Is Donington being set up?
This is pure speculation on my part and comes following Bernie’s recent comments
“We won’t come back,” Ecclestone told The Times when asked if F1 will ever return to Silverstone. “We’re in the same situation as we were before Donington came into the deal. I am sure they will be ready but, if not, we will sign with another country. There won’t be a British Grand Prix. Pure and simple.”
Does Bernie perhaps think that Donington will not be able to meet its targets for a British GP in 2010 and so the British GP slot on the calendar can be given to some other country? It’d be Machiavellian, but it would allow Bernie to blame someone else for the decision to move.
When you look at all the aspects of the deal, it is extraordinarily ambitious
1. There is only 2 years to make all the changes
2. The circuit is not up to modern F1 standard
3. There is no planning permission for any changes
4. The road system around Donington is a nightmare
5. The £100m required is not available. I heard the Donington CEO on ITV say that the money was going to be raised through (I believe) a debenture scheme with the public. That’s a big ask
As Wikipedia points out, Brands Hatch also secured the deal to host the British Grand Prix in 1999 and was unable to complete the changes required
In 1999, Foulston announced that Brands Hatch had acquired the rights to the British Grand Prix from 2002.[6] Whilst discussions were ongoing with regards to planning permission to bring the circuit up to F1 requirements, Foulston sold BHL to Octagon Motorsports (a subsidiary of Interpublic) for £120 m.[7] Octagon, however, failed to obtain the necessary planning permission and instead decided to lease Silverstone in order to host the Grand Prix.[8]
5 comments July 9th, 2008
