frazer Nash Norris Special.

Grimwade’s crash came just hours after leading British co-driver Dai Roberts was killed in an accident on the Jim Clark Rally in Scotland.

This was the second fatal accident at a VSCC fixture in the past two years, following Roger Twelvetrees’ death at Mallory Park in August 2023.

In line with the Roberts’ crash and other fatal accidents, British motorsport governing body Motorsport UK launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Autosport sends its sincere condolences to Grimwade’s family and friends.