Ex-Jenson Button Williams FW22 to take to the track at the Donington Historic Festival

by Donington Historic Festival | April 6, 2025

A mighty Williams FW22 Formula One car originally driven by Jenson Button in his debut F1 season will thrill visitors at this year's Donington Historic Festival (2, 3 & 4 May) when it takes to the track as part of the historic F1 car demos on the Saturday and Sunday of the event. Few of those present will ever forget the unmistakable sound of that 800+bhp BMW E41 V10 engine echoing around Donington Park in the more-than capable hands of six times Indy 500 entrant James Davison!

Appearing at DHF 2025 courtesy of Williams Heritage, FW22-00 was used early in the 2000 season as a test car for both Jenson Button and Ralf Schumacher, with Schumacher testing it at Barcelona, Silverstone, Kyalami and Jerez and Button doing so at Silverstone and Barcelona. 2000 marked the start of a new era for Williams, its new engine partnership with BMW proving highly successful over the next six years, starting with Williams BMW taking third place in the Constructors' Championship that first year.

Ralf Schumacher finished the 2000 season in fifth place in the Driver's Championship and Jenson Button took eighth place. 2000 was Button's rookie year in Formula One - Williams BMW snapped up the talented youngster in the face of interest from a range of other teams, including McLaren. Button became Britain's youngest-ever F1 driver, beating the record previous held by Stirling Moss. He went on to set another record that year when, at the Brazilian Grand Prix, aged 20 years and 2 months, he became the youngest driver at that time to score a World Championship point. It was a precursor of things to come, and in 2009 Jenson Button took the World Championship crown, driving for Brawn.

About the Donington Historic Festival

Each of the three days of DHF 2025 is packed with superb track action, with 17 races showcasing 12 world-class historic racing grids. Historic motorsport fans will be treated to a tremendous spectacle on the track, with the outstanding racing backed by Formula One and Super Touring car demonstrations. For the first time in the event's history, racing will take place on the Donington Park GP circuit, adding to the excitement for spectators and competitors alike.

Other attractions at the family-friendly event include an open-access paddock, pitlane walks, trade village, children's entertainment, Sporting Bears charity passenger drives, and the infield displays of hundreds of cherished classic cars staged by dozens of car clubs, plus lunchtime club track parades which this year will be joined by representatives of Supercar Driver and their stunning machines. In addition, it's eyes to the skies on the Saturday and Sunday of the event, when Festival-goers can enjoy flypasts from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, with an iconic Spitfire paying a 'flying visit' each day.

The provisional timetable for the 2025 Donington Historic Festival is as follows:

FRIDAY 2 MAY

09:05-09:25 FJHRA 'Silverline' Championship (qualifying 1)

09:35-10:00 'Mad Jack' for Pre-War Sports Cars (qualifying)

10:10-10:30 FJHRA 'Silverline' Championship (qualifying 2)

10:40-11:10 U2TC (qualifying)

11:20-12:00 GT3 Legends (Qualifying 1)

12:00-13:00 Lunch break / Supercar Driver / clubs parade

13:05-13:25 Superformance Ferrari Club Classic (qualifying)

13:35-14:05 HMRN Pre '63 GT (qualifying)

14:20-14:40 FJHRA 'Silverline' Championship (race 1)

14:50-15:40 Royal Automobile Club Pall Mall (qualifying)

15:55-16:15 FJHRA 'Silverline' Championship (race 2)

16:25-16:45 GT3 Legends (qualifying 2)

17:00-17:40 U2TC (race 1)

17:55-18:15 Superformance Ferrari Club Classic (race 1)

SATURDAY 3 MAY

09:05-09:35 Historic Touring Car Challenge with Tony Dron Trophy (qualifying)

09:50-10:30 'Mad Jack' for Pre-War Sports Cars (race)

10:45-11:25 U2TC (race 2)

11:35-11:55 Super Touring demo

12:10-13:00 GT3 Legends (Race 1)

13:00-13:50 Lunch break / Supercar Driver / clubs parade / free of charge pitwalk

13:16 Battle of Britain Memorial Flight: Spitfire

13:50-14:20 Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy & Stirling Moss Trophy (qualifying)

14:30-14:45 Formula 1 demo

15:00-16:00 HMRN Pre '63 GT (race)

16:15-16:35 Superformance Ferrari Club Classic (race 2)

16:50-18:50 Royal Automobile Club Pall Mall Cup (race)

SUNDAY 4 MAY

09:05-09:30 HRDC 'Gerry Marshall Trophy Series' (qualifying)

09:45-10:45 Historic Touring Car Challenge with Tony Dron Trophy (race)

10:55-11:20 HRDC 'Jack Sears Trophy' (qualifying)

11:30-11:50 Super Touring demo

12:05-12:55 GT3 Legends (race 2)

13:05-13:20 HRDC 'Dunlop Allstars' and HRDC 'Classic Alfa Challenge' (qualifying)

13:20-14:00 Lunch break / Supercar Driver / clubs parade / free of charge pitwalk

14:05-14:25 Superformance Ferrari Club Classic (race 3)

14:40-15:25 HRDC 'Gerry Marshall Trophy Series' (race)

14:52 Battle of Britain Memorial Flight: Spitfire

15:35-15:50 Formula 1 demo

16:05-16:50 HRDC 'Jack Sears Trophy' (race)

17:05-18:05 Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy & Stirling Moss Trophy (race)

18:20-18:50 HRDC 'Dunlop Allstars' and HRDC 'Classic Alfa Challenge' (race)

Advance discounted ticket prices start at just £15 for an adult (16+) Friday entry, with discounts for teens aged 13-15. The three-day weekend ticket represents exceptional value at just £45 for adults and £28 for teens. Under 13s are admitted for free. For further information and to secure tickets please visit www.doningtonhistoric.com.

Photo credit: Donington Historic Festival
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