Donington Park today got the green light to significantly incrase the number of events it is allowed to run over the next two years meaning the Leicestershire track can work on a far bigger events calendar.

At a meeting of the North West Leicestershire District Council's planning committee, the circuit was told it would be able to run 60 circuit-based events in 2012 and 2013 but would have to cut the number of unsilenced days from 40 to 20 as part of a noise management plan to please local residents.

"We knew that we were going to have a tough time during the first 2 years of re-opening Donington Park with the investment required to see racing again at Donington. Without this permission, keeping Donington Park alive was going to be increasingly difficult," said owner Kevin Wheatcroft.