Martin Donnelly's remarkable story of survival
- Adelaide Motorsport Festival
- 19 hours ago
- 1 min read
Northern Ireland's Martin Donnelly survived one of the worst accidents in Formula 1 history, cutting short his career in his rookie season in 1990. As a result, Donnelly missed out on racing in the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix in Adelaide. Thirty-six years later, Donnelly finally makes a long-awaited appearance in Adelaide at the 2026 Repco Adelaide Motorsport Festival.
Donnelly was a rising star in Formula 1, racing for Team Lotus in 1990 when the suspension of his car failed in practice for the Spanish Grand Prix. His Lotus hit the wall at an estimated speed of 260 km/h, splitting the car in two and ejecting Donnelly from the wreckage. He suffered brain and lung contusions and severe leg fractures, bringing a premature end to his Formula 1 career. The accident inspired the backstory of Brad Pitt’s character Sonny Hayes in the ‘F1’ movie, with footage of his crash featuring as a key plot point for the film.
Donnelly will be attending the 2026 Repco Adelaide Motorsport Festival with fans having the chance to hear his story and potentially meet him in the Adelaide Marriott Grand Marquee at 10:15am on Sunday March 1.
He joined the FIVEAA Sports Show to discuss his crash, the injuries and attending the 2026 Repco Adelaide Motorsport Festival.
Listen here:
CLICK HERE to purchase tickets to the 2026 Repco Adelaide Motorsport Festival (February 28 to March 1).