Donington

[blacktulip]

The UK government is stepping up efforts to safeguard the British Grand Prix amid increasing concerns over the viability of Donington Park’s plans to host the race from 2010.

The Daily Telegraph reports that business secretary Lord Mandelson has sought a personal reassurance about the race’s future from Formula 1’s commercial boss Bernie Ecclestone.

Britain’s place on the F1 calendar was thrown into fresh doubt last week when Donington’s owner, the Wheatcroft family, announced that it was taking legal action against operating company Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd to recover £2.5m in rent arrears and was pushing for the firm to lose its lease on the circuit.

This heightened concerns that DVLL, which last year signed a 10-year deal to take over from Silverstone as the British GP venue, is facing financial difficulties and may not be able to complete the ambitious redevelopment project required to satisfy Ecclestone or pay the staging fees.

In a debate in the House of Lords last Thursday, the government ruled out providing direct financial assistance but said it recognised the importance of the grand prix and stood ready to help in other ways.

[blacktulip]

From ITV F1

Donington Park has been given an additional two months to resolve its current issues and get its 2010 British Grand Prix project back on course after the local council agreed to wait until 30 June to receive a crucial document.


North West Leicestershire District Council requires a Section 106 document to validate the planning permission for the track's massive revamp.


The Section 106 document covers additional parts of the programme such as the park and ride travel scheme and must be signed by both track operator Donington Ventures Leisure and the track-owning Wheatcroft family - who are currently suing DVL over unpaid rent.


With that case set to be heard on 8 June, the extended Section 106 deadline gives DVL and the Wheatcrofts a chance to resolve their dispute.




DVL boss Simon Gillett has insisted that the disagreement with the track owners - who had also called for DVL to forfeit its lease on Donington - will come to an amicable end.


"Between us and the Wheatcrofts we had an agreement of ongoing works and a way that we could allocate funds over a period of time during the winter," he told BBC Sport.


"We've used them elsewhere and we're working with the Wheatcrofts to resolve that issue. But you should see a resolution on that one very soon.


"We'll pay in a position to sort that out very soon, and we're working through the detail of that as we speak.


"Everyone has their spats in a business relationship.


"We're like a lot of businesses in that we're having our issues at the moment, but we're resolving those and you'll see some positive news relatively soon."


He denied that Bernie Ecclestone could step in and take on the running and promotion of the British GP at Donington if DVL was forced to pull out.


"We all know if Bernie wanted something he could do it," said Gillett.


"He doesn't need someone like me to step in and facilitate it for him.


"He has a great relationship with the Wheatcrofts, there are various other circuits, and he has the ability to do what he wants."


But Gillett admitted that the economic downturn had caused issues for Donington, particular with regard to the debenture funding scheme that it had intended to launch in March.


"We had a bit of an issue with our private funding source," he conceded.


"We're now having to go back and look at other alternative funding sources for the debenture scheme. But we're positive on that.


"We've seen many a strong bank go west. It's nothing to do with Donington Park, but the world of banking has changed.


"So the bank that we were planning to work with at that point has decided they're not in the market anymore.


"So we've had to go and find alternative banks, and there are banks in the market for it, and we're working through the detail now."



Donington's famous Dunlop Bridge is being dismantled

Latest snips

BMW ‘temporarily’ abandons KERS
Max Mosley's son found dead
Suzuki mulls F1 return for Super Aguri
Renault disappointed with start to ‘09
Raikkonen still has ‘lust’ for winning
Symonds surprised by close racing
Force India changes plan on KERS

[susieq]

Are they really dismatling the Dunlop Bridge? That would be such a shame! It's a land mark on the site.

[apedant]

Tell ya what I'll do a little snooping around when I go to Donnington Pk for Download in 5 weeks time . Marylin Manson, Def Leppard, Korn, slipknot, ZZ Top, Whitesnake. I just hope it makes enough money to save the GP.

[blacktulip]

Yea the bridge is being dismantled, seen pics of them doing it. dont know if its going to be replaced or done away with

[susieq]

Apedant, last time I saw ZZ Top was over 20 years ago, classic. Saw Whitesnake and Def Leppard a few years ago, fantastic. Enjoy and get a good look round!
Didn't know Marilyn was on though! What a show, enjoy!

Anyway the Dunlop Bridge, that's just not on! Its scandlous. Hope they build it back with the orginal material and make it spectacular.

[fizzycola]

Whitesnake?? Def Leppard?

I ADORE David Coverdale (seen him play many a time now) and Joe Elliot I LOVE too

So, forgive me, but what are they doing at Donington?

Donington is so far away from me and it's a track I know very little about.. Please enlighten me

fizzy

[susieq]

Donington have a festival every year, this year its the 12-14th June.
Here's the link Fizzy, with the line ups for the weekend.
www.downloadfestival.co.uk/home/index.aspx

The Motley Crew are on too, and Staind!! Brilliant, But Fizz, no BCR

[fizzycola]

And Faith No More too!

What a line up!

Fizzy remembers that day when David Coverdale smiled at her when she saw them play one night in Glasgow and she was in the front row and singing her heart out..... sigh



One of my fave Whitesnake songs....those geetars!!!!!!!!


fizzy
OK, so I've got a thing about men with long hair!! lol

[blacktulip]

From Planet-F1

Work continues to get Donington Park ready to host the 2010 British GP with the iconic Dunlop Bridge being dismantled on Thursday.


The bridge, which is widely linked with the circuit and its history, came down on Thursday and circuit boss Simon Gillett revealing that it wil be stored before later being set-up somewhere around the circuit.


The bridge, though, is unlikely to go over the actual track as the new layout is too wide for the bridge.


"We're storing it, and then we're going to decide where it is going to go," Gillett said.


"Maybe (we'll) change the 'Dunlop' to 'Donington' but in the same typeface. Part of the problem with the Dunlop Bridge is that MotoGP is Michelin, it's Pirelli for World Superbikes, Bridgestone for F1, so commercially you can't have it.


"There is the safety point of view because of the width of it, and also the location because the new pits and paddock are going there.


"So there are lots of reasons - it's current location is wrong, it is not wide enough, and then there are the commercial reasons... we'd be constantly painting over the Dunlop.


"So it just couldn't stay. But we'll find a home for it. It won't work over the track, but it will be somewhere nearby."


Meanwhile, after weeks of criticism, Gillett is finally getting some support for his revamp and vision for Donington Park.


"It's exciting that Formula One will be here, especially with all the changes," said Haslam, one of many who 'drove' the new circuit via an F1 simulator," said World Superbikes rider Leon Haslam.


"For a long time Simon has had plans, he has never wavered from them, and now they're coming on.


"It's not like he has said he is going to do this or that and it has not happened. It is happening and for me to be a part of it is fantastic.


"Formula One is going to be a massive attraction and, with World Superbikes on the way up as well, it's great a circuit like this - especially in these tough times - can make plans for the future.