Club Arnage

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7489662.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7489662.stm)

Brilliant news! Silverstone is lifeless now with no viewing areas at GP weekend unless you've got a seat...  i wouldn't mind paying to go to a F1 race at Donington!  The views from the infield would be great!  If they don't put concrete everywhere to obstruct the views?!

Ah bless you. Pretending you like cars again  ;D

Might even go the GP in 2010 now  ;D Haven't been since I discovered the 24 Heures.
Funnily enough it was because of the ALMS race at Donington that we 1st went to Le Mans

Hope they don't screw up what is a great track already! 

You do have to wonder what plans Donington have put on the table to pull this off.  At the moment it is one of the great tracks in the UK with fantastic spectator viewing.  We can but hope they don't screw that up to appease the poison dwarf and his travelling circus.

Dx

hhhmmm  Donington is going to need;-

New access roads
New Pits
New Paddock (over the top of the Melbourne Loop)
Longer Track
New Spectator Facilities
New Grandstands (that will block the viewing...)
Track upgrade to F1 safety standards

I wonder if this will just end up like the Brands Hatch deal....  Especially when the owners realise that they have to spend huge amounts of money and get 1p revenue from it all after Bernie and his buddies have taken everything else...

Still good luck to them,  at least Silverstone/BRDC don't have to worry about raising a load of money hacking about with the circuit!

Hmmm think they might have to widen parts of the circuit which will change how it drives. IMO that can't possibly make it a better track  :-\

Good news. It's about time the BRDC had its arse kicked. How long have they been promising a major refirmishment. I remember seeing plans about 4 years ago for a state of the art pit complex on the hanger straight and nothing has been built yet. The grandstand opposite the pits hasn't even got a roof on it. A real asset on a typical British summers day. I'm sorry but I don't consider building a few extra toilet blocks and tarmacing the carparks a major refirb.

I am certainly no fan of the poison dwarf, but, to be fair to him he has been warning them for years that he would take the GP away and they didn't listen. So tough sh*t Silverstone. May the souless dump rot away.

Not sure whether to celebrate or mourn...

IF (don't forget Bernie has already taken the GP away from Silverstone once only for planning regs to stop the move to Brands) the swap happens then we can celebrate the passing of Silverstone (dump that it is).  But like others I have concerns that the changes necessary to make Donington a GP venue would sterilise its existing charms.

 ???

I think becasue of the changes required to bring the circuit up to the required FIA / Bernie level, then there is a great risk that Donington will become as faceless as Silverstone.

Donington is a great circuit for watching now, as it is, but that will have to change to support F1.

I think this might turn out to be a thinly disguised shot across the bows of Silverstone.

Plus they only have about 18 months to get all the planning done and granted, and then complete the physical works.

To save Donnington, British immigration should blacklist german race circuit designer Hermann Tilke immidiately

Rob you're right... someone must have hijacked my machine/account

I have just got back from Silverstone, wandering around the back of the F1 padock. Donnington have got thier work cut out, new pits (they have just built new ones too) new bigger smoother padock, grandstands, service roads, (If anyone remebers Renult Day at Donnington, It was hell getting out).

The one major problem they will have is closing East Midlands Airport for 3 days, when they were there for the European GP (Wich Tom Wheatcroft lost a small fortune on and told BE were to stuff it when he was offerd the Brit GP contract) the cranes for lifting the cars of the track, monaco style, were right in the flight path. Now there a hellicopters, costanly flying around.

So one of Britains greatst tracks is about to get ruined, leave it at Silverstone that's ruined already! Plus we could do with keeping the revenue the GP brings round here

Bobblehat

And think about all the high catch fencing that is sure to go up, lots of great photo places at the track will be lost >:(

Do you think they'll have to move the pits at Donnington? can't see Bernie putting up with that amount of room length wise & width wise.
How about onto the straight opposite the exhibition hall (not very flat there)or on the exhibition site??

At first I thought great! The facilities at Donington will improve but then reality hit me. They will build grandstands everywhere, catch fencing etc.
I prefer Donington for real motor racing enthusiasts, not individuals being entertained on corporate expenses and drivers who are so detached from the people who pay their tax bills.
I've had a drink and I may be rambling but I'm pissed off with the first mention of poxy, poncy, hairdresser F1 and the whole circus that surrounds it.
Piss off Bernie and stay in Silverstone.
Steve

Well said Steve- the 'f**k off back down south Bernie' campaign starts right here!

Interesting views expressed by the US TV team of Bob Varsh, Steve Matchett, and David Hobbs this morning during the practice coverage.  Varsha and Matchett both saying that if they plan on holding a F1 race in 2010, with all of the work they're planning on doing, they need to be moving dirt TODAY!  My general impression is that Donington is probably similar to Road Atlanta or Mid-Ohio in its current state, a terrific venue for spectators, but not up to the press and hospitality standards that F1 is used to.
As I understand, this involves a complete redesign of the circuit by this Tilke Twat, if so Donington is f**ked as you know & love it.  It'll end up looking like one of these new generic, devoid of charisma, crap circuits that he's designed.
Fax

I've only ever watched bikes at Donny, but I cant see F1 cars working as the circuit is. I just can't see F1 going there in anything like the near future.
There would have to be a massive investment and building programme there in the next 18 months to allow F1 i n 2010. As far as I'm aware, there have been no Planning Applications made for the circuit that resemble anything like F1 proportions.

As said earlier, viewing from the infield would be superb, as the circuit is at present. F1 would mean grandstands everywhere, obscuring the view that spectators have at the moment.
In a way, I hope they leave Donny as it is.

John,

Hi mate! I think we were saying the same thing at the same time, pretty much!

They need to spend to many many millions (maybe as much as 70 if the reports I have read are correct) to bring the track and paddock up top BE's exacting standards. Plus the roads in the area will need to be upgraded, that will please the local tax payers, I doubt HM Gov will dip into state funds to do it, not with 2012 to pay for and the fact it has laid out for the improvements around Silverstone.

I really can't see it happening in this economic climate, and this time next year, when not one sod has been turned BE will announce a GP in India to replace the Brit GP.

Agree 100%. They're pissing in the wind if they think it's going to be half ready by 2010. Not even gone to planning, os the plans probably haven't been drawn up yet.

The prospect of Donnington being ruinned is yet another reason I couldn't care less anymore if there wasn't a British GP. It was the first motor racing curcuit i ever drove around, way back in 1982. Then when Jaguar restarted a works team with TWR, I was there for their debut in the ETC and then every Uk round for the following few years. I was so exited when Jag went into GpC which I guess lead me to LM and the rest is history...

Also did anyone else go to early eighties Monsters of Rock concerts with legndary bands like Saxon, Hawkwind, Gillan etc. The Donnington Collection is awesome too, though it'll probably be moved now.

Strange thats its moving now.Weve just got the contract in work to supply 1900 tonnes of steelwork for the new pits at Silverstone.Seems like its going to be a year too late
PM

The circuit owners may have already applied for Planning Permission as an advance in anticipation.  As we all know this can take ages to get the go-ahead.

Regarding access roads in and around the surrounding area, this will undoubtably be under the Highways Act - Sec 278 agreement requiring the 'developer' to fund and construct and may be part funded the county council and Highways Agency prior to and re-development works. Approvals for these can take years but can be fast tracked.

In my experience, there is not the time window to undertake and complete the works. If it goes ahead, my CV will be winging way to Donnington.

Leftie,

I'm with you here, there's no way that they can get the application in and run the necessary public consultation soon enough.  My guess is that every greeny for miles will object to the expansion and it'll end up in a public enquiry.

The S.278 will be "interesting" and as for fast tracking the Govt have not yet found a way to force an ecotown through the system, let alone a new racecourse.

If the poison dwarf thinks that he can bend the system to suit him then I'll buy a seat to watch.

Any favouritism will be pounced upon by other parties claiming unfair advantage & will inevitably end in a Judicial Review Challenge.

2010 - I think not

Landman

Come what may, if it has the prospects of the last Donnington GP, with Senna's awsome drive, I would go.
I is entirly likely that its a rouse set for failier by the little tw*t, that way he can blame someone else for moving the race tpo Asia.

I went twice in the late 80's it's safe to say I've never seen so much mud  :o

They still have a festival called the download but it was mid June the same weekend as the 24 hours 

The only way I can see that the F1 GP will end up at Donington is if the poison dwarf himself is the mystery private backer behind the investment, and he has got enough cash to spend £100m just to be vindictive. Whatever his evil plan is I hope it plays out before Donington gets ruined.

Just dont ruin a brilliant bike circuit with brilliant views.

F1's sh*t anyway. its for rich people now.

I've been thinking............................Prove me wrong.

This is a PD cunning plan............

• Silverstone warned several times to upgrade but have not,
• Donnington awarded contract with total lack time to complete works
• Silverstone commences some works,
• Donnington commences works but major external works not completed,
• GP withdrawn from Donnington 2010, untill further noticeli]
  
  • Silverstone re-awarded contract for 2010 as their construction works will be under way!!
  
  Donnington is the 'sledge hammer' to Silverstone.
  
  If you saw Senna's drive in heavy rain from the start. He was the only one on slicks and then you can understand all that I love about Donnington.
  
  

Or.....
Donington fails to completely rebuild the track, pits, paddock, grandstands, car parks and access roads in 2 years and Bernie pulls the plug and accepts an offer to stage a GP from somewhere that gives him a few million quids.
I couldn't give a monkey's about F1, my worry is that Dony gets ruined for nothing, and the bike GP ends up at Silverstone, which is nowhere near as good for watching bikes. Silverstone are after the Moto GP contract, if it does leave Donington then Brands would surely be the next best, but they don't seem interested in bidding, I don't understand why not.

Oh I do hope not, and trust that this is aimed at spurring Silverstone into some form of action.  Donington is such a grand track and venue, and this will just bugger it up completely, in the name of corporate F1 bollox.

MG Mark

Can't see it happening by 2010, and I hope it's the Dwarf playing silly buggers, because everything I love about Donnington will be f*cked.


If it did happen it will give those overpaid prima donnas a new excuse why they didn't perform well:

'There was jet fuel on the track'   ;)

Just put down this weeks MCN reporting on the MotoGP last weekend.

Loads of letters about bad traffic management, really poor facilities, overflowing bogs etc. - one guy suggests saving your money and doing a continental GP instead and somebody suggested it might move back to Silverstone.

Even the local paper is talking about a the great opportunity for a new rail station, dual carriageway upto the Motorway junction ( which has been talked about for years ) etc.

Sadly, that is the state of British national events, and of course we always risk the weather.

I do think Bernie is playing politics because he has a downer on Silverstone - there is no justification in making the move if he is using better access and facilities as an excuse. Can't help thinking that Leftie has a point.

I'm local to Donington, but I'll give it a miss and take le Mans everytime.

BryanC

I was at Donington only the other week for the MotoGP and I was only wondering at the time how they used to run F1 there in the past as the track is so narrow, in fact I believe the last one they ran there was the European GP round when it absolutely pissed down. I might be completely wrong here, but I also believe that they added the Melbourne loop / hairpin in to bring it up to GP length so they were able to run it.
I would also love to see what plans they will have for getting spectators in and out as it was a laughable the last couple of years, particularly for the bikes trying to get out of muddy fields after a rain soaked race. The traffic control was farcical at best, I would suggest going by helicopter if you don't fancy a 2-3 hour wait to get out onto the main access roads.

Rusty

I havent yet been to any motorsport events with circa 95'000 visitors and got out quickly. its just not possible with any form of traffic management.

Well I've just got back from the GP.  I can't see how Donington can produce a GP circuit in sub 2 years, I also can't see how they could possibly deal with the helicopter traffic alongside the commercial airport - apparently last time they closed the airport for three days, I'm not sure quite how much DHL and the Royal Mail etc. would want for that to happen now?

It is very amusingly a repeat of the Foulson situation, the rights holders will end up with a contract to run a GP and no circuit to run it on!

The deal for Donington appears to be for 10 years, which is the contract length that allegedly the BRDC were refused...apparently they were offered a 5 year deal but as a not for profit company couldn't justify the expenditure with only a short term contract on the table. 

Ahh well, as ever we'll just have to wait and see.   Suffice it to say I won't be booking a hotel room for Donny for 2010!

i was thinking this aswell.

They are going to spoil a great track just for formula 1 which is like watching paint dry IMO!  ::) You think they would of learnt with the super bikes and the Renault cup you cant get in or out of that bloody place at all.

Im looking to book a track day there before they start work and spoil it  :'(

bloody bonkers  ;D

I was knocked for six yesterday, I used to work with Simon Gillett, the Director of Donnington that was interviewed on ITV about the the contract, not very confidence inspiring. He says there is no get out clause for Bernie - apart from the one that says if they are not ready they could loose it!
Simons old man used to be heavily involved with F1 in the 70's, with a fuel company I think, so there could be an old connection with the old school club and Bernie and Donnington backers.
However, I still think it's been setup to fail and give Bernie his opportunity to sell the race slot to Asia. This would kill off the UK F1 Industry, perhaps we should start a "Keep the British GP" movement.

I went to the first Bahrain GP in '04 and there is a highway leading to the track which is 4 lanes each way. At the end of the race they closed the road to all local and incoming traffic and allowed all 8 lanes to be used - there was no exit or entry to the highway until they split in different directions about 10 miles north. Dozens of police were there to shepherd you into their desired lane and off you went.  Admittedly there was probably not as many people there but traffic just flowed straight out. It can be done with the right infrastructure and management. Unfortunately all British circuits and the surrounding areas were not designed with this sort of traffic management in mind because the need did not exist 50 years ago.

We could ask the French to organise it for us - that way we are guaranteed for the thing to run like clockwork!

I think the poisened dwarf and Tom Wheatcroft have a deal and the PD is part funding the work.

Planning application and all the highway works have been known for months by the authorities but could not be publicised untill the 'official FIA announcement'.

The PD (sorry - pd) hates Silverstone.

I still stand by my comments in earlier postings.

Oopsy  :(

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/08072008/58/tilke-hired-donington-upgrade.html

Oh dear... that's it then for Donington. I was there for the 1000 KMs in 2006 and I'm glad I've seen the circuit in the state as it still is at the moment. Melbourne, Redgate and Craner are some great corners spectator wise. Tilke will surely transform it into a dull one as he has managed with so many other circuits.

Like others,me finks its a bernie ass kickin tool towards the BRDC,and as a vet of donnigton 93 ,i recall it was allowed concessions regards failicites as it was a last minute deal due to the collaspe of the deal by that great circuit AUTOPOLIS  ???, to hold a race.which wont be allowed now of course.
As the race circuit  stands ,great for joe p, but alas once the modern f1 designers get their paws on it wont :'(

As bernie n crew are not really intrested in normal payin punters,tv is king, i know a track thats  owned by an enthusast ,got some nice grassy slopes facing the pits where the hoy poloy can njoy prawn sandwiches etc on picnic blankets ,overtakin would need courage,and the rest of us can njoy from home,some intresting camera angles,esp the shots of all four wheels airborne..............

well????????????

cadwell!!!!

The most enjoyable circuit in the country as a spectator and a driver.

However, returning to good ole Dony, I could do a better job of circuit design than Herr Hermann Tilke. I'd leave him with pit and grandstand design. Oh forgot, the loos as well. He has got to be familiar with a bit of drainage.

Cadwell, wow! Remenicent of Watkins Glen!

Yeh, I know these should have been placed in the YuoTube but hell, this is the way to design an Fi ciruit.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=XjSjYQaTpEk (http://youtube.com/watch?v=XjSjYQaTpEk)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=TpwvM4Hy7_o&feature=related (http://youtube.com/watch?v=TpwvM4Hy7_o&feature=related)

seems that donnington has its approval: -

http://www.evo.co.uk/news/evonews/233433/donington_revamp.html

Full plans for it all are at:

http://www.donington-park.co.uk/formula-one-plans (http://www.donington-park.co.uk/formula-one-plans)

Looks like a good go at retaining as much of the original, improving it, with the bowl of Donington providing the potential for some good spectating, anjd increasing the flexibility of having one track or two separate ones?  Don't know what it'll be like for F1 but should be good for everything else!

MG Mark   

Seems the work is well under way already
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7820588.stm

I for one will be much more likely to go to Donington for the GP even if it is at least an hours more driving from here in outer Londinium

Personal perspective, I think that they'll be hard pushed to make it as much of a racing spectacle as Silverstone, which facilities aside, has had a lot of improvements made to the circuit over the years to change it from the old flat peri-track circuit it was to what it is now, notwithstanding the planned increase in circuit length.  Mind you, of course the '93 Donington GP was pretty memorable, and the circuit does at least have some good corners and gradient changes.  http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=K6KJt9zLfHQ&feature=related (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=K6KJt9zLfHQ&feature=related).  The spectator plan, which includes "encouragement to use public transport" may well not go far enough to satisfy the "needs" of F1, unless they produce a spectacularly good park and ride system!  But, if all of it makes Donington a better place, and it helps Silverstone to do likewise, then that has to be good, but I just hope that the circuits don't become too expensive to use for sub-stratospheric racing series of club racing - that would be a shame.  I just hope that in all of it, we do still end up with a British GP......

Mark

 

Seems to be falling apart now.

Wont be long before Silverstone is confirmed as hosting the GP again!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8015028.stm

"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.

Some mistake surely , that means the rent would be about £375000 per month!

Why wouldn't it be as much as that,  there is a lot that comes with Donington I bet,  big revenue options,  if done properly.

I hate to say I told you so but I told you so.

Might well depend upon what level of control you are being asked/demanded to give up in exchange....

MG Mark

Bernire has spoken - wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.................   :-X

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/5209641/Bernie-Ecclestone-attacks-government-as-country-risks-losing-British-Grand-Prix.html

Such a helpful, conciliatory approach in the current climate, with public sector spending on useful stuff like health, education, law and order, defence etc now being cut by £15bn next year.....

MG Mark

Bernie also said, in the Beeb article above, "But I'm not worried. I don't worry about anything to be honest with you."

I wonder if he realises the rest of us don't care much either...

Oh dear, it seems like Simons forgoten to pay the rent!!! I hate to say it but I think Berni found a mug to be his fall guy, Simon was always full of flash in the pan ideas for our SAP implementation projects, but failed in the detail to see them through. I the end our boss asked for a full status report on all of our projects - he got sacked.
What really p**s me off is that Berni is one of the richest men in the world, has made his billions from motor sport and now expects the British government to bail out the British GP which will earn him yet more millions.... Maybe it these time of ecconomic pressure he should return some loyalty to the British motorsport industry, its one of the few industries that we can claim to lead the world in. This is an absolut example of why we are in the S**t that we are, a few people at the top have failed to reinvest their vast fortunes and taken them abroad and invested in forign banks and industries leaving us sucked dry, I will never forget Maggi saying that the future of the UK is in the Banking and Service industry....well that worked then didnt it!

If Tom's sending in the Bailiffs, it must be pretty final.  What about the races this year.

Bernie and Tom must have a plan b, or Bernie has done a deal with the BRDC fat cats at Silverstone.

Plus the Welsh government is dropping its sponsorship of Wales Rally GB, so that may close too.  There'll be no serious motorsport in the UK after that :'( :'( :'( :'(

Fine by me ;D

I wonder if Bernie will lend any of his car collection to Donnington?

A small part of it is going on display in Bahrain

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/4/9221.html

He must have an amazing collection hidden away. It used to be at Biggin Hill, I wonder if its still in the UK or moved to a more 'friendly place' should his wife won't a part of it.

I hope the fomer Mrs Eccelstone does take him to the cleaners - just to piss him off. It would be a shame to break up such a collection though, perhaps we could get him done on drug trafficing (or similar imoral charge) ;D and have them seized and kept for the nation, the thought of him screeming at the bars of a cell would please so many!!!! :police:

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=37726

Looks like UK has seen its last GP for some time to come.

Interesting article, thanks. Makes you realise how complex F1 funding is and what a total arse Bernie is. Interesting comment from Damon, who has more acumen that I'd have imagined "With F1 paying $270m in annual interest repayments on the loan which its owners took out to buy the sport".

I still fail to see how Bernie has been allowed to suck so much money out of the sport T***

Well, that article doesn't tell us anything we didn't already know or had guessed!

It's all rumour, counter rumour, claim and counter claim at the moment, with large doses of sabre rattling thrown in for good measure!

As my satnav has a habit of saying...

"Perform a legal u-turn when possible"

http://www.crash.net/formula+one/news/146073/1/ecclestone_i_have_nothing_against_silverstone.html (http://www.crash.net/formula+one/news/146073/1/ecclestone_i_have_nothing_against_silverstone.html)

Another nail in the GP to Donnington.

NWLC has announced that it is planning to review its decision to approve DVLL's redevelopment plans, which includes the rebuilding and relocation of Donington Park's paddock and pit complex, as well as an extension of the race track designed by renowned Formula One circuit architect, Hermann Tilke.

DVLL's failure to sign a Section 106 agreement by the end of March means that NWLC's planning committee is now set to overturn its decision to green light the revamp of Donington Park, which last staged a Formula One Grand Prix in 1993.

NWLC leader Richard Blunt said: "The Council has already extended the deadline for signing the agreement by another month, allowing four months in total, and has continued to work with Donington Park to meet the deadlines and terms of the permission.

"We can't keep extending the deadline for signing the agreement. Donington Park has already started construction and to allow further, unchecked construction to take place may make the original planning permission invalid and any future control the Council may wish to retain over events would be severely diluted."

Seems Donington may have the gig after all for 2010.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8085316.stm

Only if the Wheatcroft's stump up the £100Million, or someone else does, Gillet doesn't have the money!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8300268.stm

looks like its over bar the shouting. cant believe it has got this far tbh.