The man who survived F1’s worst crash - Martin Donnelly heading to the Adelaide Motorsport Festival

The survivor of one of the biggest accidents in Formula 1 history, Martin Donnelly from Belfast in Northern Ireland, will be attending the 2026 Repco Adelaide Motorsport Festival on February 28 and March 1.

Donnelly will be one of the drivers of the Hesketh 308 Formula 1 car in addition to appearing in the Adelaide Marriott Grand Marquee, in his Adelaide Motorsport Festival debut having missed out on racing in the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix in Adelaide when his career was cut short.

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 joins fellow Formula 1 drivers such as Mika Häkkinen, David Coulthard, Valtteri Bottas, Thierry Boutsen and Stefan Johansson at the 2026 Repco Adelaide Motorsport Festival.

The Hesketh 308 Formula 1 car, which launched the career of 1976 Formula 1 world champion James Hunt, was itself featured on the big screen, immortalised in the acclaimed film ‘RUSH’. It is now one of the most successful cars in historic grand prix racing worldwide and will make its Adelaide debut courtesy of owner James Hagan.

The 2026 Repco Adelaide Motorsport Festival will once again feature various categories, ranging from Formula 1 cars, V8 Supercars, sportscars, touring cars, motorbikes, drift cars and more with the action non-stop without a break in track activity at any stage of the day. Off track there will be car displays, kids' zones, bars and food trucks, exhibitors and traders, activations and more, in a picnic in the park setting. 

CLICK HERE to purchase tickets to the 2026 Repco Adelaide Motorsport Festival (February 28 to March 1).