FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[racechick]

Living only 15 minutes from Donnington and having visited the track and neighbouring East Midlands airport many times I had my doubts from the beginning about Donnington being anywhere near ready for 2010. In today's Times an article lists problems already and the havent yet submitted planning permission. The main points of the article are as follows.

Lee Gill chief operating officer who snatched contract from Silverstone has left the project.

Doubts about Peter Edwards the finance director.

'Sidhu and Simon' the public relations firm handling the announcement of the British GP have left the project.

East Midlands airport have complained about potential interference from mobile phone masts with holiday jets flying overhead. (We went from EM airport in August when there was an event on at Donnington, from the carpark we could hear the cars on track and when we flew we could see them...its literally next door)

On British GP weekend Silverstone is the busiest airport in the world. How will that stack up next to a busy commercial airport? And will locals accept that?

Finally when Donnington applied for its liquor and entertainment licence last week they were ordered to strengthen security because East Midlands Aiport had to close a section of runway during the Moto GP in June.

Not boding well is it? Bernies reply. "We've got a contract with them, which i hope they honour. Im not even considering there wont be a race there". he also said If Donnington miss the 2010 deadline then Britain will lose the race.

[Jabberwocky]

for Britain to loose the GP I think is what Bernie has wanted for a long time, it just so happens he can do it now and no one will blame him

[7UpJordan]

If Bernie gets rid of the British GP, he should be prosecuted for treason.

[scotty]

If the situation is still the same in about 10/12 months time it'll be worrying, although there's still plently of time to go, so hopefully everything will be all good.

[bud]

its all apart of Bernies plan, he knew it wouldnt be ready, he wanted to get rid of the UK GP

[Denthúl]

The Formula 1 Asia Championship, coming soon to a screen near you!

[bud]

The Formula 1 Asia Championship, coming soon to a screen near you!

ahuh

[Denthúl]

To be honest, I don't have an issue with any of the tracks, but the fact that it's supposed to be a World Championship, but most of the world doesn't have the kind of money that Bernie is asking for.

[McLaren Fan]

its all apart of Bernies plan, he knew it wouldnt be ready, he wanted to get rid of the UK GP

I'm beginning to think the same. When the news that Donington was considering holding the British Grand Prix, we all burst out laughing, and with good reason. Their plans no doubt sound pretty good, but the initial concerns over time and money haven't gone away. Since then, every week or so, there's been a story in the news about Donington not being able to do this, have to reconsider that etc. Ecclestone is pretty clued up and can pay for the best advice, so I find it tricky to believe he didn't know a lot of these obstacles would crop up along the way. I don't see why he would interested in saving the British Grand Prix. Other historic Grands Prix have been ditched so he can hold races in countries who are offering him more money and CVC demand that Ecclestone brings in as much money as possible. It's sad, for having watched the qualifying today, I was thinking how good a lot of those older tracks were.

[scotty]

Well, at least things are getting underway now... sort of...

http://www.itv-f1.com/news_article.aspx?id=43824

Donington Park has unveiled the first stage of its £100 million redevelopment scheme designed to bring the circuit up to modern-day Formula 1 standard in time for its first British Grand Prix in 2010.

The Leicestershire circuit, which snatched the rights to host the British round from Silverstone in two years’ time, announced it had submitted its first phase of plans to North West Leicestershire District Council for approval on Friday.

The ambitious plans include the building of a brand new pit and paddock complex, moved from its current venue to the inside of Starkey’s Straight just after Copice corner.

That section will now become the circuit’s new start/finish straight, meaning the Melbourne hairpin will be the altered layout’s first corner.

As previously suggested, the circuit will be lengthened by a new infield loop meaning cars will carry on through a new sweeping long left-hander corner instead of the current layout which sees cars turn left onto the current main straight.

A new hairpin will then be followed by a section of track sweeping back up to the current start/finish straight, where cars will come back onto the old section of track which will include tackling the iconic Craner Curves in their current form.

In all the extended track is proposed to include 14 corners and the circuit’s chief executive Simon Gillett is confident the plans will result in a world-class venue.

"The submission of these plans heralds the start of a massive re-development project and a new era for Donington Park,” Gillett said in a statement.

“It's an incredibly exciting time for everybody involved.

"We are delighted with the plans and when the work is completed we will have a facility that will be the pride of world championship motorsport."

Donington added that it would not be making any further comment on the proposals until the local council announced its decision on planning in early November.

[McLaren Fan]

Well, it has only submitted the plans, so the council etc. have to consult with various parties and carry out some research, so there's a lot that can still go wrong, i.e. some of what was said above.

[Kiwi_Chris]

the circuit plans are on the Donnington website and the track looks pretty good - i would still rather see the race at silverstone though

[welshie]

the circuit plans are on the Donnington website and the track looks pretty good - i would still rather see the race at silverstone though

To be honest though if it does go as planned it will be one hell of a circuit!

http://www.donington-park.co.uk/files/pdf/master_plan.pdf

[8-ball]

If everything goes according to plan then Donnington should be a good place for the British GP but there is a heck of a lot to do and time is running out. Less than 2 years to go and plans are only now being submitted and knowing British councils they will have a 6 month meeting and review before any decision is made. But i am still keeping everything crossed

[racechick]

It wont be ready even if all red tape is cleared quickly, they'll never get the road infrastructure in place. Even if they do the track is too narrow and too short -a shadow of Silverstone. Bernie is playing games, he is not stupid and knows Donnington will not be ready or suitable.