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[irons_4_ever]

The future of the British Grand Prix at Donington is again in doubt after legal proceedings were issued against the company leasing the track.

Track owners Wheatcroft & Son Limited are seeking £2.47m in rent arrears from Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd as well as forfeiture of the track lease.

DVLL, headed by chief executive officer Simon Gillett, secured the 150-year lease in 2007.

The circuit has a 10-year contract to host the race, starting in 2010.

The proceedings against DVLL were started at Derby County Court by lawyers at Browne Jacobson LLP, acting on behalf of the Wheatcrofts, Tom and Kevin.

"It is with great reluctance we have taken this decision," said Kevin Wheatcroft. "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 forfeiture of the lease."

Donington won the rights to host the British Grand Prix after current hosts Silverstone stalled over signing a new deal and Gillett impressed Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone with his plans for redeveloping the East Midlands venue.

In January this year the green light was given to begin work on a £100m redevelopment to bring the venue up to standard.

However, despite work beginning immediately the track was not granted a safety certificate by the Motor Sports Association, leading to the cancelling of a number of events.

Gillett was also due to confirm plans at the end of March for his debenture scheme, to again raise much-needed funds, however they have been put on hold.

Gillett has claimed the circuit will be ready in time for 2010 but Ecclestone recently stated that if Donington does not meet required standards to host the event there will be no British Grand Prix from next year.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsp ... 015028.stm

I really hope they sort this out and quick

[Ste L]

they should sort this, *hopefully*
cant be doing without a brittish gp now can we?

still i'd rather it stayed at silverstone, that go donny, personally, but thats not going to happen no matter what

[EwanM]

Ecclestone: British GP doubt no shock

By Jonathan Noble Thursday, April 23rd 2009, 15:36 GMT


Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone says that doubts about the British Grand Prix's future that have emerged because of a legal spat are no big surprise to him - having warned for years that the country was not matching the commitment to host a race shown by others.

The fate of the British GP now appears to be hanging in the balance after Donington Park owner Tom Wheatcroft announced he was suing the track's leaseholders for unpaid rent – as well as pushing for the 150-year lease to be forfeited.

Ecclestone has warned several times before that if Donington Park cannot get the track ready in time for the 2010 race then the British GP will be dropped from the calendar – and he admitted in Bahrain on Thursday that he was unsure what would happen now.

When asked by AUTOSPORT if he was saddened that the British GP was clouded by bickering while events like the new Abu Dhabi track aspire to become the best race on the calendar, Ecclestone said: "Absolutely. It is like Silverstone and Donington.

"I've been saying it for a long time: we just don't make the effort."

He added: "I don't know what the situation is. I don't know what the details are. What happens when people sue people is that both people think they are right, then it goes to court and the judge decides who was right and who was wrong. So maybe Tom is wrong and the other people are right. Maybe they don't owe that money."

Ecclestone hinted again that if Donington Park was not ready then there would be little other opportunity to hold a race in 2010.

"Well, we can't have one in the streets, could we?" he said.

Ecclestone also dismissed suggestions that he could now make a move to become the promoter of the British GP.

"What? To pay the rent?" he said when asked about the possibility. "I don't think so. I'm too busy. We've got a promoter and we've got the people there already."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/74725

[Jensonb]

There will be no Grand Prix at Donington.

[Gaz]

There will be no Grand Prix at Donington.

Bit of a bold statment there..

I think it will get sorted hes just trying it on.

[Jensonb]

There will be no Grand Prix at Donington.

Bit of a bold statment there..

I think it will get sorted hes just trying it on.

Their plans are full of holes and have been beset by so many setbacks that as far as I'm concerned it's better to assume there won't be and be pleasantly surprised if there is than assume there will be and be disappointed.

[Gaz]

There will be no Grand Prix at Donington.

Bit of a bold statment there..

I think it will get sorted hes just trying it on.

Their plans are full of holes and have been beset by so many setbacks that as far as I'm concerned it's better to assume there won't be and be pleasantly surprised if there is than assume there will be and be disappointed.

Nah same with Dubai and Singapoore so..it will get sorted.

[EwanM]

I'm still confident of a British GP. Let's see the results of these legal proceedings before we pass any sort of judgement.

[bud]

Bernie didnt want a British GP so what better way to get rid of one but not look like a bad guy? give the race to a track that would never be ready in time!
No British GP and it wasnt his doing.

win win for Bernie now wheres the next Arab money coming from?

[FerrariFan63]

Their plans are full of holes and have been beset by so many setbacks that as far as I'm concerned it's better to assume there won't be and be pleasantly surprised if there is than assume there will be and be disappointed.

That's my view on the matter. The only question is: if Donington isn't ready, does that mean that the GP stays at Silverstone, or is there no British GP at all?

[MAD MAX]

Should have stayed at Silverston, it is a lot of history with GP

[Denthúl]

Their plans are full of holes and have been beset by so many setbacks that as far as I'm concerned it's better to assume there won't be and be pleasantly surprised if there is than assume there will be and be disappointed.

That's my view on the matter. The only question is: if Donington isn't ready, does that mean that the GP stays at Silverstone, or is there no British GP at all?

Bernie has already said that there would just be no British Grand Prix at all.

[Frosty]

To me this looks pretty bad it looks like they cannot afford the lease which is really bad if they can't afford it then I guess the company is in severe financial problems.

[EwanM]

People need to rememeber this happened before with Brands Hatch and Octagon. Silverstone can step in, but Donington isn't Dead in the water.

[Jensonb]

People need to rememeber this happened before with Brands Hatch and Octagon. Silverstone can step in, but Donington isn't Dead in the water.

Yet.