Photo: Donington Park circuitDonington Park snatches F1 from Silverstone
The ongoing saga of the state of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone is one that has been going for a very long time. It was on, then it was off, then it was back on again, on the proviso that the organizers provide more funding and update the facilities. For the last 2 or so years Silverstone has had an axe hanging precariously over its head.
Now it seems, the axe has finally dropped with the shock news that Silverstone will be replaced by Donington Park in the East Midlands. The final race at the Northampton circuit will be held in 2009.The circuit first hosted the British round of the Formula 1 World Championship in 1948 and has done ever since. It has seen many of the great names in the history of motorsport win and compete at Silverstone, and it has always provided one of the best races of the season.
So if Silverstone has been a successful host in the past, why move on? For starters, the increase of modern, state-of-the-art facilities, and the increase of countries willing to host an F1 event, has left Silverstone looking slightly tired and outdated. This, apparently, affects the profile of the championship, which represents the height of technology and all that is modern. F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone told the British Racing Divers Club (BRDC) that if they didn’t update the circuit they would lose their slot on the calendar. Silverstone then proposed some radical new plans to bring the circuit up to scratch. This fed the hungry lions for a little while, but now that the plans are coming along very slowly they have gathered round again.
So what can Donington Park offer Formula 1 that Silverstone cannot? At the moment, not much more. However, there is proposed, a £100 million development programme to bring the Leicestershire circuit up to scratch. This includes lengthening the existing circuit and updating the safety to satisfy FIA standards. A new Pit and paddock area will also have to be built, despite a new set of garages only just installed in 2007. Hopefully the circuit redesign will not ruin the existing parkland circuit that is renowned for its rolling gradients and green, parkland appearance. So although Donington has been given the contract to host the British GP for a period of ten years, the future of the race in England is not yet guaranteed. If the improvements are not ready by 2010, there will be no British GP, simple as that.
So is it a good move by the FIA and Bernie Ecclestone? We shall see, but for now there is a lot of work to be done, and the British GP is far from safe, although it is positive step towards securing a long term agreement to see F1 stay in the UK. Roll on 2010.
