British GP to be held at Donington

[Jamesy-18]

Pitpass says it's game over already for Donington. If there is no British GP next year, it will seriously dent F1.

[jab]

Another extension? It's certainly giving the conspiracy theorists credibility

[strider]

Originally Posted by arnage arnie

Autosport is saying the end of this week. Either way, your last line is still true!

They're actually saying two weeks, but it doesn't really matter if it's one, two or three weeks. It's not going to happen and when the deadline is changed time and time again, so Bernie is damaging his reputation as an ace negotiator.

He must really dislike the BRDC is all I can think.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Bernie is holding out for Donnington as long as he can, hence the endless deadlines. He doesn't want to have to back to Silverstone looking like a chump. Then again if because of all this and there is no British GP, then he certainly will look like a chump.

[fourWheelDrift]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Bernie is holding out for Donnington as long as he can, hence the endless dealines. He doesn't want to have to back to Silverstone looking like a chump. Then again if because of all this and there is no British GP, then he certainly will look like a chump.

I always thought Bernie was a bit of a Machiaveli but if you are right and it's as simple as that then he is a ... er ... chump.

[Steven Humphrey]

Originally Posted by strider

He must really dislike the BRDC is all I can think.

Think the feeling's mutual

[ascarracinguk]

ive been a massive supporter of the donington gp since the project began but even i think its becoming a joke now. i didnt have anything against silverstone, i just think donington is a better track and it would be nice to share the gp around a bit.

its now getting beyond a joke though, a decision needs to be made either way.

[fourWheelDrift]

Originally Posted by ascarracinguk

ive been a massive supporter of the donington gp since the project began but even i think its becoming a joke now. i didnt have anything against silverstone, i just think donington is a better track and it would be nice to share the gp around a bit.

its now getting beyond a joke though, a decision needs to be made either way.

I too would love to have seen F1 cars at Donnington but as you say a decision needs to be made now and with circumstances as they are it can only be in favour of Silverstone. Anything other than very quick confirmation of Silverstone will mean no British GP in 2010.

[terence]

Would anyone REALLY care?? There are other circus's to see,none with cars in though.

[Tyrrell]

Could it be that the final axe on the British GP falls on the day the FIA announce a new President? Nothing like a good day to release bad news is there?

[Marbot]

Gillett's had more extensions than Amy Winehouse!

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by fourWheelDrift

I always thought Bernie was a bit of a Machiaveli but if you are right and it's as simple as that then he is a ... er ... chump.

He's Machiavelian all right but I think this time he's out Machiavelied himself.

[Jamesy-18]

This is getting beyond stupid. At this rate, Gillett/Ecclestone will be the death of the British GP.

[Steven Humphrey]

If Donington fails, as it seems ever more likely that it will, I do hope that Silverstone is given the multi year deal it is after. If not, I can see the headlines now - 'Silverstone refuses to hold GP after Donington collapse'. 'I said they could have it but they didn't want it', said Mr Ecclestone. 'Therefore, Silverstone is responsible for the death of the British GP, not me or Mr Gillett'

[fourWheelDrift]

Originally Posted by arnage arnie

If Donington fails, as it seems ever more likely that it will, I do hope that Silverstone is given the multi year deal it is after. If not, I can see the headlines now - 'Silverstone refuses to hold GP after Donington collapse'. 'I said they could have it but they didn't want it', said Mr Ecclestone. 'Therefore, Silverstone is responsible for the death of the British GP, not me or Mr Gillett'

I am afraid this is exactly the outcome Bernie desires and is working towards.

[Piglet]

Presumably part of the problem is that BCE (or FOM) or whichever part of the organisation grants the contracts, still has a multi year contract with Donington and whilst that is still unresolved they couldn't grant a multi year deal to the BRDC?

The BRDC are quite sensibly saying that a GP requires a multi year deal to enable the cost to be spread, BCE will no doubt wring his hands and say how dreadful it is that he can't grant them a multi year deal so the race is off.

Whichever way you cut it, he's going to try to come out of it with his hands clean...

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by Piglet

Presumably part of the problem is that BCE (or FOM) or whichever part of the organisation grants the contracts, still has a multi year contract with Donington and whilst that is still unresolved they couldn't grant a multi year deal to the BRDC?

The BRDC are quite sensibly saying that a GP requires a multi year deal to enable the cost to be spread, BCE will no doubt wring his hands and say how dreadful it is that he can't grant them a multi year deal so the race is off.

Whichever way you cut it, he's going to try to come out of it with his hands clean...

I'm sure he's wiping the bloo..(er?) mud off his hands as you typed that.
A total farce from start to finish!

[strider]

Originally Posted by Piglet

Presumably part of the problem is that BCE (or FOM) or whichever part of the organisation grants the contracts, still has a multi year contract with Donington and whilst that is still unresolved they couldn't grant a multi year deal to the BRDC?

I'm sure you're right, but what I don't understand is how Gillett can have failed to meet so many deadlines without being in breach of his contract.

Originally Posted by Piglet

The BRDC are quite sensibly saying that a GP requires a multi year deal to enable the cost to be spread, BCE will no doubt wring his hands and say how dreadful it is that he can't grant them a multi year deal so the race is off.

How can he even contemplate replacing the British Grand Prix with, say, Korea, when the whole of the F1 paddock wants the race to stay and the spectator attendance at this year's event was so good? I know Bernie is much more interested in his bankers and his investors, but there must come a point when the wishes of the people who put on the show count for something.

Originally Posted by Piglet

Whichever way you cut it, he's going to try to come out of it with his hands clean...

You betcha!

[Piglet]

Originally Posted by strider

I'm sure you're right, but what I don't understand is how Gillett can have failed to meet so many deadlines without being in breach of his contract.

I agree, I'm sure he has breached the contract but we don't know what the remedies are and until the legal "ends" are tied up would you want to grant a further contract?

Originally Posted by strider

How can he even contemplate replacing the British Grand Prix with, say, Korea, when the whole of the F1 paddock wants the race to stay and the spectator attendance at this year's event was so good? I know Bernie is much more interested in his bankers and his investors, but there must come a point when the wishes of the people who put on the show count for something.

There is also the suggestion that under one of the Agreements (possibly the Concorde Agreement?) there is a requirement to hold a BGP. Presumably if there is no circuit willing and able to do that on the terms available then the requirement falls away, whether the situation has been manipulated or not?

Originally Posted by strider

You betcha!

I'm sure you're familiar with the concept of equity - everyone comes to the table with clean hands

[Moneyseeker]

Originally Posted by Piglet

Presumably part of the problem is that BCE (or FOM) or whichever part of the organisation grants the contracts, still has a multi year contract with Donington and whilst that is still unresolved they couldn't grant a multi year deal to the BRDC?

The BRDC are quite sensibly saying that a GP requires a multi year deal to enable the cost to be spread, BCE will no doubt wring his hands and say how dreadful it is that he can't grant them a multi year deal so the race is off.

Whichever way you cut it, he's going to try to come out of it with his hands clean...

Quite...There are so many aspects to this matter I barely know where to start! Amongst the things that are a complete mystery to me are:

Why give Donington an extension to the GP contract before they had upgraded the venue or even held a GP, surely you extend a contract as a reward for doing a good job based on the result!

When the FIA is presenting the new F1 as having to be lean and mean, why are they watching sat on their hands as FOM tours the globe trying to get more far flung venues built to ever increasing demands, extravagance and expense - Abu Dhabi is rumoured to have cost circa £250 million to build. Many of the new venues will do little but gather dust in between GP's.

It's a scandal that a great and important event on the UK's sporting calendar has again become a pawn in the game. Can you imagine if the FA Cup Final, Grand National or Wimbledon Championships were under similar pressure and threat?

[strider]

There's quite a hard-hitting little piece on pitpass.com.

I can't really disagree with anything they say.

[grantp]

Assuming the whole thing goes belly up on failed funding the number of holes dug so far, as far as the Sutton Images library informs us, is not the end of the world in engineering terms and whatever work they support to the overall infrastructure may, if pursued, be beneficial as part of an overall facelift with or without the F1 circus.

I'm assuming that someone somewhere has enough cash and interest to take advantage of that activity to date.

What is more evident, and more so at this time of year when people are still out in their gardens than it was when the track was closed for the new tunnel construction in the middle of winter, is just how much quieter the area is absent any track activity. In fact it becomes evident just how much quieter modern planes have become compered with a decade or so ago. (Except the freight stuff in the early hours of the morning, the resident Spitfire, a semi-resident WWI era bi-plane, a few private Cessnas and similar, the Air Ambulance chopper that seems to be constantly flying in and out and anything military.)

Given an extended shutdown I think the locals could get used to this relative peace and quiet.

Someone somewhere mentioned commercial development at the PArk. Was something along those lines not already part ofthe overall plan? The Donington area currently has a series of commercial developments almost complete, a seemingly stall distribution centre development with a spare 180 acres or so of brown field to the north of the village and a proposal for another one between the airport and the M1 J24. \In addition there is a plan under consideration for 300 houses to the West of the current residantial development and another for a mix (I think) of housing and offices to the south between the village and the track. Plus the Manchester Airports Group, which owns and operates the airport, have been muttering for years about expansion in various forms.

It therefore seems to me that no matter what the locals may want the potential for getting planning permission for commercial development at the Park as well is high. On the other hand the competition to seel the schemes to paying customers amongst developers in the area, if all plans proceed, may be even higher. Such property developments may occur anyway irrespective of the presence or otherwise of the track and a contract to run a GP. And in all cases, unless all development is rejected or fails to progress for other reasons, the local road infrastructure needs to be enhanced.

Interestingly the Local Councils seems to have been remarkable quiet on all of this - or at least if they have said anything much it has not been reported anywhere that I have been reading. That's unusual.

[foreversideways]

Laurel and Hardy could hardly have done it better. Thats another fine mess you got me into Simon !!

[Mark H]

Bernie is now quoted ( telegraph on line)as saying two weeks is notice of breach of contract and Silverstone will be offered the race for 17 years if they default.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/mot...on-doubts.html

[rbs]

If BE really wanted a GP at Donington Park, surely he would have just given SG the required funds and told him to get on with it.