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Martin Donnelly

Nationality British
Formula One World Championship career
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 promising runs at Formula 3 and Formula 3000, in which he won 3 races and was a championship contender, Donnelly stepped up to F1 with Arrows in 1989.

In 1990 he continued in F1 with Lotus, but after a season of no points, but very promising performances, he suffered a terrible crash during qualifying at the Jerez circuit that crippled him for life. He sustained multiple injuries in the shunt, where he was actually ejected from his car, with his seat still attached to his back. Many onlookers feared the worst but thankfully he recovered, although his F1 career was over.

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 is campaigning and winning races outright in a Lotus 2-Eleven in the 2008 season.

Donnelly is currently working as driver development director at Comtec Racing as well as instructing on Lotus trackdays.

Complete Formula One results

(key)

External links

• Martin Donnelly biography