After a year away from opening the season it was good to be back at a revamped Donington for the start of the 2011 season. Whilst the circuit may have looked a little like a building site the weather was surprisingly kind considering it was March.
Clearly the earlier start to the season was reflected in the entry which consisted of a meagre 14 cars. Three of these did not show but thankfully Paul Smith (Martini Mk31) and Andy Storer (Chevron B38) posted late entries to even thing up.
Newcomers Andy Jones (Brabham BT38 1600cc) and Andrew Park (Reynard FF2) were both having their first race and Mike Simpson brought out the ex Piquet Ralt for the first time since 2009.

Qualifying
The session had barely begun when unfortunately Andy Jones backed his pristine Brabham into the wall at the chicane and ended his day with localised but significant damage. Once underway again the trio of Benn Simms, Jamie Brashaw and Paul Smith circulated closely at the head of the field and ended the twenty minutes split by a remarkable five one hundredths of a second, promising a close race at the front. Fourth quickest and continuing his usual giant killing act was Ollie Thorpe (FF2000 Royale RP27) some way ahead of the equally matched Ralt’s of Rudolph Ernst, newly repainted in black and silver, and Mike Simpson. Jan Langdon (FF2000 Reynard SF78) couldn’t match the leader but took seventh ahead of the leading 1600F3 Merlyn Mk21 of Neil Bowman who was troubled with a sick sounding engine. Andrew Park (Reynard SF79) did a good job to outpace the returning Andy Storer (B38) who just beat Albert Clements (Lotus 69 1600F3). Vernon Williamson (Hesketh Dastle Mk9 1600F3) made the long trek from Scotland to bring up the rear.

Race
With times so close at the front the start was very important and as the lights went out the first three all got away well with Brashaw defending the inside into Redgate forcing Simms round the outside and leaving Smith nowhere to go. Out of Redgate in the order Brashaw, Simms and Smith the race looked set only for Simms to surprise Brashaw into the hairpin by diving down the inside and snatching the lead. This compromised Brashaw and as well as letting Simms get away, to take another win by 9 seconds at the end, he found himself beginning a long race defending from Smith who seemed faster but apart from a brief spell in front on lap 3, could not find a way by. They finished in the order Brashaw, Smith after a fine scrap split by 0.7 sec at the flag.
Ollie Thorpe hung onto this battle for a few laps until disappearing on lap 5 when his engine cried enough to leave the battling Ernst and Simpson, another race long duel, to take fourth and fifth. The two remaining FF2 cars took sixth and seventh in the order Langdon and Park, who did a good job to lap within 0.8 seconds of Jan. Andy Storer picked up eighth after a steady run ahead of Clements who took the1600F3 spoils after Bowman had his engine go off song again when leading the class leaving Williamson to take final spot in eleventh.