End of the road for Silverstone
THE man who stole the British Grand Prix from Silverstone says his £100million rebuild of Donington Park will be ready for 2010.
Simon Gillett, owner of the Derbyshire circuit, scorned any ideas the announcement Donington will host the race is part of a conspiracy to force the current venue to come up with a deal. [>
[>
“It is time Britain had a world-class circuit, that is what I want and what Bernie Ecclestone wants and it is about to happen,” said Gillett as he stood at Silverstone during the British Grand Prix practice session yesterday. [>
[>
“My company can provide that and we have reached an agreement which will see Donington Park hosting the race for 10 years. [>
[>
“We will start work at the end of the season and I’ve no doubts the British Grand Prix will take place there in 2010 – I’ll see you at the gates then.”[>
[>
The announcement came as quite a shock at the circuit in Northamptonshire, which is owned by the British Racing Drivers’ Club, as it celebrated 60 years of Silverstone during this grand prix. [>
[>
Damon Hill, who was world champion in 1996 and is now president of the BRDC, said: “The disappointment is huge. You cannot believe how much it hurts. [>
[>
“We had as much support as we could get from local Government but there is a limit to where they can go with a sport like F1. [>
[>
“We are disappointed that we have not got to the point of securing the grand prix but it is important for the British public to retain it. [>
[>
“So with one hat on we recognise that it is good that the country has retained the race.”[>
[>
Their troubles with Ecclestone and rebuilding Silverstone have been ongoing for a decade.[>
[>
And Ecclestone said: “What has been put to me by Donington is elaborate and nice – potentially beautiful.[>
[>
“The problem is that the BRDC don’t do anything in a business-like way. [>
[>
“I always said to them the British Grand Prix was the deadline and they weren’t ready.”[>