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F1 News & Discussions => General F1 Discussion => Topic started by: Andy B on July 04, 2008, 11:45:50 AM

Title: British GP at Donnington from 2010
Post by: Andy B on July 04, 2008, 11:45:50 AM
Or so they say the deal is done.

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/7/8039.html (http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/7/8039.html)

http://www.donington-park.co.uk/events/events-news?news_id=133 (http://www.donington-park.co.uk/events/events-news?news_id=133)
Title: Re: British GP at Donnington from 2010
Post by: Scott on July 04, 2008, 02:10:37 PM
Oops, sorry Andy.  I didn't see your post and re-posted it in F1 Discussion.  Maybe Dare, Steven or Wiz can delete one of them for us.
Title: Re: British GP at Donnington from 2010
Post by: SennaMan on July 04, 2008, 02:38:59 PM
While I am sad that Silverstone loses this GP at least it stays in the country so fundamental to F1. So the uncertainty is now over.

I am also glad it goes to a track that is a part of the rich history of the sport. In 1993, the last time F1 was raced there, the late great ayrton SENNA lapped the whole field [except for damon HILL who was 80 seconds behind in 2nd place] in very wet conditions in what has been described as one of the truly greatest drives ever.

So the King is dead, long live the new one.
Title: Re: British GP at Donnington from 2010
Post by: John S on July 04, 2008, 09:28:04 PM
 It'll never happen, it's Brands Hatch take 2 from Bernie. I attended the WSR race at Donnington last year and a crowd less than half the size of an F1 meet brought the surrounding roads and the M1 motorway to a halt for a few hours and a lot of ticket holders arrived halfway through the event. Funny how WSR went to Silverstone this year, maybe Renault wanted all their invited public to get in on time to see the show they pay a lot to stage.

 They may build new stuff at the Donnington circuit in time, that's supposing the planning authority will agree it, but who is going to foot the bill for new major access roads, even if they can be built in time. It certainly wont be the government after all the money they shelled out to improve Silverstone roads a couple of years back. :nono: :nono:
Title: Re: British GP at Donnington from 2010
Post by: Mitch14 on July 04, 2008, 10:02:57 PM
maybe they will go back to silverstone after the donginton years as it is a very popular race
Title: Re: British GP at Donnington from 2010
Post by: Andy B on July 04, 2008, 11:40:30 PM
It'll never happen

But its going to happen more news next week.
Silverstone have been warned for some time that they could loose it and now they have.
Title: Re: British GP at Donnington from 2010
Post by: Mitch14 on July 05, 2008, 08:36:35 AM
the GPDA should have really done more to save the race
Title: Re: British GP at Donnington from 2010
Post by: John S on July 05, 2008, 09:55:34 AM
It'll never happen

But its going to happen more news next week.
Silverstone have been warned for some time that they could loose it and now they have.

Sure it is.... no wait I just saw a big porker with Bernie's face on it fly accross!  :crazy:
Title: Re: British GP at Donnington from 2010
Post by: Steven Roy on July 05, 2008, 11:30:51 AM
Quote
But its going to happen more news next week.

It was definitely going to Brands Hatch a few years ago too.  The people who owned Brands before Jonathan Palmer signed a deal then discovered that there was no way they could ever get Brands up to GP standards so they did a deal with Silverstone to put the race on there while Brands still had the rights.  Eventually they dropped out of the loop because it was costing them money. 

I will believe Donington will happen when free practise starts on the Friday of the first race.  Until then as far as I am concerned it is just a way for Bernie to screw money out of the BRDC.
Title: Re: British GP at Donnington from 2010
Post by: Steven Roy on July 05, 2008, 12:11:54 PM
Oh what a surprise - shock horror.

Bernie just said on ITV that Silverstone could keep the race if it could do a deal with the Donington people.
Title: Re: British GP at Donnington from 2010
Post by: cosworth151 on July 05, 2008, 01:05:55 PM
JYS was just on ITV's Quali coverage. He says there is no way that Donington could host a GP in it's current form. Too short, not enough runoff area, not safe enough, ect. He also mentioned that Silverstone is in a far better spot to draw crowds from the London area.
Title: Re: British GP at Donnington from 2010
Post by: Scott on July 05, 2008, 03:12:50 PM
Bernie says the contract is signed, but I suspect that in that contract there are expectations from Donington that they simply won't be able to live up to in time...and then, like Steven suggests, it will fall back into the BRDC and Silverstone's lap.  Hopefully Bernie won't simply pull a Spa and wait until Donington is ready by removing the British GP from the '10 and '11 calendars.
Title: Re: British GP at Donnington from 2010
Post by: johnbull on July 05, 2008, 04:04:50 PM
I think I'm with Scotty on this one. I really can't see it happen.

This is just old Bernie getting his kicks again by winding people up. I suppose at his age there isn't much else that gives him a thrill> :yahoo:

Like Steven, I'll believe it when I see it. Incidentally I heard Stewart's comments and have to say I agree with him.
Title: Re: British GP at Donnington from 2010
Post by: SennaMan on July 06, 2008, 11:46:10 AM
This just to hand from BBC SPORT:

"Donington Park chief executive Simon Gillett says the venue will be ready to host the British Grand Prix in 2010.

The circuit will undergo a £100m facelift to bring it up to standard and Gillett has dismissed fears that it will not be ready in time.

"There are no get-out clauses other than the fact we have to be at the suitable standard by that time," he told BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek.

"We have a plan, we have the investment ready so we will be there."

He added: "If we're not ready, in the same way that if anybody else wasn't ready, then I'm sure Bernie Ecclestone would look to do something as he cannot jeopardise the Grand Prix.

"But as there aren't any other alternatives we will be there at 2010."

Donington will replace Silverstone as the host of the British Grand Prix but the circuit will need a huge overhaul to meet F1 supremo Ecclestone's exacting standards."

please click on link below  to read more of the story or paste in ya search browser:

http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7491944.stm (http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7491944.stm)


Title: Re: British GP at Donnington from 2010
Post by: Steven Roy on July 06, 2008, 06:02:43 PM
Mr. Gillett was interviewed on ITV before the race.  They don't have planning permission.  He sounded less than certain about the modifications needed.  He didn't even mention how they are going to sort out the traffic problems.  Oh and they haven't raised any capital yet.  They are going to fund it with a debenture scheme which will be launched in a few weeks.

So in two years they have to raise the finance, draw up plans, get planning permission, build everything and get safety certificates.  Who is going to buy into a debenture scheme that has no chance of ever happening.

I think Bernie spotted a mug and figured he would let the guy waste his time and put pressure on Silverstone then he would let the guy buy his way out of the contract and then Bernie can do a deal with Silverstone with Gillett's cheque in his pocket.
Title: Re: British GP at Donnington from 2010
Post by: Mitch14 on July 06, 2008, 06:54:48 PM
Donington are going to have a real job getting their track done in time
Title: Re: British GP at Donnington from 2010
Post by: SennaMan on July 08, 2008, 12:39:50 PM
taking all the excellent postings on this thread methinks something is quite rotten in the State of Donington!
Title: Re: British GP at Donnington from 2010
Post by: Mitch14 on July 08, 2008, 06:43:44 PM
bernie has said that if donington is not ready in time then there will be no british race
Title: Re: British GP at Donnington from 2010
Post by: Ian on July 08, 2008, 07:23:51 PM
This is just Bernies way of getting rid of the British Grand Prix, Donnington has a heck of a lot of work to do and Bernie is betting that it won't be done in time.
Title: Re: British GP at Donnington from 2010
Post by: Mitch14 on July 08, 2008, 07:28:00 PM
it seems like bernie isn't confident about the races he puts on
Title: Re: British GP at Donnington from 2010
Post by: Alianora La Canta on July 09, 2008, 10:31:02 AM
Basically, we have a very ambitious venture capital company that may have overestimated its capabilities.
Title: Re: British GP at Donnington from 2010
Post by: John S on July 09, 2008, 06:55:19 PM
Like I said earlier in the thread it's Brands Hatch take 2  :crazy:
Title: Re: British GP at Donnington from 2010
Post by: johnbull on July 10, 2008, 09:47:36 AM
Like I said earlier in the thread it's Brands Hatch take 2  :crazy:

I'm calling it another Bernie Bluff.

I can't realistically see the British GP going anywhere but Silverstone.

Would somebody please explain to me what it is that Bernie really wants. Or can't he even answer that one himself.
Title: Re: British GP at Donnington from 2010
Post by: SennaMan on July 10, 2008, 10:09:44 AM
Like I said earlier in the thread it's Brands Hatch take 2  :crazy:

I'm calling it another Bernie Bluff.

I can't realistically see the British GP going anywhere but Silverstone.

Would somebody please explain to me what it is that Bernie really wants. Or can't he even answer that one himself.

easy to answer JB - another boring herman TILKE $200 Millions plus, designed track in some hellish country that has money to burn 'coz they don't give a fig for their downtrodden subjects and would rather cough up plenty of dosh to Bernie, thinking this somehow makes them a power and a country worthy of recognition.

And of course the 'stunted one' gets a cut of the cost of the new facility plus much increased fees for bringing the 'circus' to a grateful regime.

follow the money..ooops....shekels mate and to hell with the glorious legacy, spirit and history of F1:

"I vant money, that is vhat I vant!"   
Title: Re: British GP at Donnington from 2010
Post by: Alianora La Canta on July 10, 2008, 11:41:35 AM
johnbull, Bernie wants money. Simple. He doesn't care about the rest.
Title: Re: British GP at Donnington from 2010
Post by: Steven Roy on July 10, 2008, 12:58:49 PM
Bernie has spotted a mug who thinks he can put a race on at a circuit that can't hand the crowd at a World Series by Renault race.  The mug has signed a contract that he will no doubt have to pay Bernie a few million to get out of and at the same time Bernie's mate Tilke gets to pick up a few quid and Bernie gets to apply pressure to the BRDC.
Title: Re: British GP at Donington from 2010
Post by: Wizzo on July 10, 2008, 01:35:20 PM
I love Silverstone and consider it to be the home of the British GP, however, Bernie has fired enough warning shots across their bow for them to do something about the circuit and yet it remains the same.

If Donington has backing of £100m over the next 5 years then we really could see a circuit to rival the likes of Bahrain etc, and personally I would welcome that. It will be interesting to see Donnington's 'Master Plan' as I for one would love to know exactly what they're proposing.
Title: Re: British GP at Donnington from 2010
Post by: Alianora La Canta on July 10, 2008, 02:03:08 PM
They've still got to get it past the council, and that will be almost as difficult for Donington as it was for Silverstone.
Title: Re: British GP at Donnington from 2010
Post by: Monty on July 10, 2008, 03:22:13 PM
Quote
I love Silverstone and consider it to be the home of the British GP, however, Bernie has fired enough warning shots across their bow for them to do something about the circuit and yet it remains the same.

I agree that Silverstone is the real home of the British GP but I can't really agree that it 'remains the same'. They spent millions on the access roads, car parks, run-off areas. It is a vastly improved track. Although I don't actually like Silverstone it offers better facilities than any other track in the UK and in all honesty it is much better than many of the European tracks that still hold GP's.
Although Donnington is a great track for the moto GP, I can easily believe that it will require £100million to bring it up to F1 standards and in doing this it may ruin the track for the bikes. This brings into question how Donnington will make money in the future. It's biggest income at the moment comes from Moto GP, BSB and BTTC. If in trying to win the F1 GP it loses the moto GP it will be financially no better off. How will it ever pay-off the £100million debt. As a business Donnington will be so heavily geared I can't see how it could survive.
Title: Re: British GP at Donnington from 2010
Post by: Wizzo on July 10, 2008, 05:51:18 PM
Good points Monty, the access roads have been greatly improved from years gone by. I still have nightmares from thousands of cars driving through small villages trying to get in and out after a race.  :(

Has the parking improved? I was one of the poor spectators who (nearly) got suck in the mud a few years back. Silverstone invited me as a guest last year (sadly not for the GP) and whilst I got the grand tour I didn't see any improvements in parking, just the usual fields roped off with string. Having said that, I have never been to a circuit with anything substantially better.

I totally agree that it remains one of best circuits in the UK for facilities, but I also believe it is not good enough to represent the 'Home of Motorsport' when the F1 circus comes to town. Things have moved on and I desperately wish they would improve things and keep F1 at Silverstone, but alas I think this ship may have sailed in Bernie's eyes. Many European circuits may suffer the same fate if they do not invest wisely and keep up with the eastern countries.

The important thing is we keep a British GP, (imagine the national anthem playing in the background), and I for one will support it no matter where it is held. We should be proud of our motorsport heritage and set an example for the rest of the world to follow.

Please raise your glasses - Gentlemen, The Queen!

 :D
Title: Re: British GP at Donnington from 2010
Post by: johnbull on July 10, 2008, 06:54:54 PM
Donnington is a fabulous circuit, may be not for present day clinical F1, but it's great anyway. A real circuit.

Please, Brits. Don't even allow that kraut Tilke to cross the chanel. How can anybody compare any of the Tilke scalextric tracks with Donnington.

Having said that it is a totally impractical proposition to think of Donnington for the F1 Gp.

If anybody is going to spend 100 million why not improve the roads and facilities at Silverstone.

One more point. Everything about Silverstone is better than say Monza, so why is Bernie so bent on screwing Silverstone?

Yes I know. It's called money. Presumably he plans on starting a new Herman Tilke designed track to heaven. ;)
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