F1 @ Donnington

[Deleted]

Non footie I know but Donnington gets F1 - fuck all facilities there nevermind silverstone

DONINGTON TO HOST 2010 FORMULA ONE BRITISH GRAND PRIX
Fri 4th Jul 08

The future of the British Grand Prix has today been secured in a new 10 year agreement between Donington Ventures Leisure Limited and Formula One Management Limited.

The 2010 F1™ British Grand Prix at Donington Park will see the pinnacle of motor racing return to the iconic East Midlands circuit after a 17-year absence when it last hosted the Grand Prix of Europe in 1993.

Circuit owners and joint CEO’s, Simon Gillett and Lee Gill made the following statement:

“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 and 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.

Donington Ventures Leisure Limited has worked closely with the local and national authorities in consideration of the planning requirements that are necessary to provide a first class facility for the hosting of F1 in 2010. The details of this and the Donington Park master plan that outlines a 5 year investment programme of some £100m, will be provided at a future date.

The investment will be led by a private investor who is also a large shareholder.

Today’s signing of the contract with Formula One Management Limited brings to an end a period of commercial negotiations, none of which would have been possible without the support of Mr Ecclestone and FOM. However, Donington Ventures are still engaged in negotiations with other important third parties that should be concluded in a matter of days. Only when this is done, will they release further information to the media.

[Premier Endonstokie]

That's good news, Won't have travel as far with the 2 free tickets i get every year.

Look like i have got to move house down to northampton way as start new job for Merceded High perfomance engiines on 14th july. The supplier to Mclaren F1......WhooooHooooo

[Lakeland Potter]

Endon you have confused me. Silverstone is near Northampton whereas Donnington is near Leicester. So, if you move to Northampton you will have FURTHER to go to get to Donnington.

[Premier Endonstokie]

But i will move to stafford form endon, so will be closer...lol ;D

[lordherefordsknob]

better sort the roads out round there they can be nightmare when somethings going on there

[algor]

Jul 4, 2008 13:12:18 GMT Premier Endonstokie said:

That's good news, Won't have travel as far with the 2 free tickets i get every year.

Look like i have got to move house down to northampton way as start new job for Merceded High perfomance engiines on 14th july. The supplier to Mclaren F1......WhooooHooooo

I suggest you go the day before.

We went to the Formula Renault event last year, I say we went we actually spent 4 hours in traffic trying to get in and then gave up and went home. Silverstone is a nightmare to get away from, that won't be the case at Donnington as you can't fucking get there in the first place

[daverichards]

Donnington is a great circuit, remeber the last F1 race there in '93 (i think) wet race .

However the rest of the place will need knocking down and starting again, their is no way that place is upto F1 standards , the paddock and lack of stands tells me that . It may be good enough for us bikers , 88,000 in the other week for the MotoGP . Lets hope they dont mess with the layout , however I think the old hairpin will be a serious danger point and unless they do something serious with the bridge parapets it could be well nasty if they loose it at speed there.

At the minute its a great circuit to watch from , however serious building work for stands could ruin some of the vantage points where you can see more than the immediate track in front of you .

[mark71]

I've never been to silverstone but it must be a right shit hole if Donnington has won the F1 contract off them.
It's like Stafford rangers holding an F.A. cup semi final.

[Northy]

"looks like I've got to move house down Northampton way" "but will move to Stafford from Endon so will be closer"
Hope your working on the engines and not taking a navigator's role

Stafford near Northampton ??

[daverichards]

algor: i went last year, had no problem getting in or out , and I was on 4 wheels , it was all in the timing , I was briefly stuck in a big queue on the way out, before I hooked a right set the sat nav to shortest route and asked it to take me the fuck out of there (melton mowbray)

[dad1]

As others have said Donington is in no way ready for F1, and I can't see that it will be by 2010, £100 million investment or not!

As for the reason it's moving, Ecclestone has made it clear in the past that he doesn't want it at Silverstone, and has been trying for years to kill off the best motor racing circuit in the UK.

I don't want to cast aspersions, but I wouldn't be surprised if the "large shareholder" is Bernie himself!

[DodgyDino]

I went there last year for the Renault Racing day, Ive gotta say i was really suprised when i heard Donnington was going to host the F1. In recent years Bernie Ecclestone has moaned about parking and access to Silverstone yet I found access to and from Donnington poor. You can end up queueing from the A50 to get to the circuit. Good news is its local so it would be nice to get hold of some tickets though.

[swampySCFC]

Went to Silverstone 5 years on the trot 5 or 6 yrs ago, camping out all week prior to the race.

Great event and loads to do around the circuit such as walking, cycling etc.

Having been from East Mids airport a few times the area around Donnington looks pretty shitty to me.

Bernie Eccleston is a fucking money grabbing midget

[daverichards]

"the area around Donnington looks pretty shitty to me"

you want to try opening yours eyes a bit more

[Chunky Lover!]

I've always liked Donington, I saw my first F1 race there in 1993 when the great Ayrton Senna gave a supreme performance, I have also seen a lot of Touring Cars, Sportscars and Motorbikes there. The track is great for viewing, much better than the concrete of Silverstone especially from Redgate and McLeans.
I agree with peoples concerns about the facilities but we shouldn't slate it until we see how it is re-developed. I hear the track is to be made longer and hopefully we don't lose the joys of a superb layout.
The bottom line is though, if it wasn't at Donington there would probably not be a British GP as Bernie has made his feelings about Silverstone very clear.

[Deleted]

Jul 4, 2008 21:16:46 GMT @daverichards said:

before I hooked a right set the sat nav to shortest route and asked it to take me the fuck out of there (melton mowbray)

Shit, I wish I had the get me the fuck out of here option on my sat nav ;D

[stokeace60]

whats going to happen to the market??? i cant go there and buy a pair of jeans with lewis hamilton roaring past me at fuckin 200 mph can i???

[tigger68]

stokeace you'll just have a few more skid marks in your pants..... ;D ;D ;D

[daverichards]

Jul 6, 2008 8:29:44 GMT @pjnottj said:

Jul 4, 2008 21:16:46 GMT @daverichards said:

before I hooked a right set the sat nav to shortest route and asked it to take me the fuck out of there (melton mowbray)

Shit, I wish I had the get me the fuck out of here option on my sat nav ;D

they all have it , you just need to know how to use it