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[scotty]

Let me get this straight - they're debating the environmental impact when the track is pretty much right next door to an airport?

[racechick]

Let me get this straight - they're debating the environmental impact when the track is pretty much right next door to an airport?

I know that sounds crazy but the airport is part of the problem. It's the safety isuues. GP radio masts will interfere with holiday jets going over. Also on GP weekend Silverstone becomes the busiest airport in the world, so there could be traffic control problems.Anyway whatever they decide they will take ages and come up with obscure reasons for things and wierd decisions...thats British planners!!

[scotty]

Let me get this straight - they're debating the environmental impact when the track is pretty much right next door to an airport?

I know that sounds crazy but the airport is part of the problem. It's the safety isuues. GP radio masts will interfere with holiday jets going over. Also on GP weekend Silverstone becomes the busiest airport in the world, so there could be traffic control problems.Anyway whatever they decide they will take ages and come up with obscure reasons for things and wierd decisions...thats British planners!!

Yep, that's a large problem, i suspect some radio usage agreement can be developed with the airport, it's probably in both their interests given the fact that EMA will probably have one of it's busiest periods when the F1 (hopefully) comes to town, and the airport will surely see this as a great opportunity to market themselves as an efficient airport...... As for the F1 helicopter traffic, those guys can drive like everyone else, it's not going to kill them. They can experience the horror of morning traffic on the A453!!

The thing that got me was that they reckon they have to consider the 'air quality and noise levels', something that can't be made much worse by a few cars racing one weekend a year. Even the noise created by developing the new paddock etc will be drowned out by a plane taking off nearby...

[McLaren Fan]

Let me get this straight - they're debating the environmental impact when the track is pretty much right next door to an airport?

I know that sounds crazy but the airport is part of the problem. It's the safety isuues. GP radio masts will interfere with holiday jets going over. Also on GP weekend Silverstone becomes the busiest airport in the world, so there could be traffic control problems.Anyway whatever they decide they will take ages and come up with obscure reasons for things and wierd decisions...thats British planners!!

Yep, that's a large problem, i suspect some radio usage agreement can be developed with the airport, it's probably in both their interests given the fact that EMA will probably have one of it's busiest periods when the F1 (hopefully) comes to town, and the airport will surely see this as a great opportunity to market themselves as an efficient airport...... As for the F1 helicopter traffic, those guys can drive like everyone else, it's not going to kill them. They can experience the horror of morning traffic on the A453!!

The thing that got me was that they reckon they have to consider the 'air quality and noise levels', something that can't be made much worse by a few cars racing one weekend a year. Even the noise created by developing the new paddock etc will be drowned out by a plane taking off nearby...

I agree with you about air pollution and noise levels, but the airport is a big issue. East Midlands is a decent-sized airport, but it couldn't suddenly become one of the busiest airports in the world without some planning. For aircraft to land and/or take off, they need to fly right over the track. If there are helicopters etc. flying around, this could be very dangerous. There is also the "3,000ft Rule", which means that an aircraft have to keep a 3,000ft distance between open-air gatherings (more than 1,000 people), although permission can be sought from the CAA to enter that airspace. A year or two ago new Public Safety Zones were devised and they basically state that nothing can be built which is used for people staying there for a reasonable amount of time. This includes houses and sports stadia, and as Donington is right next to the airport, this is bound to cause them difficulties in getting planning permission. I know this for a fact because it means my football club back in Belfast cannot renovate its stadium because it is very close to the airport. Linked to this is what happens if a plane crashes? If a plane takes off using East Midlands' westerly runway and something goes wrong, it will almost certainly crash into the circuit. If this happens, it will be an horrific situation. Unless some brown envelopes are changing hands, Donington's chances of getting planning permission are not as certain as they think based on its proximity to the airport. This and other things suggest - and I don't like being a pessimist - that its more likely that there won't be a British Grand Prix in 2010.

[vintage]

it was gonna happen eventually. i dont get why everyone loves silverstone though, i dont remember there being very exciting races there. what helped was when it rained, then the race was fun to watch

[Gaz]

it was gonna happen eventually. i dont get why everyone loves silverstone though, i dont remember there being very exciting races there. what helped was when it rained, then the race was fun to watch

Your obviously not an F1 fan

[scotty]

it was gonna happen eventually. i dont get why everyone loves silverstone though, i dont remember there being very exciting races there. what helped was when it rained, then the race was fun to watch

Your obviously not an F1 fan

What a lame, condescending thing to say.

You can count the number of decent dry races from the last 20 or so years on one hand...

[McLaren Fan]

It's not so much the overtaking. Overtaking is overrated, in my view (although I do think we need to see a reasonable amount more of it at the minute). A good race is about other things as well. First, Silverstone's history immediately gives you a buzz. Second, the circuit is technically challenging for the engineers and gives the drivers something to think about as well. Some of the corners on the circuit are just breathtaking, so you can appreciate the cars majestically sweeping through them. So, yes, Silverstone may not produce the closest racing we're ever going to see, but it has a hell of a lot of other things to offer. I think it's disgusting to see it being taken off the calendar. Ecclestone is trying to abolish the British Grand Prix, not to mention the French and German Grands Prix amongst others.

[scotty]

Don't get me wrong, i still love the place, but races like '06 and '07... And F1 should be all about the racing really, it is a motor race after all!

Seeing the cars fly through bridge, maggots & becketts etc is awesome but that only goes so far, you know? You can go and watch the cars testing to see that.

[racechick]

it was gonna happen eventually. i dont get why everyone loves silverstone though, i dont remember there being very exciting races there. what helped was when it rained, then the race was fun to watch

Silverstone is mega! I live mear Donnington but doubt the track will be ready or anywhere near as good.
How about Silverstone 2003??

[Gaz]

it was gonna happen eventually. i dont get why everyone loves silverstone though, i dont remember there being very exciting races there. what helped was when it rained, then the race was fun to watch

Silverstone is mega! I live mear Donnington but doubt the track will be ready or anywhere near as good.
How about Silverstone 2003??

If donington is any good they should just alternate like they do with Hockenhiem and Nuremberg

[EwanM]

it was gonna happen eventually. i dont get why everyone loves silverstone though, i dont remember there being very exciting races there. what helped was when it rained, then the race was fun to watch

Silverstone is mega! I live mear Donnington but doubt the track will be ready or anywhere near as good.
How about Silverstone 2003??

If donington is any good they should just alternate like they do with Hockenhiem and Nuremberg

Bernie says that will never go back to Silverstone. If they update Silverstone then the chance of return might be true - but I doubt it. The BRDC will surprise me if they do anything.

I think the atmosphere at Donnington will be great. The Hillside view of the craners section will look fab - especially if they the fans flock to it like you see during the MOTO GP races at Jerez. Where the bankings add to the spectacle.

[racechick]

it was gonna happen eventually. i dont get why everyone loves silverstone though, i dont remember there being very exciting races there. what helped was when it rained, then the race was fun to watch

Silverstone is mega! I live mear Donnington but doubt the track will be ready or anywhere near as good.
How about Silverstone 2003??

If donington is any good they should just alternate like they do with Hockenhiem and Nuremberg

Bernie says that will never go back to Silverstone. If they update Silverstone then the chance of return might be true - but I doubt it. The BRDC will surprise me if they do anything.

I think the atmosphere at Donnington will be great. The Hillside view of the craners section will look fab - especially if they the fans flock to it like you see during the MOTO GP races at Jerez. Where the bankings add to the spectacle.

I doubt you'll be allowed in the infield, just as you no longer can at Silverstone. Its a very small infield anyway and will be taken up with things of far more interest to Bernie than fans.

[EwanM]

it was gonna happen eventually. i dont get why everyone loves silverstone though, i dont remember there being very exciting races there. what helped was when it rained, then the race was fun to watch

Silverstone is mega! I live mear Donnington but doubt the track will be ready or anywhere near as good.
How about Silverstone 2003??

If donington is any good they should just alternate like they do with Hockenhiem and Nuremberg

Bernie says that will never go back to Silverstone. If they update Silverstone then the chance of return might be true - but I doubt it. The BRDC will surprise me if they do anything.

I think the atmosphere at Donnington will be great. The Hillside view of the craners section will look fab - especially if they the fans flock to it like you see during the MOTO GP races at Jerez. Where the bankings add to the spectacle.

I doubt you'll be allowed in the infield, just as you no longer can at Silverstone. Its a very small infield anyway and will be taken up with things of far more interest to Bernie than fans.

I dno bout tht. We'll wait and see. But im confident that they will let people up into that area.

[racechick]

Theres a new pit and paddock area going in the infield and that extra loop so I cant see how they can. Its so small in there