Donington Park Sat/Sun May 19/20 2012

Back to Donington this weekend for the visit of "Superstars". No, not the famous BBC show of the 70's and 80's where top sportsmen of the day competed against each other in squat thrusts and Kevin Keegan falling off his bicycle... These Superstars are an Italian based championship for mighty V8 powered saloons, 18 of which were present. They made an impressive spectacle on a dry track as their first session on a damp Saturday morning made the cars look the unwieldy beasts they are. A star studded entry list with former British Grand Prix driver Johnny Herbert driving a Maserati Quattroporte, plus former GP drivers Gianni Morbidelli (Audi) & Vitantonio Liuzzi (Mercedes). Indeed Morbidelli was the star of the weekend as he won both races very easily in an Audi RS5 that was the class of the field. Fellow Audi driver, Johan Kristoffersson, (who started from the back in the first race due to competing in the Scandinavian Touring Car Champinship on Saturday) finished 2nd in both races. Overall impressions were very good and look forward to seeing them again next year.
It was a hectic weekend with track action not finishing until 7.40pm on Saturday. There were 6 races races on Saturday and 14 on Sunday as the BRSCC crammed the available time with as many races as possible. The 4 main Caterham classes had races both days along with double-headers for Toyota MR2 Mk1, Nippon Challenge, Production Golf Gti,Ford Fiestas & Fiesta Juniors. The first circuit racing rollover for me on Saturday as one of the youngsters went off in the Craner Curves and gently rolled in the gravel trap.The best racing was on Saturday with all the Caterham classes providing superb action but I'd say the Sunday action was a little subdued. As is usual in 2012 it was freezing cold all weekend with winter hats and gloves firmly staying on! Thanks to a Johnny Herbert promo code, weekend admission was £14 and a large format programme £2 despite the £5 it said on the cover.Somebody at Donington must have taken pity on the fans as the programme was certainly not worth the £5 ......For Plane Spotters it was a good weekend with a 747 & Vulcan. That is a Vulcan not a large crow as I've only got a camera phone......


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