Another nail in Donington Coffin

[DWP]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/gordonfarquhar/2009/04/...

It would appear that the local planning department have run out of patience with Donington.

[Craig@CMR]

add to that the fact that rumpours are swirling that msv-r have pulled the plug on the end of may bsb round and btccc have apparently done the same....

[DSM2]

Craig@CMR said:

add to that the fact that rumpours are swirling that msv-r have pulled the plug on the end of may bsb round and btccc have apparently done the same....

rumpours..?

To be honest, I can't believe this was ever taken seriously by anyone. From day 1 it's been clear that it was a BE distraction/ploy to get rid of the BGP altogether.

[Piglet]

DSM2 said:

Craig@CMR said:

add to that the fact that rumpours are swirling that msv-r have pulled the plug on the end of may bsb round and btccc have apparently done the same....

rumpours..?

To be honest, I can't believe this was ever taken seriously by anyone. From day 1 it's been clear that it was a BE distraction/ploy to get rid of the BGP altogether.

DSM you seem to be confusing the GP with other forms of motorsport? Many of us felt that the GP was never going to happen but that has little relevance to their day to day stuf and whether that is running.

I have no insider knowledge of it but I wouldn't be surprised if MSVR have pulled BSB, they took a financial hit by having to cancel the two dayer a couple of weeks ago in the form of costs that already been incurred that weren't refundable so with little evidence that things are going to plan at Donington with regards to licensing by the MSA and the ACU I can imagine that they will want to make a decision early to avoid them and their competitors losing more money. JP was very irritated at the lack of info coming out of Donington at the time and I don't doubt things are similar now and that DVL have their heads in a pile of sand somewhere!

[DSM2]

Piglet said:

DSM2 said:

Craig@CMR said:

add to that the fact that rumpours are swirling that msv-r have pulled the plug on the end of may bsb round and btccc have apparently done the same....

rumpours..?

To be honest, I can't believe this was ever taken seriously by anyone. From day 1 it's been clear that it was a BE distraction/ploy to get rid of the BGP altogether.

DSM you seem to be confusing the GP with other forms of motorsport? Many of us felt that the GP was never going to happen but that has little relevance to their day to day stuf and whether that is running.

I have no insider knowledge of it but I wouldn't be surprised if MSVR have pulled BSB, they took a financial hit by having to cancel the two dayer a couple of weeks ago in the form of costs that already been incurred that weren't refundable so with little evidence that things are going to plan at Donington with regards to licensing by the MSA and the ACU I can imagine that they will want to make a decision early to avoid them and their competitors losing more money. JP was very irritated at the lack of info coming out of Donington at the time and I don't doubt things are similar now and that DVL have their heads in a pile of sand somewhere!

I may be but the way I understand it is that the developments needed specifically for the BGP 'project' are what has resulted in the track losing its licence and the planning issue is directly concenred with the GP too.

Surely this is totally and soley about the BGP fiasco? the other effects are coincidental.

[The Wookie]

I'm still waiting for Bernie to re-appear with a rock bottom offer

[Derek Smith]

Is this significant?

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/...

Bernie considering Silverstone? I'd love to know at what price.

But can we believe anything that Eccles says? He now reckons that he was wrong when he said Alonso had signed for Ferrri.

[topcarrera]

Its concerning that the GP project (dream) now appears to be adversely affecting Doningtons broader activities.

Efforts to retain GP racing in Britain are simply not worth the sacrifice of one of our best circuits. This fiasco is really starting to annoy me.

[rev-erend]

Sounds doomed..

Can't wait to see Bernie with his tail between his tiny legs begging the BRDC to let them host the British F1 GP at Silverstone again..

[HeavySoul]

rev-erend said:

Sounds doomed..

Can't wait to see Bernie with his tail between his tiny legs begging the BRDC to let them host the British F1 GP at Silverstone again..

I don't think this scenario will ever occur to be honest!

[Craig@CMR]

meeting happening now at msv racing hq to confirm cadwell switch for may bsb round, btcc round cancelled.

[FNG]

Derek Smith said:

Is this significant?

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/...

Bernie considering Silverstone? I'd love to know at what price.

But can we believe anything that Eccles says? He now reckons that he was wrong when he said Alonso had signed for Ferrri.

I thought the price was the same as it ever was - Silverstone revamping itself to the spec that Bernie wanted, or no GP. And that this comment from him was backtracking from his entrenched position of "Silverstone will not get the GP" to "Silverstone could get the GP if they do as I ask" which is conveniently rather too late for them to be able to do anything about it before next season's race.

What a shame, they've had their chances though, I gave them every opportunity, oh look a race in Kualar Lumpur. Ker-ching. That'll repay more to CVC to service their debts than a British GP ever could. There, that's the shareholders off my back for a while. Now, who else doesn't pay me enough gazillions of dollars to host a loss-making GP?

[Muz_Wez]

Craig@CMR said:

meeting happening now at msv racing hq to confirm cadwell switch for may bsb round, btcc round cancelled.

I doubt the BTCC round is cancelled as if they cancel they would be in breach of their contract with Donington. I suspect they will wait to Donington to cancel so that they are in breach with TOCA. All very complicated I'm afraid...

[onemorelap]

From a Donington point of view the only way i can see this sorry merry go round stopping faster than requesting forfeiture of the lease is if planning is recinded. Then its highly likely goodbye DVL and the Wheatcrofts can get there circuit back and start repairing what has been trashed both physically and reputation wise by the DVL "squatters".

Tom might actually have something to thank the planners for in his lifetime - who'd have thunk it.

[aeropilot]

Muz_Wez said:

Craig@CMR said:

meeting happening now at msv racing hq to confirm cadwell switch for may bsb round, btcc round cancelled.

I doubt the BTCC round is cancelled as if they cancel they would be in breach of their contract with Donington. I suspect they will wait to Donington to cancel so that they are in breach with TOCA. All very complicated I'm afraid...

Is it likely though that Donny has already breached it's contract with them first by failing to have a MSA track license....?

[boycieboy]

If you listen to EJ (I try not to but sometimes you can't help it!) he says that what ever Bernie says, the total opposite will happen.
In other words, The British GP will be held at Silverstone!
He was going on about DC getting involved in the talks as a 'Racing driver' because he said that the current lot at the BRDC are more interested about where they are going to park on the day rather than the race.

EJ always bigs up Bernie, so I take most of what he says with a pinch of salt!

rev-erend said:

Sounds doomed..

Can't wait to see Bernie with his tail between his tiny legs begging the BRDC to let them host the British F1 GP at Silverstone again..

IMO, I can't ever see Bernie begging anyone for anything! I think he will either A) take over the running of Donington and get it all for a song and make loads or B) Say he tried to save BGP, Goverment wouldn't help etc etc and he has no choice but to alocate the race slot elsewhere (not my fault Guv', *thinking* 'This is what I wanted to get to in giving it to Donington')

I think it will end up going to India. Bernie & VJ have already mentioned it in previous articles and the teams have said they don;t want an extra race so somethings got to give.

Lets hope I'm wrong and (I hate to say it) EJ's right

[Craig@CMR]

aeropilot said:

Muz_Wez said:

Craig@CMR said:

meeting happening now at msv racing hq to confirm cadwell switch for may bsb round, btcc round cancelled.

I doubt the BTCC round is cancelled as if they cancel they would be in breach of their contract with Donington. I suspect they will wait to Donington to cancel so that they are in breach with TOCA. All very complicated I'm afraid...

Is it likely though that Donny has already breached it's contract with them first by failing to have a MSA track license....?

sorry i should have been clearer.

the official word is that donny btcc is "postponed" until either the track is satisfactory or another venue is found, however there will not be a btcc round when it was supposed to happen, i was told this last night shortly after being told that the bsb had been switched.

[rev-erend]

boycieboy said:

If you listen to EJ (I try not to but sometimes you can't help it!) he says that what ever Bernie says, the total opposite will happen.
In other words, The British GP will be held at Silverstone!
He was going on about DC getting involved in the talks as a 'Racing driver' because he said that the current lot at the BRDC are more interested about where they are going to park on the day rather than the race.

EJ always bigs up Bernie, so I take most of what he says with a pinch of salt!

rev-erend said:

Sounds doomed..

Can't wait to see Bernie with his tail between his tiny legs begging the BRDC to let them host the British F1 GP at Silverstone again..

IMO, I can't ever see Bernie begging anyone for anything! I think he will either A) take over the running of Donington and get it all for a song and make loads or B) Say he tried to save BGP, Goverment wouldn't help etc etc and he has no choice but to alocate the race slot elsewhere (not my fault Guv', *thinking* 'This is what I wanted to get to in giving it to Donington')

I think it will end up going to India. Bernie & VJ have already mentioned it in previous articles and the teams have said they don;t want an extra race so somethings got to give.

Lets hope I'm wrong and (I hate to say it) EJ's right

The day there is no B F1 GP .. will be the day British supporters give it the elbow .. in their millions.

[Muz_Wez]

aeropilot said:

Muz_Wez said:

Craig@CMR said:

meeting happening now at msv racing hq to confirm cadwell switch for may bsb round, btcc round cancelled.

I doubt the BTCC round is cancelled as if they cancel they would be in breach of their contract with Donington. I suspect they will wait to Donington to cancel so that they are in breach with TOCA. All very complicated I'm afraid...

Is it likely though that Donny has already breached it's contract with them first by failing to have a MSA track license....?

I don't know about the details of the contract itself, but if (and it's a currently a huge IF) they can get an MSA licence in time for the meeting itself there could conceivable be no breach? Who knows, either way it's a mess and doing the circuit, championships and motorsport no good at all

Arh, just your later post. Yes a postponed date is likely as with the SRO F3/GT meeting. I understand next weekends Masters meeting is going ahead, is this weekends BRSCC meeting still on??

Edited by Muz_Wez on Wednesday 29th April 13:44

[DJC]

I have no remorse at the notion of losing a British GP, I dont go to them anyway, TV gives much better coverage, they are massively overpriced and Silverstone has been a God awful place for years.

Losing Donnington however is much more important and hopefully must not be allowed to happen. The sooner Tom gets his circuit back and gives us proper racing the better.

And if "millions" of British fans stop watching GP racing and motor sport in general then as far as Im concerned that will only be a good thing. Mondeo and Astra VRX man will vanish from racing meets and it will be just like the old days where those who actually know about the sport will go to events.