THEY came in their thousands to Donington Park and for many it was a pilgrimage to the spiritual home of motorsport they thought they might never make again.

The rally allowed enthusiasts to walk around the circuit for free, viewing classic cars and chatting to other fans as a gesture of solidarity towards the future of the beleaguered circuit.

The day was dreamed up back in January by motor enthusiast Lee Coombs, who wanted to mount a campaign to save the world famous circuit.

It followed a period of uncertainty for Donington Park after the failed attempt by businessman Simon Gillett to stage the British Grand Prix there.

Mr Coombs, who is a classic car enthusiast and has a 2006 Lotus Elise, said: "Although hopefully, the circuit is safe, it was important to demonstrate how much people love coming to this place.

"And I think we have proved it with about 5,000 people coming along to the event.

"They have been buying T-shirts, donating money, looking at classic cars and rummaging among the auto jumble on sale.

"It was an opportunity for people to come to Donington Park for free and show their allegiance."

Mr Gillett's company Donington Leisure Ventures Limited, which leased the circuit from park owners the Wheatcroft family, went into administration in November.

The circuit was left half dug up and unable to stage even its normal events this year, including the MotoGP, which has transferred to the Silverstone track.

It left silence and a question mark over the future of the circuit and Mr Coombs, a teacher from Oxford, was desperate to pull together like-minded people who did not want to see the circuit lost to racing. He launched a Facebook site and, within hours, it had 500 members. Today it has 12,000.

Donington Park owner Kevin Wheatcroft has committed himself to finding a new leaseholder for the circuit but was keen to encourage the rally to take place.

The bright sunshine and blue skies were a perfect backdrop for the car and bike enthusiasts who travelled from across the country.

Ken White, 59, of Melton Mowbray, brought his nine-year-old grandson Toby.

Mr White said: "I've not been here for years and Toby has never been. But I used to come when I was younger and it was the best place to go. I'd hate to see it finished for good."

Dawn Jackson, 63, of Ollerton, in Nottinghamshire, is a keen classic car enthusiast.

She said: "When my husband was alive, he died two years ago, we used to travel around the country to classic car events.

"But we always loved Donington the best and so it was quite poignant to come back here. I do hope it comes back into use again soon."

Neville Barr, of Stenson Road, Derby, was exhibiting his white 1928 Rosengart – the oldest car at the event.

Mr Barr said: "This car is a one-off and it's a real pleasure to bring it here today. It was racing up until about eight years ago."

Peter Storey, of Oxford, had brought along his 1962 gleaming red E-type Jaguar.

He said: "It has been a great day, with so many people coming along. We just wanted to show our support."

Twenty members from the Notts Car Club turned out and took up a position near to the Paddock entrance.

Darren Parker, with wife-to-be Claire Shears, of Eastwood, stood proudly beside his red Daihatsu. He said: "Everyone here today has one thing in common – a love of cars and bikes – that's why we go around the country displaying our cars at shows. This is our local circuit, so it was obvious to us we should support it."

Visitors to the event were able to look around the late Tom Wheatcroft's extensive collection of vintage and classic cars, as well as catch a glimpse of the devastated circuit for themselves.

Glynne Owen, 46, of Toton, said: "It's very sad that the circuit has been dug up and left in this state.

"It has been a real privilege to come along today to see what has been happening. I just hope that when it is time to come again, then it is to see everything working as before.

"There are many of us who can't bear to see the place like this and we just hope a solution is found soon."

During the event, a total of 150 commemorative T-shirts were sold and people who donated money were being asked what they would like it to go towards.

The choices, which also appear online, are repairing the landmark Dunlop tyre bridge, a statue of Donington Park founder Tom Wheatcroft, who died last October, or towards the repair bill for returning the dug-up track to its former glory.