ThundersportGB hosted our visit to Donington Park this season, a one-off two-day event at one of our favourite circuits. The circuit layout being used was the 'Grand Prix' layout that includes the Melbourne Loop. When we thought back, we realised that the last time we raced this particular track layout was during the British Grand Prix (now rebranded as MotoGP) in a British Superstock 600 race in 1999!
A packed Donington Park paddock
Earlier in the year when we planned our visit, a test day was scheduled on the preceding Thursday with a 'quiet day' planned for the Friday. We didn't fancy that so decided to just do the Saturday/Sunday instead, but when we arrived at the circuit we discovered that the test day had been moved to the Friday!
So the Saturday morning qualifying was our first opportunity to get some laps around the fantastic Donington Park circuit. The 2010 changes to the Foggy Esses and Goddards have made those particular corners quicker and less bumpy which just made the track even better.
So the Saturday morning qualifying was our first opportunity to get some laps around the fantastic Donington Park circuit. The 2010 changes to the Foggy Esses and Goddards have made those particular corners quicker and less bumpy which just made the track even better.
Going around the Melbourne Loop for the first time in 16 years!
Before the qualifying session we thought that a lap time of around 2 minutes may be a good starting point - based upon our 1999 lap time and the circuit changes - but we went faster than that on our first flying lap! Going faster and faster every lap, we ended qualifying with a lap time of 1'50.75 which put us 11th in class on the packed grid.
The first race on Saturday allowed us to get more laps in and refine our lines. We finished 7th in class and reduced our best lap time to 1'49.65.
The first race on Saturday allowed us to get more laps in and refine our lines. We finished 7th in class and reduced our best lap time to 1'49.65.
100+ mph through the Craner Curves
The second race on Saturday (the last race of the day) proved a bit more difficult as the rear tyre suffered from some hot tear due to the tyre pressure being too low (24psi cold) but we managed to finish 9th in class with a new best lap time of 1'49.14.
Sunday morning fog delayed the start of the practice sessions. Having fit some new dry tyres overnight, we used the practice session to scrub in the tyres ready for the race (now using 26psi cold tyre pressures).
Sunday morning fog delayed the start of the practice sessions. Having fit some new dry tyres overnight, we used the practice session to scrub in the tyres ready for the race (now using 26psi cold tyre pressures).
The resurfaced Goddards corner
The Sunday race showed that the new rear tyre pressure setting was working well and after a good battle with some ThundersportGB regulars, we finished 8th in class, setting another new best lap time of 1'48.38 on last lap of race! This made us think that with a bit more track time we might be able to circulate even faster - but that will just have to wait for next season!
Our next race meeting is the last meeting of our 2015 season, at the Darley Moor "Stars at Darley" meeting on Sunday 11th October.
Our next race meeting is the last meeting of our 2015 season, at the Darley Moor "Stars at Darley" meeting on Sunday 11th October.
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