Just popped up on the live text feed on the BBC website - no details yet
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/moto...ne/7487746.stm
Printable View
Just popped up on the live text feed on the BBC website - no details yet
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/moto...ne/7487746.stm
Blummin' heck :eek: :eek: :eek:
NNNNooooooo!
Silverstone will likely die a death now and be bulldozed for housing development
Huge loss!!
Very surprised to hear such an announcement so soon! 2010? They've got a hell of a lot of work to do there.
In many ways I think it will be a shame to see Donington covered in huge areas of asphalt run off, wider track and gravel but it will also be exciting to see how they are going to improve the venue.
Such a short timescale to do it in too, effectively two winters...
Also has anyone considered access to Donington Park? The A-Road off the M1 is appalling, even on BTCC day and there's the Airport next door too.
And asphalted car parks? Donington hardly has any!
Remember this from 1999:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/...ile/511269.stmQuote:
Brands Hatch recently successfully bid to bring the British Formula One Grand Prix back to its famous race track...The prestigious race was last held at Brands Hatch in 1986, being run more recently at the rival Silverstone circuit which declined to renew its contract with Formula One which runs out in 2001. Formula One will return to Brands Hatch in 2002, but the track first needs to make £20m of improvements to satisfy the demands of modern Formula One racing.
It never happened.
Is this latest announcement simply more politics & pressure on Silverstone?
Modern F1 cars blasting through the Craner Curves is a wonderful thought, but like Andy I can't help fearing that the character of the circuit will be ruined bringing up to F1 standards.
It had been rumoured for ages, but I'd always suspected that was a ploy to keep Silverstone on their toes. I wasn't expecting this.
Tilke's been around Donington lately.
How they'll successfully be able to ruin a good track in less than 2 years is beyond me, especially since MotoGP will be at Donington.
Suppose money can probably do that though.
OOOOH YESH! This should be good :cool:
I might even be persuaded to make my first ever visit to the British Grand Prix.
I'd say it's bad for Donington. It will be ruined no doubt by Bernie's mate Tilke. The only changes as far as the track is concerned is the Melbourne Loop.
But what about the Pit, Grandstands, facilities, road access, etc
The MotoGP had an attendence of 90,000 on raceday - what will the F1 race get?
Article from 20th June:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/spo...cle4175951.eceQuote:
As much as the Formula One supremo [Ecclestone] talks up Donington, he knows that the circuit next to East Midlands airport would also have a huge job on its hands to host a Formula One race as early as 2010. The track may need lengthening, a new pit, paddock and media complex would have to be built, along with grandstands and other items that would cost tens of millions of pounds
Not quite sure how they've convinced Bernie that they'll get it ready in two years, I suppose time will tell?
As Arrows suggests, and I've suspected, this could just be a ruse to force Silverstone and the BRDC to get their fingers out.
Possibly, but the only way the Brands Hatch owners "got out" of hosting the race for 2002 was when they leased Silverstone wasn't it? Seems a bit of a no-brainer if they'll just end up borrowing Silverstone for 2010Quote:
Is this latest announcement simply more politics & pressure on Silverstone?
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68829Quote:
Donington Park's owners have vowed to fund a five-year £100 million investment programme into the circuit as part of its new 10-year deal to host the British Grand Prix.
Road access is a problem, Silverstone had a dual carriageway built directly to its door. Donington has the M1 nearby but is linked to it by a rubbish single carraigeway road.
oh yeah- it's terrible- haven't been to Donnington in years and one of the reasons is the dreadful access- I still remember the 2 hours it took from M1 to carpark for a BTCC meeting back in the mid 90's. And they have no carparks other than muddy fieldsQuote:
Originally Posted by AndySpeed
when I went to WSR at Silverstone I just drove straight into the carpark- no problems at all
as for the track- if Tilke gets his hands on it, it will become another boring autodrome- with 5 mile tarmac run off at every corner etc etc
I suspect this is as much to do with the BRDC as anything else and that Government won't invest money in the track- but given Ecclestone's enormous wealth I don't see why he couldn't have done it himself (he'd have got the money back somehow)
I don't think Silverstone will be bulldozed over- they're bidding for Moto GP, they've got WSR, FIA GT's and so on- albeit none of them have the cache of the F1 race
I've been thinking about going to another F1 race- so I'll try and get to Silverstone next year for at least qualifying day- I can't see me ever going to Donnington
great news. silverstone was destroyed when they redeveloped it after 1990. its been a mikey mouse layout since.
roll on donington. i might have to go...
Prefer Donington to Silverstone good move ;) as long as they dont start changing Donington :s
Of course they will if it all happens. The fast flowing track the drivers love will be no more. I predict hairpins and chicanes galore..........Quote:
Originally Posted by St3ve
The only good thing to come out of it is hopefully they'll knock down the flea market and stick a grandstand and Redgate - hopefully no grandstands inside the Old Hairpin to ruin the view.
I reckon we could see a rotation between the two. I'd be surprised if they turn Donington into an FOM-spec facility in say 5 years.
Maybe we're all missing the point and the way to hold Top class sport is to follow Bernie's example. We might see Wimbledon being held in Darlington, Cwmbran, Aberdeen - depending on a benefactor building a brand new Tennis centre with 20 new courts and a new Centre court holding 20,000.
Or Test Cricket in the Highlands, at a brand new Test ground holding 85,000 people.
That's what F1 is like; giving events to the highest bidder, no matter what!!
But to be fair Donington has a longer GP tradition than even Silverstone.
No changes to the track are needed really and hopefully they dont stick grandstands everywhere i agree that would ruin the view just improve existing grandstands and car parks etc ;)
What's wrong with it? It still retains it's high speed status.Quote:
Originally Posted by BobGarage
Copse is the new eau-rouge in today's F1 car.
The Maggots-Becketts complex is absolutely awesome. As a spectator you're literally a foot away from the first apex!
Only the final complex resembles a mickey mouse layout but still quite a challenge.
Ah well, Bernie will be happy because he'll get the money wherever the race is held, and Max must be having a chuckle to himself at getting one over on his critics, and BRDC members, Damon Hill & Jackie Stewart.
The timing and the fact this was announced by the FIA and not FOA who normally deal with circuit/race deals suggests there is certainly quite a bit of politics behind this :dozey:
I'm a bit disappointed really, Donington is a great track (if a pain to get into) and I can't see how they'll get it up to F1 standards without ruining it.
On the other hand we may see another "Senna-esque" drive from LH if it rains...oh wait, James Allen won't be in a job by then :)
Quote:
Originally Posted by ArrowsFA1
You can see the strings being pulled :D
Don't think this is a ruse as Max says the contract is signed.
Never thought this was a problem didn't seem that hard to get to. Although only time ive been to it is on track days when less busy and did go to watch 96 RAC Rally there and that was good :up:Quote:
christophulus
(if a pain to get into)
That was the first thing that leapt to mind for me too. I wouldn't bet against it...Quote:
Originally Posted by ArrowsFA1
I love Donnington but the Donnington as we know will probably never be the same again once they've changed in for f1 standards. :(
What was the whole point of Silverstone finally being given permission to make all the changes? Surely they must have known a Donnington deal was on the cards. And if it was a political move, planning permission for Silverstone has already been granted. Strange one.
Two years seems a very short space of time in which to extend Donington's circuit layout and do all the other work required.
Think I might book the house at the Melbourne Arms for the weekend :D
My view exactly.Quote:
Originally Posted by GridGirl
What are they planning on doing to Donington track layout???
I agree.Quote:
Originally Posted by BDunnell
Road access from the M1 needs to be a dual carriageway, there needs to be a proper Hotel, the pits are on about a 1:3 slope, Grandstands, Toilets, restaurants, track modifications, Paddock all need sorting.
2 years, and £100m isn't enough but we shall see.
You've never sat for 3 hours (yes THREE HOURS) waiting to get into the car park then? :mark:Quote:
Originally Posted by St3ve
:s Nah cant say i have wt was that for Moto GPQuote:
Mark
You've never sat for 3 hours (yes THREE HOURS) waiting to get into the car park then? :mark:
Only folks who don't know the back-roads do that!Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark
I have mixed feelings about this... as my local track, I've spent many days at Donnington over the years so I'll be sad to see it changed and altered. It has such a nice setting and a relaxed vibe, and it always feels to me to be so much closer to the action than in Silverstone where there feels like more of a distance between the racing and the audience... probably because of all the barriers etc. It'll be a shame to lose this at Donnington.
However, it's no doubt a boost that the track needs.
It'll make my regular route to Nottingham absolute hell. Traffic round there is bad enough on touring car/ superbike weekends so I hope a large portion of the money will be spent sorting out facilities and access.