Stefan (left) and Martin Donnelly shared an Elise together in the Lotus Cup UK series back in 2014
THE DONNELLY NAME IS A Northern Irish motor sport institution, having spanned 13 Formula 1 grands prix, sports car racing at the highest levels, the British Touring Car Championship (briefly) and graced many club racing paddocks. The family even has a prestigious annual Formula Ford 1600 event in its honour at Kirkistown. Defying death in a horrific accident at Jerez in 1990 cost Martin his F1 career, but he returned to club racing, is chief instructor for Lotus and helps out on the issue of driving standards at high-profile events, like the Goodwood Revival meet. His eldest son, Stefan, surprisingly only began racing in 2014. Not surprisingly, it was in a Lotus…
MARTIN: Dad was a hard-working man. His release was motor racing. When I was born, he arrived during visiting hours at the hospital with a bunch of flowers for my mother, and asked what sex I was. She said, ‘Pick the child up and see for yourself.’