4 September 2010 Last updated at 11:21 ET

Car racing returns to Donington Park

The track has been repaired and brought up to the latest safety standards

Car racing has returned to Donington Park.

Under new owners Donington Park Limited (DPL) the track held a motorbike event in August, but this weekend saw the first car races on the reopened track.

Donington Park had been left unusable after a failed bid by the previous leaseholder to host Formula One racing.

Christopher Tate, series director of Masters Historic Racing, said he was delighted that this weekend's event would begin the track's new era.

He said: "Donington Park occupies a very special place in the hearts of all true motor-racing fans and it is fabulous to have it back on the racing calendar."

The Masters Classic Festival also featured a celebration race for GT and Touring cars from 1977 - the year in which the circuit was re-opened for racing by Tom Wheatcroft and Donington Park Racing for the first time since 1939.

Racing returned to Donington Park on 13 August after the circuit passed crucial safety inspections.

DPL, owned by Adroit Group, took over the track's lease in May, promising to invest £2m.

It has repaired the 2.5 mile (4 km) circuit and brought it up to the latest safety standards.