In 2008, Bernie Ecclestone sensationally announced that Donington Park had signed a deal which would see the Leicestershire circuit host the British Grand Prix from 2010. However, funding issues and disputes got in the way and after Ecclestone had extended deadlines various times, the deal was called off. Silverstone then set about negotiating with Ecclestone to reclaim the event, which was finally announced this morning.

The title of Silverstone as home of motorsport has come true. It is a place for all motorsport. Everyone in the BRDC loves motorsport and we are looking forward to the MotoGP as well as the British Grand Prix.

It is not easy to enter into a contract of this magnitude and you have to take on a lot of responsibility, but the BRDC wanted this relationship to continue.

Everyone was well aware that the British GP is not just a sporting event, but it is dynamo of the industry in this country. Losing it would have been damaging and perhaps there would have been no coming back. Damon Hill.

The news means that Formula One will continue to have a British event and will undoubtedly come as good news to British fans. The majority of teams on the grid are based in Britain and the nation has long been involved with the sport, and currently enjoying great success with both Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.

Although the deal is for 17 years, taking on what had been offered to Donington Park, there is a clause in the contract to break the deal after 10 years, although Silverstone’s managing director Richard Phillips said this is not what he wants to happen. Phillips and Hill also spoke more of the planned schedule of works due to be carried out, starting after Christmas.

Even this year with the new circuit we are trying to get better access for public, changing granstands for better viewing and running our own campsites to be better than the current ones.

We want to increase the entertainment factor. Richard Phillips.

Interestingly, Bernie Ecclestone has changed his tone considerably. Previously, Ecclestone had been quite anti-Silverstone, stating that even if the Donington deal fell through, Formula One would not return to the old airbase. However, this morning Bernie had nothing but good things to say, stating he is pleased Britain will continue to feature in the world championship.

I am pleased that we have reached an agreement with Silverstone for the retention of the British Grand Prix. This will ensure that Great Britain will remain on the Formula 1 calendar for many years to come, which is something I have personally always wanted to see happen.

The team at Silverstone already knows how to organise a good event, so now everyone can look forward to next summer at Silverstone. Bernie Ecclestone.

With Woking-based McLaren fielding both British champions on the 2010 grid, the race should draw huge crowds, although the new facilities and circuit will not be ready until 2011. The circuit will also host a round of the MotoGP championship.

Original article by BlogF1.

British Grand Prix To Remain At Silverstone

It was reported back in April that Donington Ventures Leisure Limited owed Tom Wheatcroft £2.47m in rent, and after repeated requests for payment, none was forthcoming. The threat of having DVLL’s contract revoked was serious as it would have almost certainly ended the British Grand Prix, with Bernie Ecclestone clearly stating that he has absolutely no desire to return to Silverstone.

However, circuit owner Tom Wheatcroft was pleased that progress had been made between the two companies and added support to DVLL’s wish to host the British round of the 2010 championship.

We are pleased that significant progress has been made in recent weeks and I am delighted that we have now reached an amicable agreement.

We have always shared and supported the vision of ensuring that Formula 1 returns to Donington Park and are hopeful that, with the settlement achieved, that vision will be turned into reality. Tom Wheatcroft.

Donington Ventures Leisure Limited now face another uphill task of ensuring the renovation works at Donington are completed on time, which includes new buildings and a change in layout to the Leicestershire track. If works are not completed by next year, Ecclestone has stated that the race could be postponed until 2011, but the Briton has asserted that Silverstone’s last event will be the 2009 race.

Original article by BlogF1.

Donington Park Dispute Resolved?

Wheatcroft & Sons, the family owned company that owns Donington Park, lease the track to Donington Ventures Leisure Limited, who run motor sporting events as well as music festivals on the land. However, DVLL owe £2.47m in rent to WSL, and this is why legal proceedings have commenced. If DVLL have their contract revoked, then the British Grand Prix is in serious trouble.

Bernie Ecclestone has insisted that Silverstone will not hold the British Grand Prix again, despite the circuit investing a lot of money in redevelopments of the old airfield. Such is Ecclestone’s disgruntlement towards Silverstone’s owners, the BRDC, that Ecclestone would rather drop the race from the calendar or postpone it until Donington can get its act together.

If the work at Donington is not finished in time, we would be happy to skip a year. I don’t want to lose the British Grand Prix, that’s the last thing we want to do, but we aren’t going to Silverstone for sure. Bernie Ecclestone, speaking to The Times.

One has to question why Ecclestone has allowed this to happen, and the bad press this saga is generating for Formula One in the UK. While Bernie may not get along with the BRDC, surely the billionaire businessman can see how this is reflecting on the sport in the UK, a nation that contributes an awful lot to the global motor sporting industry.

Original article by BlogF1.

British Grand Prix Could Be Postponed Until 2011

Currently, the circuit is owned by the Wheatcroft family and Donington Ventures Leisure Limited lease the track for motor sporting activities as well as music festivals and other outdoor events. The Wheatcroft’s, who own and operate the company Wheatcroft & Sons Ltd, have commenced legal proceedings against Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd because of arrears in rent, reportedly amounting to £2.47m. If DVLL cannot afford the rent, WSL may evict the resident company whom the contract for the 2010 British Grand Prix is with.

Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd owe us nearly £2.5m in rent dating back to September 2008. Despite receiving numerous reassurances over a number of months they have consistently failed to meet their financial obligations under the terms of the lease.

We have held off taking legal action for as long as possible but have been left with no choice but to commence proceedings to recover the outstanding rent and forfeit the lease. Kevin Wheatcroft.

At the 2008 British Grand Prix, held at Northamptonshire’s Silverstone circuit, Bernie Ecclestone allowed the FIA to announce the change in venue from 2010 onwards, the Donington Park track having been awarded a ten year deal to host motor racing event. At the time, Ecclestone made it clear that Formula One would not return to Silverstone, owned by the BRDC, an organisation Bernie doesn’t get on too well with. If Donington failed to complete their redevelopment works on time, there would be no British Grand Prix. Ecclestone reiterated this while visiting the Bahrain Grand Prix.

If Donington can’t put on the British Grand Prix then that’s it. We will be leaving Britain. There is no question of us going back to Silverstone. They have had enough chances and have not delivered what they promised. Bernie Ecclestone.

It is at this point that the British Government were asked to step in and help, the campaign being voiced by Formula One commercial rights owner Bernie Ecclestone. Having completed deals all over the world for the sport, Bernie has seen what can be done with government funding, the race in Bahrain this weekend being a great example of top-notch facilities all funded by the country itself. Abu Dhabi, which looks to be an absolutely stunning arena for motor sport and business, is also funded by the government, and Ecclestone believes the United Kingdom should follow suit.

It’s a disgrace that the British government don’t step in to help. They are throwing billions at the London Olympics. They could do what is needed to save the race by putting in a fraction of it – 0.002 per cent. Bernie Ecclestone.

Damon Hill, the 1996 Formula One World Champion and now president of Silverstone’s owning organisation the BRDC, has tried to keep the door open to Ecclestone and Formula One, and has apparently maintained communication with the Macronym title=”Formula One Management”>FOM director. Hill would obviously want the race to return to Silverstone, and speaking live on the BBC during today’s qualifying session, Eddie Jordan believes Ecclestone’s firm stance on the issue of not returning is actually his way of saying it will happen.

Confused yet? Well, Jordan believes that Bernie’s negotiation tactic is hard and almost reverse of he publicly says. But on the face of it at the moment, the fate of the British Grand Prix doesn’t look healthy. The House of Lords debated the issue yesterday and Labour deputy chief whip Lord Davies stated that their would be no direct financial hand-outs. Lord Davies emphasised that the government would do what it could, but there would not be any financial aid.

We do not want a state-sponsored motor industry, but the government can give necessary assistance and support in judicious ways, particularly by emphasising how important the industry is to the development of our society and economy.

The government will continue to give the support that we have done in the past. We see our role as facilitating and encouraging the Motor Sports Association and the owners of Donington to be proactive about attracting money from various funding arrangements to guarantee the finances they need.

However, should anything go wrong on that front, it is important that Silverstone is available to resume its position, because the essential thing is that we must not lose a British Grand Prix. Lord Davies.

Lord Davies may want to run that last sentence by Ecclestone before believing his own words.

It would be a tremendous shame for Britain to lose the British Grand Prix, and drivers up and down the Bahrain pitlane today have expressed a desire for the event to remain. Even non-British drivers like Rubens Barrichello who essentially cut his teeth in lower formulae around many of the UK’s racing tracks spoke of a desire for the race to remain.

It is also a great shame that the country is willing to pour so much many into hosting the Olympic Games, but is unwilling to spend (by comparison) a little amount on ensuring the UK remains on the Formula One calendar.

Perhaps using tax payers money on sporting events is incorrect, to which you would have to include the Olympic Games, but surely in a crisis, the government should be there to prop up the affected industry/business/event and offer a helping hand.

Of course, life and politics doesn’t work like that and the UK will applaud the efforts of the government at funding the organisations that will bring the Olympic Games to London in 2012, over budget and probably behind schedule. The British Grand Prix, by then, could be but a distant memory. Just as long as Team Great Britain can host the Games then all is okay with this county’s involvement in international sporting events.

Original article by BlogF1.

2010 British Grand Prix Facing Fresh Threats

Original article by BlogF1.

Tazio Nuvalari Wins At Donington In 1938

Original article by BlogF1.

Donington 2010 Simulation

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.

• Download Proposed Donington 2010 to Google Earth

Original article by BlogF1.

Donington Park Already In Trouble?

Original article by BlogF1.

Ayrton Senna: Donington Park 1993 First Lap

Silverstone

Silverstone have submitted plans to radically redevelop the circuit, but given they have now lost the British Grand Prix contract, it is unlikely that these plans will go ahead before the final 2009 race. Therefore, it is likely that the layout will remain the same for next year.

Donington Park

Whereas Donington may have just about enough time to make some changes (if the rumours of planning permission already gained are to be believed). To be honest, less than 24 months isn’t really enough but, the grand prix circuit could, in a pinch, change. Without any details though, the above Google Earth image and BlogF1-style overlay is the current configuration.

Original article by BlogF1.

Silverstone 2008 vs. Donington Park 2008

Silverstone has been a popular venue for drivers and fans alike, but in recent years Ecclestone has been very outspoken about the gradual decline in the facilities at the track. While the old airfield is synonymous with British motor sport, the governing body along with FOM feel that with Donington’s planned improvements, the Leicestershire track will offer a more secure future for the UK’s grand prix.

After many years of patient but fruitless negotiation with the BRDC, we are delighted that Bernie has nevertheless been able to ensure that the British Grand Prix will keep its place on the Formula One World Championship calendar.

We understand that the development programme planned for Donington will achieve the very high standards we and FOM expect from a modern F1 circuit. Finally, British Formula One fans will get the Grand Prix venue they deserve. Max Mosley.

We wanted a world class venue for Formula One in Britain, something that the teams and British F1 fans could be proud of. The major development plans for Donington will give us exactly that. A venue that will put British motor sport back on the map. Bernie Ecclestone.

Ecclestone went on to say that he wanted the UK government to support Silverstone with their planned redevelopment and estimated it would have cost about 0.002% of the government’s commitment for the 2021 Olympic Games.

The news must come as a bitter blow to the BRDC, Silverstone’s circuit owners, and their president and former British Grand Prix winner and world champion, Damon Hill. Along with Jackie Stewart and many other British motor sporting alumni, they have tried to negotiate with Ecclestone over the years and plans to improve the circuit were recently submitted to the Northamptonshire authorities for approval. Unfortunately, it seems it was too little, too late.

Donington Park was brought-out last year by Simon Gillett and Lee Gillm, and even back then there was a rumour that they may appraoch Bernie about hosting the British Grand Prix. With investment from a shareholder in the company that owns the track, Donington Park will undergo improvements and development ahead and after its first race in 2010.

At the beginning of last year when we acquired the circuit and its substantial lands, we made clear our commitment towards realising the full potential of the Park by making the necessary investments in current and future events that will see Donington revitalised, ensuring its leading position as one of the most iconic racing circuits in the world. Simon Gillett & Lee Gillm.

The last time a Formula One car was driven in anger at Donington was in 1993; Ayrton Senna blitzed the field on the opening lap in torrential rain and performed one of the greatest laps to have ever been driven in a grand prix car.

Original article by BlogF1.

Silverstone Loses Out To Donington Park From 2010 Onwards