Donington Sat June 30/Sun July 1 2012
And now for something completely different...Truck Racing. This weekend it was the turn of the FIA European Truck Racing Championship to visit Donington and after racing only the week before at Nogaro in the South of France, a healthy grid of 20 trucks took part over the 2 days. I hadn't seen trucks in action for many years and as a spectacle they were hugely impressive. Donington isn't the widest of circuits and the sight of 20 trucks hammering down the Craner Curves and into the Old Hairpin on the 1st lap of each race was quite a sight. Understandably passing was difficult but it did take place, especially in the 2nd race of each day where the top 8 finishers in the 1st race are reversed on the grid. Jochen Hahn and Antonio Albacete are clearly the quickest 2 rigs in the series and have done most of the winning in 2012 and each won a race this weekend. I liked the format used where each day is treated separately so there were 2 races on Saturday and 2 races on Sunday so fans don't miss out.
Support races for the weekend were varied with 2 races each for Porsche Club GB, Northern Formula Ford 1600, Pickups and Sports 2000. This was a very good weekend for the quality of racing with not a bad race to be seen. One got the impression that a lot of drivers appreciated driving in front of a larger crowd than normal so put on a bit of a show. This was the 2nd biggest crowd I'd seen at Donington this year (after Touring Cars) and most of the crowd seemed to be first time visitors and a lot of families in evidence. The meeting was heavily promoted by Renault Trucks and Donington and a lot of free/discounted tickets must have been distributed.
Quite a few fans though would have been bemused by the "Exclusion" zone in operation when the Trucks were on track set up between Hollywood and Old Hairpin. On the Saturday morning the fence was un-manned by security so there were many fans who had set up with tents and chairs on the Hollywood banking who had to be moved.So for 4 times each day, security swept up everybody and moved them out of the area. Quite why is beyond me as there was no restriction on the infield overlooking the Craner Curves where not only spectators are nearer the track but there isn't even a catch fence........Is it an admission by Donington that their circuit isn't quite safe enough because it certainly doesn't send out the right message.
I've never understood the logic of some of the Catch Fence/Gravel Trap alterations at our circuits over the years. Watching at Old Hairpin behind an enormous fence and gravel trap is a hugely frustrating experience at times.At Silverstone there is the irony of watching at Club corner behind one the tallest catch fences in the world on one of the slowest corners while I can walk up the Hangar Straight (where cars can reach 200mph) with only a tiny fence to stop airborne cars.
Admission for the weekend was £20 bought in advance and as for the programme, well officially there wasn't one! I did go to Race Control on the Saturday lunchtime and managed to get a 4 page entry list (which appeared to be only distributed to drivers & marshals). Quite why, with a large crowd, there wasn't a programme is crazy as there was no way of identifying who was who. The commentator did mention something about downloading the entries on Smartphones using QR codes so I fear for the future of the printed programme!!
Support races for the weekend were varied with 2 races each for Porsche Club GB, Northern Formula Ford 1600, Pickups and Sports 2000. This was a very good weekend for the quality of racing with not a bad race to be seen. One got the impression that a lot of drivers appreciated driving in front of a larger crowd than normal so put on a bit of a show. This was the 2nd biggest crowd I'd seen at Donington this year (after Touring Cars) and most of the crowd seemed to be first time visitors and a lot of families in evidence. The meeting was heavily promoted by Renault Trucks and Donington and a lot of free/discounted tickets must have been distributed.
Quite a few fans though would have been bemused by the "Exclusion" zone in operation when the Trucks were on track set up between Hollywood and Old Hairpin. On the Saturday morning the fence was un-manned by security so there were many fans who had set up with tents and chairs on the Hollywood banking who had to be moved.So for 4 times each day, security swept up everybody and moved them out of the area. Quite why is beyond me as there was no restriction on the infield overlooking the Craner Curves where not only spectators are nearer the track but there isn't even a catch fence........Is it an admission by Donington that their circuit isn't quite safe enough because it certainly doesn't send out the right message.
I've never understood the logic of some of the Catch Fence/Gravel Trap alterations at our circuits over the years. Watching at Old Hairpin behind an enormous fence and gravel trap is a hugely frustrating experience at times.At Silverstone there is the irony of watching at Club corner behind one the tallest catch fences in the world on one of the slowest corners while I can walk up the Hangar Straight (where cars can reach 200mph) with only a tiny fence to stop airborne cars.
Admission for the weekend was £20 bought in advance and as for the programme, well officially there wasn't one! I did go to Race Control on the Saturday lunchtime and managed to get a 4 page entry list (which appeared to be only distributed to drivers & marshals). Quite why, with a large crowd, there wasn't a programme is crazy as there was no way of identifying who was who. The commentator did mention something about downloading the entries on Smartphones using QR codes so I fear for the future of the printed programme!!
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