THE British Grand Prix has been saved – but its new home is to be Donington Park from 2010 and not Silverstone.
Formula 1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone yesterday revealed the surprise news at the Northamptonshire circuit that will now stage its final race next year after being a permanent fixture since 1987. Ecclestone, president of Formula One Management
, said: "Finally the uncertainty is over. A contract has been signed with Donington Park and the future of the British Grand Prix is now secure."
The news will come as a bitter blow for the British Racing Drivers' Club who own Silverstone as they have long been in detailed talks with Ecclestone with regards a new deal.
Ecclestone has continually expressed unhappiness at the facilities at the track, which in many people's eyes is far from the worst on the calendar.
But the 77-year-old has made it plain over the years the circuit was in need of drastic improvement, otherwise it would be axed.
Earlier this year Silverstone's owners finally acquired planning permission to build a new £30million pit and paddock complex that would be the first phase of a multi-million redevelopment.
However, it is clear Ecclestone's patience has clearly run out, and after recently confirming he was in discussions with Donington Park, the East Midlands venue has now won the day with a ten-year agreement.
"We wanted a world-class venue for Formula 1 in Britain, something the teams and British F1 fans could be proud of," added Ecclestone.
"The major development plans for Donington will give us exactly that – a venue that will put British motor sport back on the map. I am sorry we could not have helped Silverstone to raise the money to carry out the circuit improvements and run Formula one."
Ecclestone then had a dig at the British Government for not dipping their hands into their pockets and helping out Silverstone.
"I believe the government should have supported them, which would have cost probably less than 0.002 per cent of the government's commitment for the Olympic Games," remarked Ecclestone.
Donington Park, home of the British round of MotoGP, will require its own multi-million pound facelift to ensure it meets exacting standards required to run a grand prix.
The circuit is currently owned by Tom Wheatcroft, although it is run by and leased to computer magnate Simon Gillett and partner Lee Gill under the name of Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd.
Gillett and Gill now have two years to bring up to scratch a track that has previously only staged one grand prix, the European in 1993, with investment of £100million planned over the next five years.
The money will come from an unnamed private investor, who is also a large shareholder.
FIA president Max Mosley said: "After many years of patient but fruitless negotiation with the BRDC, we are delighted Bernie has been able to ensure the British Grand Prix will keep its place on the Formula 1 World Championship calendar.
"We understand the development programme planned for Donington will achieve the very high standards we and FOM expect from a modern F1 circuit.
"Finally, British Formula 1 fans will get the Grand Prix venue they deserve."
In a joint statement issued by Gillett and Gill, they said: "We are naturally delighted and extremely proud to have acquired the rights to bring Formula one back to Donington Park from 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.
"To that end, we have now entered a new and exciting chapter in the development of the park, one that will bring significant investment and regional development, while securing the future of one of the most important and significant sporting events in Britain."
The BRDC and Silverstone Circuits Limited are far from happy with Ecclestone for announcing the British Grand Prix is to move to Donington Park during their anniversary celebrations.
A statement read: "Silverstone Circuits Limited and the BRDC would like to express our disappointment at the announcement released by the FIA concerning the future of the British Grand Prix.
"It is particularly disappointing to receive this information during the course of the British Grand Prix weekend, while we are celebrating 60 years of Silverstone and 80 years of the BRDC.
"The BRDC and Silverstone Circuits Limited are considering our position following in-depth and on-going contract negotiations with FOM.
"We shall release a statement once the full facts of this announcement have been established with FOM and the FIA. The incredible staff here at Silverstone will continue to make this year's sell-out event a resounding success."
The Donington circuit, near the East Midland cities of Derby and Nottingham, will require considerable improvement of its outdated facilities with poor access roads plagued by severe congestion on race weekends.
Formula 1 fans with a good memory and a measure of cynicism will also recall a deal done in 1999 between Ecclestone and then-Brands Hatch owner Nicola Foulston for the British Grand Prix to move to that southern circuit from 2002.
The race ultimately stayed at Silverstone after Foulston sold her business to marketing group Octagon, who then agreed a long-term lease with the BRDC when it became apparent that Brands Hatch simply could not meet its commitment.
Since first opening its doors 77 years ago, Donington has forged a reputation as one of the most revered British motor racing venues, hosting grands prix on both two and four wheels, in addition to national touring car events, Formula Three, GT and Superbike races.
Yet few predicted that the undulating track situated on the doorstep of East Midlands Airport would ever host a Formula 1 race on a regular basis with Silverstone – the stage for the British Grand Prix since 1987 – and Brands Hatch the traditional rivals for that honour.
Donington has staged one Formula 1 race during the world championship era, when – under the European Grand Prix banner – the circuit played host to one of the sport's most memorable races as McLaren's Ayrton Senna put on a masterclass in wet-weather driving on his way to victory back in 1993.
In recent years, however, the circuit had seemingly dropped off the radar of most top-level motorsport series, with the British round of the MotoGP championship remaining its one stand-out attraction.
As much famed for its world-famous motorsport museum and staging the 'Download' rock festival, Donington has developed as a multi-faceted venue.
But hosting the British Grand Prix will undoubtedly see the attention shift away from Donington's sideshow attractions, with a five-year, £100million redevelopment set to transform the facility into one of the world's leading grand prix venues.
Damon Hill, however, has severely criticised Ecclestone, accusing him of sucking money out of grand prix organisers without re-investing in Formula One's infrastructure.
Although plans for a new £30million pit and paddock complex were only recently confirmed, the BRDC's major problem has always been paying Ecclestone his annual fee to host the race. With regard to a potential new deal, Ecclestone – via his Formula One Management company – was demanding £11million, with a small percentage increase per annum over the length of the contract.
"There's always been the question of the FOM fee, and ultimately that is the deciding factor," said Hill, who is president of the British Racing Drivers' club – the owners of Silverstone. "To quote Bernie, he once said: 'You can have anything you like, as long as you pay too much for it,' but we can't pay too much for something. We're in it because we want to be there, but we can't go beyond the balance, the tipping point, and Bernie knows that. So it's a huge disappointment. No-one should stand in the way of someone's ability to make a profit, and that's not what this is about."
TIMELINE1987-2008 Silverstone
1986 Brands Hatch
1985 Silverstone
1984 Brands Hatch
1983 Silverstone
1982 Brands Hatch
1981 Silverstone
1980 Brands Hatch
1979 Silverstone
1978 Brands Hatch
1977 Silverstone
1976 Brands Hatch
1975 Silverstone
1974 Brands Hatch
1973 Silverstone
1972 Brands Hatch
1971 Silverstone
1970 Brands Hatch
1969 Silverstone
1968 Brands Hatch
1967 Silverstone
1966 Brands Hatch
1965 Silverstone
1964 Brands Hatch
1963 Silverstone
1961-1962 Aintree
1960 Silverstone
1959 Aintree
1958 Silverstone
1957 Aintree
1956 Silverstone
1955 Aintree
1948-1954 Silverstone
1926-1927 Brooklands
The full article contains 1450 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
