Silverstone secures British GP, using Arena layout

Donington misses Ecclestone's latest deadline

Donington's hopes of hosting the British Grand Prix appear all but over, after boss Simon Gillett missed yet another deadline to demonstrate his financial ability to refurbish the Leicestershire venue.

F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone has put in place a sequence of missed deadlines in recent weeks, the latest of which was late Friday, and his patience may now be at an end.

Britain's Daily Express and Times newspapers, as well as the PA news agency, all report that Donington's absolutely last chance is now Monday, with traditional Silverstone to thereafter get the green light to prepare for next July's race.

"It's not good, is it?" Ecclestone told The Times. "Even if they get the money, I cannot see how it will all be ready in time to go. It is very disappointing because we thought it would happen, but they cannot go on missing deadlines.

"They could still come to us saying they have the money, but there is no way the circuit would be ready at this late stage. It looks as though we will have to start planning again," said the Briton.

PA quoted Ecclestone as saying: "The deadline is this weekend, and we will see what happens on Monday."

Gillett did not comment.

SOURCE: F1-live.com

Donington handed new F1 deadline

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has given Donington Park another fortnight to provide financial guarantees it can host the the British Grand Prix.

Bosses of the Leicestershire circuit have yet to show they have the funding in place to redevelop the venue.

"Donington Ventures Leisure Limited has another two weeks to demonstrate our credentials for hosting the British GP," said Donington boss Simon Gillett.

Silverstone could step in to stage the 2010 GP if Donington's hopes are ended.

Ecclestone said in June: "For sure we'll be back at Silverstone if things don't work out at Donington."

Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd, the company which operates the track, has faced legal and planning problems since being given the rights to stage the race.

Chief executive Gillett was initially given a deadline of the end of September to demonstrate the funding is in place to carry out the planned multi-million pound revamp of the circuit and its facilities.

That deadline was extended by a few days until 3 October, and a Donington spokesman said last Saturday he was confident the Grand Prix would go ahead on 11 July.

Motor racing at Donington ceased in September so work could begin to prepare the venue for next year's race.

Silverstone attracted 250,000 spectators across three days for this year's Grand Prix.

"We remain committed to delivering on the promises we made at the start of this process and have the interests of the sport and its fans at heart," added Gillett, after meeting Ecclestone on Monday.

SOURCE: BBC Sport

Donington's Grand Prix hopes fade

Donington Park's hopes of staging the British Grand Prix from 2010 look to be over after the operators' latest fund-raising attempts fell through.

Earlier this month Donington launched a bond issue in an attempt to raise £135m, but that has now been withdrawn.

Silverstone is ready to step back in if guaranteed the British Grand Prix would remain at the circuit long-term.

Donington, whose operators are yet to comment, have missed several deadlines to provide financial guarantees.

In June, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone said there would definitely be a British Grand Prix in 2012, and that it would be at Silverstone if Donington failed to come through.

But more recently he has backtracked and said it is not certain there will be a Grand Prix in Britain next year at all.

Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd, the company that operates the track, has faced legal and planning problems since being given the rights to stage the race.

Chief executive Simon Gillett was initially given a deadline of the end of September to demonstrate the funding was in place to carry out the planned multi-million pound revamp of the circuit and its facilities. That deadline was extended by a few days until 3 October.

Motor racing at Donington ceased in September so work could begin to prepare the venue for next year's race.

Silverstone has hosted every British Grand Prix since 1987, while Donington, which is synonymous with MotoGP, has held only one F1 race, the European Grand Prix in 1993.

SOURCE: BBC sport

SILVERSTONE ALREADY IN 2010 GP TALKS

Silverstone has already begun serious discussions with Bernie Ecclestone about a new British Grand Prix deal, AUTOSPORT has learned, but a contract is still far from guaranteed.

Donington Park has until midday on Monday to sort its financing out before it is in breach of its contract to host the race, and sources have revealed that talks have already opened between Ecclestone and Silverstone about a fall back plan.

But although it is understood that those discussions have moved up a gear in recent weeks, once it became clear that Donington Park was in trouble, there remains no certainty that a deal will be put in place.

Sources suggest that the contract currently being proposed by Ecclestone's camp is very similar to the one that Silverstone rejected 18 months ago as being commercially unviable - and which led to the deal with Donington Park happening in the first place.

Although Silverstone is keen for a long-term deal to secure the future of the British Grand Prix, the track has made it clear several times that it will only keep the race if it makes financial sense.

A source close to the discussions said: "Silverstone is keen and ready to progress, but as we stand at the moment, no viable contract has yet been offered."

SOURCE: Autosport

ECCLESTONE WARNS SILVERSTONE OVER DEAL

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has warned that he is not prepared to offer Silverstone a cut-price deal for the British Grand Prix just to guarantee the race a future.

With Donington Park's plans for the British GP close to failure, with the track having until midday on Monday to get its finances sorted, Silverstone has already opened talks with Ecclestone about a contract.

However, as AUTOSPORT revealed on Friday, the terms that have been offered to Silverstone are similar to those that the track rejected 18 months ago as commercially unviable.

That means that unless Ecclestone is willing to compromise on the finances, the race may not happen.

And Ecclestone told the Daily Express that it was not vital that the British GP was on the calendar in 2010.

"Silverstone have a contract in front of them," he said. "We've no commercial arrangement in place for a British Grand Prix for next year. That is why the race has an asterisk beside it on the 2010 calendar.

"If they can't make it work then don't do it. If that happens, there won't be a British Grand Prix. Simple as that.

"No-one is forcing them to take it. This is business. We have offered them a deal."

When asked if Silverstone could expect a discount just to keep the British GP on the calendar, Ecclestone said: "The contract they have is the contract we like. We are not prepared to charge less. Do we need a British Grand Prix? No.

"I want a British Grand Prix, of course, but we are not going to do special rates for Britain."

SOURCE: Autosport

Maybe they'll have to settle for a makeshift track in Wembley Stadium.XSamFisherX

Wouldn't be the first time either.

Final deadline passes for Donington

The Donington Park circuit appeared to move further away from its plans to host the 2010 British Grand Prix after the final deadline to sort its financial planning passed on Monday.

The circuit had until midday today to solve the financial situation after admitting on Friday that efforts to raise a £135 million bond had failed. The deadline passed without news from the circuit.

However, the 2010 British Grand Prix was dropped from the official Donington website.

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone is already in talks with Silverstone in order to reach a deal for the British race to be on the calendar next year.

BRDC president Damon Hill said on Monday that he was optimistic an agreement would be reached, but he made it clear Silverstone would not accept a deal that would hurt the track.

"I'm confident a deal can be worked out. The contract can be of any combination of years, but it has to be affordable," Hill told the BBC.

"There's a huge desire to get the deal done, but we're not prepared to put [Silverstone] at risk financially."

SOURCE: Autosport.com

The Donington saga rumbles on

Donington's eleventh-hour efforts to cling to its British Grand Prix hosting contract have entered yet another day.

Despite widespread reports that all final deadlines have now definitively elapsed, as F1's talks with alternate venue Silverstone resume, the Daily Express newspaper said Donington chief Simon Gillett is not giving up yet.

The newspaper said Gillett has confirmed that his GP contract is still alive, after he transferred the outstanding £12m to the bank account nominated by F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone.

But after Ecclestone already extended deadlines several times, Gillett's payment may reportedly be rejected because it arrived "after close of business" on Tuesday.

Ecclestone declined to comment, but with the billionaire now also at odds with Silverstone about an alternative venue for the 2010 race, Damon Hill admits there is a possibility that Britain could drop off the calendar altogether.

"It's a possibility - absolutely," the British Racing Drivers' Club president, told BBC radio 5 Live. "Silverstone is not responsible to provide a grand prix, and it's not Bernie Ecclestone's job to give a discounted race to Britain."

SOURCE: F1-live.com

'Ecclestone has given up on Donington Park'

Despite Donington Park coming up with the £12million they had to pay Bernie Ecclestone's FOM, reports in Britain claim that F1 supremo has 'given up on the race taking place at Donington' and is talking with Silverstone.

Donington Park chief executive Simo Gillett had until midday on Monday to raise the necessary £12million required by Ecclestone's Formula One Management company.

And although reports claim it was paid, there, surprisingly if it is true, has been no official confirmation from Gillett, who earlier this month failed to his bid to launch a £135million bond scheme.

As a result, new reports suggest Ecclestone has turned his full attention to Silverstone in a bid to ensure that the British GP features on next year's calendar.

'It is understood Ecclestone's negotiations with Silverstone have intensified in recent days and it seems clear that the 79-year-old billionaire has given up on the race taking place at Donington,' the The Guardian claims.

"Nobody wants to talk about it for fear of jeopardising any possible deal," a Silverstone insider told the newspaper. "Negotiations are at a very delicate stage."

Ecclestone is believed to have offered Silverstone the same contract that the Northamptonshire circuit rejected just 18 months ago, a move that resulted in Ecclestone giving the race to Donington Park.

Added to that the F1 supremo has also stated on numerous occasions that F1 does not need a British GP.

However, at least one person in F1 believes this is just Ecclestone's way of dealing with negotiations.

"I absolutely don't think that Bernie is doing anything but maximising his own business interests," he said. "I don't think he is out to damage Silverstone in any way."

SOURCE: Planetf1.com

Ecclestone: Donington hopes are over

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed Donington's hopes of hosting the British Grand Prix next year are over after the circuit failed to raise the funds to complete its redevelopment plans.

Donington had until last Monday to sort the financial situation, having failed to raise a £135 million bond last week.

"There's no Donington. They've missed the deadline which we kept extending for them," Ecclestone told reporters in Abu Dhabi.

"It's unfortunate for them, to be honest with you. It was the credit crunch that caused them to be in trouble because their intentions were good, that's for sure.

"It's bad for Tom (Wheatcroft) because he's been an old friend for a long time."

Ecclestone insisted he is still in talks with Silverstone to reach a deal for the 2010 race and suggested the ball was on the British track's court.

"We're talking. A deal can be done if they want to," he said, adding there were no differences of opinion over contract details.

"There isn't actually. As far as I'm concerned, no problems."

The F1 boss also praised Abu Dhabi officials for their work with the state-of-the-art Yas Marina circuit that is hosting its first race this weekend.

"What they've done is unbelievable. It was in April 2006 I saw and spoke to the crown prince, and at that time we didn't start to discuss a race.

"But during dinner we came up with the idea that maybe we should have a race here, and it's magic what they've done.

"I never thought it would be finished like this. I thought bits and pieces would be done. I said to them 'I hope we're not going to be racing on a building site.'

"But no one is going to top this... although I'll be happy if someone does the same."

SOURCE: Autosport.com

No government funds for Silverstone

Silverstone will not receive any financial assistance from the British government to help secure the British Grand Prix, insists Lord Peter Mandelson, the secretary of state for business.

Bernie Ecclestone has repeatedly called for state funding for the British event, and the size of the race-hosting fee has become the key issue in his current negotiations with Silverstone. But Lord Mandelson said there was no way he could justify uses taxpayers' money on Formula 1.

"I'm not in a position to use taxpayers' money to bail out what would be a sort of commercial venture in a very cash-rich sport," Lord Mandelson told BBC Radio Five Live. "I can't do that, especially during a recession, but [Ecclestone] has my backing in what he's trying to do.

"It's not a question of its commerciality or its viability. It's not as if it's a growing start-up company or industry, where I have come in and helped. This is not in that category, this is a very cash-rich sport so it would not be possible to justify just using taxpayers' money to subsidise a sport that doesn't actually need our financial help, whatever we're spending on the Olympics.

"To his credit, in all the conversations I've had with Bernie, he's never asked for government money, or a government loan or a subsidy.

"It's not loose change for the taxpayer, it's not the taxpayer's role to come in and do this when it's not justified or needed."

He emphasised that the UK government appreciated the importance of the race and the motorsport industry to the country - and had helped the sport in other ways already.

"The British Grand Prix is a very important event, it's a much loved British institution and it's got to continue," said Mandelson.

"Just as the grand prix is important to us, the whole of motor sport is important, not because of the enjoyment it provides but because it's really important for our economy - it contributes getting up to £4 billion to the economy.

"And if you look at the jobs it creates there are 25,000 engineers involved in this sport in Britain, quite apart from 40,000-odd jobs, so I have a responsibility to retain it and to support the motorsport industry just as I would any other.

"We have supported Silverstone in the past, some years back we provided £8 million to speed up construction of the A43 bypass to help ease the awful congestion that surrounds the Silverstone circuit when it's in use. So we have done our bit.

"I was glad to be able to help the Brawn management in its efforts to buy the team from Honda and get on the grid this season. So we're there to help when we can, but not to involve ourselves either in particular negotiations, or to fork out on behalf of the taxpayers when it's not needed."

But he is optimistic that negotiations between Ecclestone and Silverstone will ultimately be successfully completed and ensure the 2010 British GP goes ahead.

"If I was a betting man I would say yes, but don't read too much into that, that's just my punt," said Lord Mandelson.

SOURCE: Autosport.com

Ecclestone sets deadline for Silverstone

All this has proved is that a deadline from Bernie is meaningless - miss it, and it just gets pushed back again.

With back to back British World Champions we HAVE to have a British GP in 2010 - I just wish they'd stop this whole pantomime and get on with it.

Silverstone 'set to seal F1 deal'

Silverstone Holdings' managing director says a deal for the track to host next year's British Grand Prix is imminent.

Donington lost the right to stage the race, and Formula 1 boss chief Bernie Ecclestone has imposed a 9 December deadline for a deal to be put in place.

Richard Phillips said he hoped the deal would be for at least 10 years.

"I don't think there are any real stumbling blocks, we're going through the last details of the deal," Phillips told BBC Radio Northampton.

"I'm pretty convinced that it will be run at Silverstone next year."

Donington Park was set to host the race but was seemingly ruled out after failing to show it had the necessary £135m funding.

Phillips said that wrangling over the minor details of the contract were causing the delay in a resolution being reached.

"There is a lot of detail to go through, so if you make a mistake, there's a long time to repent," he added.

"You can come to high level agreements quickly, but the devil is in the detail. We're very, very close.

"We certainly would like the contract to be for more than 10 years - that's the minimum."

Phillips also revealed that Silverstone had been planning for the Grand Prix even while Donington was lined up as the venue for the 2010 race.

"We always had the faith that the Grand Prix would return," he said.

"We've been planning for more than a year, we'll finish the track works in March and start on the new pits ready for 2011."

Silverstone has already been warned that it needs to modernise its facilities in order to secure the race.

The Northamptonshire circuit has hosted every British Grand Prix since 1987, while Donington, which is synonymous with MotoGP, has held only one F1 race, the European Grand Prix in 1993.

SOURCE: BBC Sport

GILLETT: DONINGTON COULD STILL HOST BRITISH GP

Donington Park could still host the British Grand Prix in 2010, according to track boss Simon Gillett, but only if a third party either invests in or buys out the company that runs the track.

Gillett's company, Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd, went into administration last week after failing to raise the required funds to complete ambitious redevelopment plans.

Gillett is confident that there is still time for the key works to be completed before next year's grand prix, with the hospitality and other facilities completed for the 2011 event. This means that a grand prix could be held at the track next year if the money is in place, opening up the possibility of a new contract being agreed.

To get the track to an acceptable state for 2010, around £50 million would have to be spent, with a further £40 million to complete the additional facilities for 2011.

"Next year is possible, but it wouldn't be all of the construction," Gillett told AUTOSPORT. "You'd end up doing pit garages, race control and the track the bare essentials to get the track up and running for 2010 and there's still plenty of time for that to happen.

"It's a very short period of time that we are working to on that front, but it's a really good opportunity for someone. Where on earth can you buy a Formula 1 grand prix? Here you can, potentially. If someone is out there and has that funding at the moment, they have a unique opportunity to steal away the British Grand Prix.

"It would have to be 2010 because Silverstone would not take it for one year and no-one, me especially, wants to see the British Grand prix lost to the UK."

Gillett said that if Donington wants to host the British Grand Prix it will have to be ready for 2010 rather than 2011, as Silverstone would not accept a one-year deal and if the race falls off the calendar it could jeopardise the event's future.

Although the 17-year-contract that DVLL signed with Bernie Ecclestone last year is no longer valid because the track failed to meet its obligations, Gillett is confident that the F1 supremo would be willing to consider a new deal on a similar basis.

"That contract has gone," added Gillett. "But Bernie Ecclestone has said that if someone turns up at Donington with the right ideas and the right money then he will talk to them."

Although continuing with the British Grand Prix project is Gillett's favoured direction, it is one of three options for the future of the track.

Gillett is hopeful about the interest shown in the circuit since it went into administration, although should a buyer or investor not be found, DVLL could be forced to go into liquidation.

"We are now seeing who is out there," he said. "There are multiple paths that we can go down. One is to go back to the good old national and club venue that it was and another is to take it to a hybrid and create the new track for national and club racing.

"The third is if someone comes in with significant funding and go for F1. So that's what the administration process is going through at the moment.

"There has been a significant amount of interest, but predominantly we've been talking about F1, because time is of the essence. But if that doesn't pan out then there will be more interest in the national circuit."

The completion of any buy-out would need to take place within the next two weeks, as Ecclestone has said that the 2010 F1 calendar must be finalised by December 9.

SOURCE: Autosport

British GP fate to be known on Monday

The fate of the British Grand Prix will be announced on Monday, with Silverstone management and track owner the British Racing Drivers' Club scheduling a press conference about the future of the event.

Silverstone has been locked in discussions with Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone about putting together a deal that will secure the long-term future of Formula 1's British round - following the collapse of Donington Park's plans.

Although there had been some sticking points, especially relating to the long-term fee structure, it had appeared that progress had been made in recent weeks.

Now, BRDC president Damon Hill and Silverstone managing director Richard Phillips will speak in London on Monday to discuss the outcome of the negotiations.

Silverstone has made it clear that it will not comment about the situation until the press event.

SOURCE: Autosport.com

'The British Grand Prix has been saved'

The deal between the British Racing Drivers' Club and Bernie Ecclestone to save next year's British Grand Prix is all but signed and sealed, according to a report.

F1 supremo Ecclestone had threatened to pull the race from the 2010 calendar following Donington's failed attempt to come up with the necessary cash to host the race. Silverstone's bosses decided to step in and the two parties have been in negotiations more than a year.

With discussions dragging on, Ecclestone warned that if the matter is not resolved before the FIA World Motor Sport Council on December 11, Britain would lose the grand prix.

It looks, though, like he will be getting his way.

The Daily Mail reports that 'The British Grand Prix has been saved. It will take place at Silverstone next year after the circuit and Bernie Ecclestone finally reached agreement.

'The news will be officially announced in central London next week, bringing an end to the on-off saga after 18 months of uncertainty.'

The biggest sticking points during negotiations were the £12m fee which Ecclestone wants for the race annual and a multi-year contract for Silverstone, but according to the report, those problems have been ironed out.

'It is understood that a long-term deal which does not imperil Silverstone's financial stability has now been struck,' the paper added.

'British Racing Drivers' Club president Damon Hill will be making the announcement, which will whet the appetite for a duel between new McLaren team-mates Lewis Hamilton and world champion Jenson Button.'

SOURCE: Planet-f1.com

SILVERSTONE SECURES BRITISH GP

The British Grand Prix will stay at the Silverstone circuit next year after the Northamptonshire track reached a deal with Bernie Ecclestone after weeks of negotiations.

Silverstone looked set to lose the race last year when Ecclestone signed a 17-year deal with Donington Park to host the grand prix from next season.

However, Donington failed to raise the funds to carry out a redevelopment project and so Ecclestone began talks with Silverstone.

The British Racing Drivers' Club, owners of the tack, confirmed on Monday morning they had secured a 17-year agreement to host the British Grand Prix from 2010.

The circuit will also host a MotoGP race next year.

"The title of Silverstone as home of motorsport has come true," said BRDC president Damon Hill. "It is a place for all motorsport. Everyone in the BRDC loves motorsport and we are looking forward to the MotoGP as well as the British Grand Prix.

"It is not easy to enter into a contract of this magnitude and you have to take on a lot of responsibility, but the BRDC wanted this relationship to continue.

"Everyone was well aware that the British GP is not just a sporting event, but it is dynamo of the industry in this country. Losing it would have been damaging and perhaps there would have been no coming back."

Hill said the new pit and paddock work will begin after Christmas and it is hoped it will be finished for the 2011 race.

AUTOSPORT

You hear that sound?

It's 13 million British Formula One fans breathing a sigh of relief.

The F1 race will be using the same layout as the MotoGP circuit, pending confirmation by the FIA. Image courtesy of the BBC, this is how the new circuit would look if it was approved:

Apparently this is going to be the actual new layout, although several others have been around, but this seems to be the most widespread:

I have to say it does look better than the existing layout, and hopefully the plans will allow for a big increase in crowd capacity (which they'll need if they are going to afford this new contract).

NO BUYER FOR DONINGTON PARK LEASE

Donington Park's future remains uncertain after the administrators were unable to find a buyer for Donington Ventures Leisure Limited's lease on the track.

The lease has now been returned to Wheatcroft and Son, the circuit's owner, with DVLL's staff made redundant.

"We have not managed to sell the lease and we have handed it back to the landlords," said Nigel Price, a partner at administrator Begbies Traynor, which was handling DVLL's situation.

"Although there have been many interested parties and detailed and lengthy negotiations, ultimately it has not been possibly to do a deal."

DVLL took a 150-year lease on Donington in 2007, and then secured a 17-year deal to hold the British Grand Prix.

This should have commenced next season, but the firm could not secure the finance required to complete the massive revamp required to make the track and paddock suitable for F1, and went into administration last month, shortly after Bernie Ecclestone announced that Donington had missed the final deadline to get its funding in place.

Although Begbies Traynor originally hoped to find a buyer with the resources to complete the redevelopment and honour the F1 contract from 2010 or 2011, the British GP's existing home Silverstone was awarded the race for the next 17 years instead.

Price said the Silverstone decision did dissuade some potential buyers for DVLL, but that others had been interested in the track as a national venue.

"DVLL had a 17-year contract with Formula One Administration to host the British Grand Prix round of the Formula 1 world motor racing championship but this was finally lost at the end of November and some parties withdrew," he said.

"However, there was still serious interest in the circuit as a national track, although the onerous terms of the lease meant that a deal could not be done in the relatively short timescale available to us.

"As I motor racing fan I am delighted that there will still be a British Grand Prix but I would have loved to have brought it to Donington and especially for the staff there, who have worked so hard to achieve it. I would like to thank them all for their efforts and wish them well for the future."

Donington's rebuild had begun before the financial problems caused the project to stall. Significant work would now be required before the circuit could host racing of any kind again. The administrator estimated DVLL's liabilities to be approximately £20 million.

SOURCE: Autosport

"FRESH" SILVERSTONE A BOOST FOR FANS

British Grand Prix fans have been promised a Silverstone track that will match, or even surpass, the greatness of its past when redevelopment work is finished in the next few years.

That is the view of one of the main architects behind the circuit upgrades - who thinks that new facilities and the revised Arena layout will bring a 'freshness' to Silverstone that has not existed for years.

"It will be a whole new life for the track, and maybe move it back to how Silverstone used to be - a really, really fast circuit," John Rhodes, senior associate of architecture company Populous, told AUTOSPORT.

Rhodes heads up Populous's motorsports team that is designing Silverstone's new infield circuit for both MotoGP and F1, plus working on other improvements at the venue.

And with tweaks required for the arrival of MotoGP next year, Rhodes says his team is making the most of the opportunity to deliver further changes at Silverstone

"We have looked at introducing much more topography and things like that, but it is very difficult because you have to go with what the site is - in essence it is an ex airfield," he explained.

"I think we've got the right solution - and if we can really bring back the essence of what Silverstone is - a very, very fast circuit, smooth and flowing, it will be great.

"There are circuit tweaks relating to the FIM requirements that need doing, so there will be mild alterations here and there - like at Club.

"We are moving the barriers back in some areas but also moving the spectators closer in other areas, so that's very exciting.

"Certainly, even in the short term, the spectator experience will be a lot better. Obviously we have the opportunity to relocate grandstands that have been there for an age and really shake the thing up a bit. It is not about creating something new but about bringing a freshness to focus on what it is all about."

Rhodes acknowledges that Silverstone will never be able to enjoy the kind of financial input that venues like Abu Dhabi and China have had - but still thinks the track can be up there as one of the best in terms of facilities.

"It is crazy to think that Silverstone would ever get the investment that Abu Dhabi has got. It would be great if it did - but we've never had that, and never envisaged we would have that.

"The architecture is being driven by an incremental approach - that we can actually create a language over a period of time that will have a significant feel to it, but is also deliverable in the short term."

Silverstone will decide early in the year whether or not this year's F1 race will take place on the new Arena circuit - and Rhodes thinks it is still too early to say what will happen.

"To be honest, I don't know," he said. "I would be surprised if it happened [for F1 in 2010]. It is the MotoGP circuit, and from our point of view it is going to be finished by March and we have to deliver it now - that is the key thing. The programmes are coming up quickly now."

SOURCE: Autosport

Donington Park fails to attract buyer

Administrators have failed to find a buyer for the lease on the Donington Park racetrack, it has been confirmed.

The previous leaseholder Donington Ventures Leisure Limited went bust in November with debts of about £20m.

Despite having interest from several parties, an agreement to take over the track and the 150-year lease could not be reached, administrators said.

The lease will now go back to owners the Wheatcroft family to decide the future of the complex.

Donington Ventures Leisure Limited had won a 17-year contract to host the Formula One British Grand Prix but failed to raise enough backing.

Some work had already been done to convert the track but it was stopped part way through, meaning the course is currently not suitable for racing.

Earlier in December it was confirmed Donington would not host the 2010 British Superbike Championship, which had been a regular at the circuit.

SOURCE: BBC Sport

Wheatcrofts vow to reopen Donington

Donington Park's owning family has said it is committed to reopening the racetrack as soon as possible following the collapse of its Formula 1 bid and the lease-holding company.

After Donington Ventures Leisure Limited went into administration in November having failed to raise the funds required for the circuit's F1 revamp, a new buyer was sought for the lease on the track. But with no one coming forward to take over, control of the circuit has returned to the owning Wheatcroft family.

The track's rebuild had begun before the project ran into financial problems, so substantial work is required to bring Donington Park back into use.

Kevin Wheatcroft, son of former circuit boss Tom Wheatcroft, who died last year, said efforts to get the track open again were underway.

"I can reassure people we are doing everything we can to get things back to normal at Donington Park," Wheatcroft told the Derby Telegraph.

"It has been a very difficult time for the whole family, especially with the death of my father being played out against the problems at the circuit.

"We were given back the keys to the circuit back and immediately started to work out what happens next. The first thing has been to try to save as many jobs as possible. As of this week, we have reopened the museum and cafe and race control office.

"We have been assessing what is required to put things back as they were. We reckon this will cost in the region of about £600,000, but to get it up to grand prix standard you could add a couple of zeroes.

"We want to get the place operational again. Hopefully we can get up and running again as soon as possible."

But he said the Wheatcrofts were still looking for an outside company to pick up the lease and take charge of running the circuit in the long-term.

"First we need to sell the lease to someone who can run the circuit on a full-time basis," said Wheatcroft.

"It's too big a job for us and we want to identify someone who can take it forward. There are no shortage of people interested and we have found 12 potential buyers for the lease in just 12 days."

He is not concerned about the administrator's failure to find a buyer for the lease when it was originally offered before Christmas.

"In my view, the debts and problems associated with the whole nightmare put people off," he said. "I think everyone felt misled by the situation."

As well as Silverstone reclaiming Britain's F1 race, MotoGP is also switching from Donington to the Northamptonshire track. Donington was dropped from the 2010 British Superbike calendar during the uncertainty over its future, but it remains on the World Superbike and British Touring Car Championship schedules - with those races scheduled for 1 August and 19 September respectively.

Wheatcroft added that he felt he owed it to his late father to give the circuit a successful future.

"My father lived for his work and motorsport," he said. "He put his heart and soul into Donington Park and he was very upset by what happened to it and the mess it was left in.

"I am particularly upset because the Donington problems took up time that should have been spent with my father as he was dying.

"Whatever happens in the future, I will make sure this name will always be synonymous with the park."

Source: Autosport.com

PALMER: DONINGTON SITUATION A "TRAGEDY"

Jonathan Palmer has described Donington Park's present situation as 'tragic' but insists it is too early to say if his MotorSport Vision group would add the Leicestershire track to its portfolio.

Donington is currently in limbo following the collapse of its bid to host the British Grand Prix. The circuit-owning Wheatcroft family are looking for a new leaseholder to run the venue after Simon Gillett's Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd firm went into administration, and the track needs substantial work before it can be used again - its planned revamp having commenced before the Formula 1 project foundered.

Speaking on stage at the AUTOSPORT International show today, Palmer said he was "not involved" in Donington's situation at present, but was keeping a close eye on events.

"I'd love to have Donington as part of the MSV group but I'm really not sure what Kevin Wheatcroft's plans are for the circuit yet," said Palmer, whose company already runs Brands Hatch, Snetterton, Oulton Park, Cadwell Park and its Bedford complex.

"I've not been up there, but we'll certainly be monitoring the situation and if they were interested in selling or leasing we'd certainly put a case forward, but it's pretty early days for that yet."

He was strongly critical of Gillett's handling of the F1 bid.

"Donington is a fabulous circuit and I think it's such a tragedy frankly that it's been buggered up so much," Palmer said. "I'm afraid Simon Gillett's done that circuit no favours whatsoever. An awful lot of promises, very few of which ever came to anything.

"The legacy of it is a very despoiled circuit that needs a lot of work doing. It's not just work on the circuit to repair the false start on the grand prix development, but the general standard of it. Anyone that's been there, the approach roads are very pot-holed, it's very tardy and shabby.

"It's not been looked after, there's been a hopeless lack of investment by the leaseholder in the last two or three years. But it really deserves some TLC and I hope whoever does take it over really does a good job on it because it really deserves it."

Bernie Ecclestone has suggested that DVLL's ambitions were ruined by the worldwide financial crisis, but Palmer said Gillett should have foreseen the problems.

"If I screw up MSV it's going to be my fault," he argued. "If Brands Hatch can't run next year, I've got to take the can for it. That's what being the boss is all about, you take the responsibility and the downside.

"The blame lies with Simon Gillett. He was chief executive, he made a lot of promises. You don't go into deals where someone says 'yeah, don't worry, I'll give you £50 million'. You just don't do that sort of thing on a casual basis.

"If people let you down it's because it wasn't there in black and white and wasn't contracted properly in the first place. It's not easy doing it, but in truth Simon Gillett bit off far more than he could chew.

"It was a very ambitious project, it wasn't realistic. Most of us on the inside of motorsport knew that, few of us ever thought it was going to happen, but he continued to assert that it was and at the end of the day it hasn't, so we're not surprised."

Palmer added that he could see Ecclestone's logic in bringing Donington into the fray, but that he was pleased the race was ultimately returning to Silverstone.

"Bernie's business is getting the most amount of money he can for selling rights to a grand prix," he said. "The best way to make money for something is to create a market. If you've only got one circuit bidding for it, it's not a market. If you find somebody else that wants to do it, you've got a market.

"It probably did put a bit of pressure on Silverstone. I'm delighted it's gone back to Silverstone, it's the rightful place for it and I'm sure they'll do a good job with it. For Bernie I doubt he thought it was ever going to happen [at Donington], but it suited his negotiation stance. But with Bernie you never quite know.

"The facilities at Silverstone are already better than a lot of other grand prix circuits. We were at Barcelona for Formula 2 and the paddock area and buildings were far shabbier than Silverstone is now. Silverstone has worked really hard in the last year or two to smarten that place up and I think they've done a good job."

SOURCE: Autosport

ED: I'm sure the whole scenario - especially after Donington had lost it - surely proves Simon Gillett is not up to his job role efficiently enough.

SILVERSTONE SET TO DECIDE ON GP LAYOUT

Silverstone bosses are hoping that a final decision on whether this year's British Grand Prix can take place on its new Arena layout will be made in the next few days.

The Northamptonshire-based track has already submitted an application to the FIA for Formula 1 homologation for the new configuration, which was originally conceived for MotoGP.

However, although hopes are high that the new track can get the green light for holding the British GP in 2010, Silverstone has held back on committing to the plan until other logistical issues are sorted.

Silverstone managing director Richard Phillips said at the AUTOSPORT International show on Thursday that he was holding meetings in the next 24 hours which should provide a clearer picture on what is possible for this year's event.

"We are doing a lot of work at the moment," he said on the AUTOSPORT stage. "If you went to Silverstone now, you would not recognise it.

"We are building the new Arena circuit. It has gone into the FIA for [F1] homologation so we should be able to run FIM MotoGP and F1 on it. The issue really for 2010, is whether we can do that logistically. So we have issues with maybe Paddock Club, and Paddock Club parking and things like that to resolve.

"I am meeting with them tomorrow [Friday] and hopefully in the next few days we will be able to know which circuit we are going to use."

Phillips said that he hoped work on the new pit and paddock complex, due to be finished in time for the 2011 British GP, could make a big step forward later this month.

"There is an awful lot going on at the moment because the Stowe circuit is being extended as well - with the bits going on there," he said.

"There are low friction surfaces, irrigation surfaces and so on, and the work we are doing on the new F1 circuit and MotoGP circuit should be finished mid-March. Then we are looking to start the pits - and the pit wall can maybe start this month. So things are moving quite quickly."

Phillips said he was also encouraged that ticket sales for this year's race had been so promising - even though the race only got the green light in December.

When asked if, with Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton racing for McLaren, Silverstone would have to turn people away this year, Phillips said: "I wouldn't go quite as far as saying that yet, but ticket sales are going quite well.

"We are catching up quite quickly at the moment, so we are looking forward to a big event again in the summer."

SOURCE: Autosport

ARENA LAYOUT TO BE USED

Silverstone has announced that it will use its new 'Arena' layout for this year's Formula 1 British Grand Prix.

The revised track had originally been designed with MotoGP in mind, but when Silverstone regained its F1 date following the collapse of Donington Park's grand prix bid, the Northamptonshire track began considering whether to switch F1 to the new circuit as well.

It has now confirmed that Formula One Management has approved the use of the Arena Grand Prix layout from this year's British GP.

"The new sections of circuit were initially brought in to comply with MotoGP safety regulations, but the 'Arena Complex' was always designed with both two and four-wheeled racing in mind," said Silverstone managing director Richard Phillips.

"We have been very careful, working closely with drivers and riders, to make sure we are improving and enhancing what Silverstone already has to offer - from a drivers', riders' and spectators' point of view."

The new circuit leaves the current GP layout at Abbey and heads through an S-bend to the new Arena complex, before returning down the National track straight to rejoin the existing GP track's stadium section at Brooklands. F1 cars will therefore no longer use Bridge and Priory corners, but it is hoped that the changes will increase overtaking opportunities.

"Some will miss not seeing modern day F1 cars accelerating through Bridge, but we have to move with the times and continue looking at ways to improve the overall experience," Phillips said. "The new layout will bring an extra dimension to Silverstone, a new challenge for the drivers, and will enable fans to get closer to the action.

"We have a very exciting year ahead of us, with F1, MotoGP and World Superbikes all coming to Silverstone, and I can't wait to see how the drivers and riders tackle the new circuit."

The revisions add 760 metres in length to Silverstone's GP track, and are expected to increase F1 lap times by four seconds.

Work on the Arena circuit is already well advanced. Its first race date is set to be the GT1 World Championship round on 1-2 May.

Silverstone is also pushing ahead with plans to create a new pit and paddock complex between Club and Abbey, which it expects to bring into use in 2011.

SOURCE: Autosport

HILL "FRUSTRATED" BY ARENA "COMPROMISE"

Damon Hill, the president of Silverstone's owner the BRDC, has admitted that he is not satisfied with the circuit's new 'Arena' layout which will be used for this year's British Grand Prix.

The Northamptonshire venue announced on Thursday that it had gained permission to run its 2010 Formula 1 event on the redesigned track that was originally developed for its MotoGP race, with cars no longer to negotiate the Abbey to Priory section of corners towards the end of the lap.

Instead the track will be redirected right at Abbey into a sweeping S-bend leading to a tighter right-left-left complex, before heading back towards Brooklands via the National circuit straight.

Silverstone's managing director Richard Phillips predicted the £5million makeover would give the legendary track an "extra dimension" while enhancing both overtaking opportunities and the experience for spectators - but Hill himself has given the project a far more lukewarm public reception.

The 1996 world champion describes the 'Arena' layout as a "frustrating compromise", blaming the high costs involved in staging grands prix as the reason why Silverstone isn't able to afford the more ambitious redesign it ideally wants.

"If you are asking me to say it's fantastic, I'm afraid I am not going to do that," he was quoted as saying by the Daily Mail.

"I am not satisfied that we will be providing the best facility we could.

"More money goes out of the sport than comes in.

"It means we have to be as tight as a duck's backside. We need every penny to survive.

"You end up having to do things you don't want to. It is very frustrating."

Silverstone has assured fans that the revamped configuration, which will add 760m to the lap distance, will not dilute the historic circuit's high-speed nature.

However, Hill has suggested that the new series of corners being constructed won't be either as challenging or as dramatic as the likes of Becketts and Stowe.

"It is fast, exciting corners that drivers love," he said.

"It is what fans love. So, it's illogical not to concentrate on developing the sporting challenge.

"I have the idea of my perfect, fantasy track and that's not what we are building."

SOURCE: ITV-F1