Donington Park Saturday 12th August 2017

After no meetings for months it was 2 meetings in 6 days for The Spectator as a rare day off working on Saturday saw a visit to good old Donington Park for an usual (these days) 1-day only meeting, organised by Motor Sport Vision Racing (MSVR).
In the week leading up to the meeting it was announced that MSV had been given the go-ahead by the Competition & Markets Authority to fully take over as lease holders at Donington so all being well the MSV'ing (if that's the word?!) of the circuit can take place over the winter and 2018 and onwards bodes well for the future of a venue I've been visiting every year since 1989....
If I was to suggest a plan for Spectator improvements then top of my list would be a designated entry and car park for spectators. The parking area that operated for many years overlooking the Old Hairpin known as Starkeys Parking would be ideal. The current system of entering through a live paddock is not only dangerous but unless you can get your car inside the gates....a long walk is required to get to viewing spots.
The views from the banks at Donington are some of the best in the country but a few grandstands here and there wouldn't go amiss. Where the DPRAC clubhouse used to be at Hollywood, the old Starkeys Pub (where the above photo was taken) and stands at Coppice and McLeans would be top of my list.
Donington celebrated 40 years since it's re-opening this year and that's how old most of the toilets are dotted around the circuit!! In desperate need of replacement, hopefully new toilets are top of the "To-do" list of Mr.Palmer when MSV finally take full control.
MSV will also look to freshen up the calendar too, a lack of a top level car meeting at Donington has been disappointing in recent years. Sanctioning fees for international events in the modern era are too high mostly for circuits to pay and make money on. A DTM meeting next year would be fantastic for instance. 
As for this particular MSVR meeting, 9 races were on the timetable following morning qualifying sessions. The National circuit was in operation and this boded well for an entertaining day. 
Only 9 Radical SR1's took the start of both their races but were surprisingly interesting affairs. Jerome De Sadeleer capitalising on a safety car to snatch the lead from James Pinkerton to hang on at the flag by 0.121 secs! Pinkerton making amends by winning race 2 desp[ite another safety-car interlude. The dreaded safety-car was seen in 8 out of the 9 races on this day....and the one that wasn't was red-flagged early!! I've mentioned before on this blog that MSVR over-use the safety car and this was the case today. I've beaten the drum so many times that the Safety-car is killing watching racing, that I will not mention it's use again during the rest of this piece!! Interesting to note that the BRSCC have stopped using the Code 60 flag with immediate effect, a flag where all cars had to circulate at 60KPH and then released to race when the green flag was shown. There is no magic formula to police a motor race...modern day health and safety requirements mean that marshals can't be placed in a dangerous environment on a live race circuit. Incidents will always happen but the balance between watching Motor Racing as a spectacle and a sport and to watching Motor Racing as a Health & Safety exercise is gradually swinging towards the H&S route I'm afraid.....
The Caterham is one of the staple dites in the UK racing scene and seemingly from nowhere has sprung the Toyo Tires 7 Race Series. With 28 starters spread between 2 classes, yet another chance to race a Caterham has been created successfully it would seem. Both races were won by Phil Jenkins in his R300 version with Jenkins coming from 6th on the grid to win the first race which was very entertaining.
The Lotus Cup & Elise Trophy saw a combined grid of 25 take the start and it was the 2-Eleven of Ryan Savage that won both races. The Trophy battle for the lead in Race 2 was one of the highlights of the day with Craig Denman & William Stacey glued together for the duration...Denman winning out eventually.
A combined Tricolore Trophy and Nippon Challenge grid from the Steve Vince run Track Attack stable saw a mammoth 40 cars enter. With both 15 minute race diluted by the dreaded you-know-what ( I said I wouldn't mention it!!) the on track action was brief. Lee Gillard's mighty Subaru Imprezza triumphing overall in both race. Special mention to Ash Bruneau in Race 1 who drove for most of the race with the bonnet up on his Renault Clio which didn't appear to diminish his speed!
Last but not least was a sole 45 minute Trackday Trophy race which saw another big grid and some very entertaining racing throughout, with James Clink driving solo to win in his Clio. There was one less starter though as the Fiesta of Freddie & William Lynch had a big off on the entry to McLeans in qualifying which saw heavy damage to not only the car but pushed to concrete barrier back too. Not sure if you can see this in the rather distant photo...
A stack of tyres was placed on front of the barrier and spectators were prevented from watching there as barriers were put in place. Not the first time this has happened at Donington over the years and replacing and renovation of the barrier system another thing to put on MSV's list....
A nice touch to see at McLeans was the appearance of a wooden bench in memory of David Storer..

A really nice touch and one that has given me an idea for when I shuffle off this mortal coil.



Despite the overuse of the S*!$%£ £*r...! this was a very good days racing at Donington and one that I'm glad I made the effort to attend. Admission was £15 with £2 discount on the gate using the DPRAC card and I printed off the entry lists instead of buying a programme...

Comments

  1. Looks like Jonathan Palmer read this post & did a few of your to-do list items ;)

    ReplyDelete

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