Donington Park Sunday 24th April 2016

After just about thawing out following the snow of Silverstone the week previously, it was time to return to Donington and a good looking Motor Sport Vision Racing organised meeting. Yet more snow was forecast earlier in the week but thankfully none materialised on a day that started cold and sunny and ended cold and damp (ish)!
This was the second day of a 2 day meeting and, as MSVR are one of the leading organising clubs in the country, a large entry saw the Donington paddock full on Sunday morning.
Kicking off racing was a 32 car grid for the VAG Trophy. The massed ranks of VW's plus the one SEAT always provide some lively racing and did so today with a pair of very good races. Race 1 was spoilt though with half the race taking place under the safety car, indeed finishing under the safety car frustratingly following a car recovery from the gravel trap on the inside of Craners. Darelle Wilson taking the flag but in race 2 was a first lap spinner at Redgate leaving the win to Paul Taylor.
The days lowest entry was to be found in the F3 Cup with 14 starters for race 1 then 12 for race 2. Despite the relatively low numbers it was really good to see "proper" Formula 3 cars in action with various incarnations of Dallara's being joined by the March 813 of Geoffrey Hoodless. Race 1 saw the race distance reduced following Malcolm Scott stopping at the Old Hairpin on the green flag lap delaying the start. Race 2 saw the slick shod F3 cars suffer the days steadiest rain which, while never particularly heavy, was just enough to make the track very greasy. Poor Jacopo Sebastiani (great name..!) had a large crash in the Craner Curves hitting the tyre barrier where the Spitfire used to be thankfully without injury. Winning both races in controlled fashion was the University of Wolverhampton tended Dallara F308 of Shane Kelly. Good to the students hard work paid off!
                         
The Mini Challenge has been split into 2 separate races with the JCW Mini and Cooper Mini racing separately. As you can see above the JCW first race of the day was a rather destructive affair! Red flagged on the first lap with 5 cars off at McLeans and with a tyre wall repair needed above the Tunnel, there was quite a delay and it ultimately cost the JCW's their second race of the day. Saturday's race had seen more incident so 2 green flag laps were needed but it obviously didn't work. Later in the afternoon the only race of the day for the JCW's was won by Nathan Harrison.
The Cooper's were slightly better behaved for their races but there was a safety car in race 2 following a collision at Redgate on the first lap.
The Lotus Elise Trophy races saw 18 starters and 2 easy wins for Jason Baker with some frantic squabbling for places behind.
                           
The GT Cup caters for the GT entrant who doesn't want to go racing in the British GT Championship. With 2 x 25 minute races on Saturday, Sunday saw just the one 50 minute race with a pit stop for a driver change with single drivers just pitting without the need to actually get out of the car. The fabulous Bentley Continental GT3 of Jordan Witt dominating proceedings with the equally fabulous Lamborghini Huracan of Adam Carroll/Darren Nelson finishing 2nd. I took a rare opportunity to visit Donington's Infield during the GT Cup race as you can see from the photo above, now almost nearly all open following years of earth moving and sculpturing. Still not quite finished but it was good to see action from a different perspective for a change. The Craner Curve Hospitality suites have been demolished in the winter and it was unusual to stand in the spot they once occupied. You can also just about see in the photo below 6 white spots on the grass enclosure above the Old Hairpin. These are Glamping tents by the looks of it....so what better way to spend a weekend Glamping than overlooking a race circuit. Hope users know this!!

 Rounding up the days action were a pair of excellent Production BMW races with 27 starters putting on a show. Harry Goodman triumphing in both races. A heavy 2 car shunt at the Old hairpin near the end of race 2 could well mean there will be 25 starters at the next round unfortunately!
I really enjoyed the days action at Donington and MSVR did well to run the meeting to timetable given the days destructive element keeping Mick Avery and Nottingham Breakdown fully occupied all day. MSVR have a very good portfolio of championships and it will be worth keeping an eye out for the JCW Mini's and Production BMW's throughout the year as action is guaranteed!
Admission was £15 on the gate with, a reduced for 2016, £2 off for Donington Park Racing Association Club (DPRAC) members. In the week the Club's first newsletter of the year came with the news that the Club's enclosure at Hollywood will be no more from Summer onwards with the Club running it's affairs from hospitality suites overlooking Redgate instead. A huge shame and one wonders where the club goes from here to be honest. Good to report though that the lake that had formed at the Old Hairpin spectating spot (see March 20th photo) had been filled in with aggregate. Wonder if the powers that be had read my blog!! I printed off entry lists from the MSVR website so no programme purchased...again!