In an event that was heavily promoted by the Venues owner Kevin Wheatcroft and his PR team, the WTCC round really was a chance for Donington Park to once again cement its place at the the very top of British Motorsport. Having already hosted internationally popular events such as rounds of the British Tourning Car Championship and World Superbikes this season, the WTCC event last weekend had a lot to live up to.
As a 'local' to Donington Park, and having never been to a World Touring Car event, I really didn't know what to expect on Sunday; infact to a certain degree the idea of another Touring Car Championship other than the fantasitcally exciting and popular British series' was unnerving. This, teamed with the seemingly lack of general interest in T.V viewing being an issue for the World Series in the U.K. However, even with the typical British summer weather rearing its ugly head, Race Day had attracted a sizeable crowd that very respectfully attempted to fill up the majority of the tracks limited viewing points (large part of infield viewing area still being restored). 
Away from the visualy apprent construction work in and around the track, the set-up of the events' paddock and the on-track action were both well worthy of an entry ticket. The machinery was extremely diverse, ranging from the immensely powerful V8 equipped Auto GP cars, down to the modest presence of Leyland Mini Coopers competing in the national single make series. The variety of cars and the impressive displays on show from the Polestart Run Volvo Team and the Masarati stand made for an 'easy on the eye' view around the paddock, with autogragh signing sessions held for fans to meet the WTCC drivers only adding to the 'behind the scenes' feel of the experience.
As for the on-track antics, the days main events, the two World Touring car races and an Auto GP race, were more than exciting in terms of action and appeal. Admittably, it hadnt dawned on me up until that first of the WTCC races what a star packed field the championship has; Yvan Muller, Alain Menu, Robert Dahlgren, Gabriele Tarquini, Colin Turkington... All previous Touring Car Champions in their own right, and even previous Formula One stars such as the Portugese driver, Tiego Monterio. Its names such as these, mixed with the more, lesser expeireicned and prestigous drivers throughout the grid that makes the WTCC a much more exciting Championship then it is sometimes perceived. After watching Yvan Muller clinch two victories for Team Chevrolet in front of home hero Rob Huff ahead of an excting mix of drivers and battles throughout the field, it can be considered a crime that the WTCC programme isnt proving as much of a hit as in hindsight, it probably should.
So why is it that the Series isn't proving such a hit with the U.K fans? Its definetely got appeal; Sunday's sizable crowd at Donington acts as solid evidence of that, and with Guernseyman Andy Priaulx having won three of the five WTCC championships held since its reincarnation in 2005, it really does continue to begger belief just why us Brits havn't taken it to heart. Even when crunching viewing figures, it's hard to put a finger on the issue; a report released late last year from the Series' organisers, Eurosport Events, stated that the viewinng figures for the 2010 season compared to the previous 2009 season were up by a staggering 40 million viewers worldwide, with 65% of the audience watching from Europe. With numbers such as this, and the heavy involvement from Italy and Germnany in the series, it would seem that the U.K is seemingly being froze out, or quite simpily not taking an interest in the touring car catagories leading championship. Based on what I saw on Sunday at Donington Park, that would seem nothing short of a great shame.
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