Donington Park Already In Trouble?
Autosport are reporting that Lee Gill, Donington Park’s Chief Operating Officer, has stepped down from his role and ended his relationship with both the circuit and the owning company. Gill partnered Simon Gillett in the founding of Donington Ventures Leisure Limited early last year when they bought the circuit and its assets. Since then, the track has been awarded the British Grand Prix from 2010 onwards, the deal being announced at this years event last July.
A spokeperson for DVLL stated that Gill’s leaving will not affect the ongoing plans to invest £100m into the circuit, adding a new section of track and building new pit and paddock facilities. However, with the funds already in doubt combined with question marks over the planning approval, it could be that 2010 sees Formula One fail to visit the UK for a grand prix.
On top of this news, Pitpass have since reported that Lee Gill is not the only person to leave the organisation today, as the company’s financial controller, Peter Edwards, has also left, along with public relations company Sidhu & Simon Communications. Needless to say, things aren’t looking too rosey in the post-2009 British Grand Prix camp. Bernie Ecclestone has made it quite clear that should Donington fail to be ready in time, there will be no race essentially because no other circuit is suitable, Silverstone apparently inclusive.
Update: As Sidepodcast has just brought to my attention in the comments, Donington have released their plans for the 2010 layout and facilities at the circuit. As a very rough idea (it is late where I am), here’s how the track may look if all goes to plan. Roll your cursor over the image to see the overlay of the proposed layout.
Steven Roy
September 5th, 2008 - 9:49pm
I was always convinced that the Donington race would not happen but I was surprised when I read this earlier. It will be interesting to see what any of the participants have to say.
me
September 5th, 2008 - 11:32pm
i’ve always been convinced it won’t happen, but full plans have been released today.
lots of info at:
http://www.donington-park.co.uk/formula-one-plans
Oliver White
September 6th, 2008 - 12:07am
Thanks “me”. Added an image to the post to give a rough idea what the proposed layout will look like. Pitlane and paddock will be moved to the remodelled straight following the adjusted Coppice Corner (in other words, Turn One will be the hairpin).
me
September 6th, 2008 - 9:52am
that’s fantastic
Oliver White
September 6th, 2008 - 10:14am
Thanks! The new loop is a little wrong, but I’ll do a better job of it this evening.
On a side note, can anyone tell me where on Yas Island the new Abu Dhabi circuit is going to be? I can’t find anything on the ‘net that puts it in proportion to the land and the construction pictures on the official site are hard to make out at the moment. You can see where I think it will be on the 2009 Calendar page, but I now think the back straight will be on the next river straight around to the right on the East side. Does anyone know…?