Donington on final warning from Ecclestone

[Racefan_uk]

And it's back to Silverstone if they don't prove they've got the cash, like that was never going to happen!

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/77913

[lozriva]

They won't make it, the race will be back at Silverstone...

[hairyben]

Not as easy as that. Damon hill was saying something a while back about the marketing involved in making ends meet, basically "race on sunday, sell on monday"- the entire year between races is spend chasing up corporate customers, the ones who spend £1k+ a head on hospitality. These people go a long way to balancing the books, and the best time to start is when the event is fresh in their minds- "You enjoy that? want to come again next year? Already on sale pal need to be quick..."

Donnington can't do that as they havn't evan built the soddin hospitality yet, and if the race is switched to silverstone at short notice they're gonna have trouble making ends meet if b€rnie want's his usual screw, bernie will have to lower his demands or they might just pass on it.

[Racefan_uk]

hairyben said:

Not as easy as that. Damon hill was saying something a while back about the marketing involved in making ends meet, basically "race on sunday, sell on monday"- the entire year between races is spend chasing up corporate customers, the ones who spend £1k+ a head on hospitality. These people go a long way to balancing the books, and the best time to start is when the event is fresh in their minds- "You enjoy that? want to come again next year? Already on sale pal need to be quick..."

Donnington can't do that as they havn't evan built the soddin hospitality yet, and if the race is switched to silverstone at short notice they're gonna have trouble making ends meet if b€rnie want's his usual screw, bernie will have to lower his demands or they might just pass on it.

Apart from the fact next year they'll have the carrot of 'Silverstone has the Grand Prix that was never going to be' to dangle in front of fans. And corporate hospitality will always happen at a Grand Prix, whether it's short notice or not.

I also think the fact that they'll have what is the biggest event on the UK motorsport calendar back on their soil won't mean Silverstone will 'just pass on it'. Somehow.

[Piglet]

The question will be who will be the promoter? Will the whole contract be taken away from DVL and a new contract granted to Silverstone or will DVL promote the GP at Silverstone?

Or....will the contract be awarded to Silverstone Circuits Limited which will then be sold off as it was before?

[flemke]

Piglet said:

The question will be who will be the promoter? Will the whole contract be taken away from DVL and a new contract granted to Silverstone or will DVL promote the GP at Silverstone?

Or....will the contract be awarded to Silverstone Circuits Limited which will then be sold off as it was before?

You never know with these people, who are not exactly famous for telling it straight, but Bernie's statement in June (ish) that Donington had been given another year certainly implied that failure to be ready for '10 would not be a default.

[Knowledge]

They have only just appointed certain consultants, either that or there has been a change in consultants half way through some works.

I'm suprised it has not been in the news actually. The fact that these appointment have only just been made and the timeline that is on the plate......there is no way it will be done.

[Piglet]

Knowledge said:

They have only just appointed certain consultants, either that or there has been a change in consultants half way through some works.

I'm suprised it has not been in the news actually.

It has been in the news, it's well known that there is a new contractor et al - sadly the fact that apparently it is the folks behind Wembley doesn't fill most of us with confidence!

[acf8181]

lozriva said:

They won't make it, the race will be back at Silverstone...

+1

However, this will have already had a detrimental affect on silverstones sales

[Piglet]

flemke said:

Piglet said:

The question will be who will be the promoter? Will the whole contract be taken away from DVL and a new contract granted to Silverstone or will DVL promote the GP at Silverstone?

Or....will the contract be awarded to Silverstone Circuits Limited which will then be sold off as it was before?

You never know with these people, who are not exactly famous for telling it straight, but Bernie's statement in June (ish) that Donington had been given another year certainly implied that failure to be ready for '10 would not be a default.

It's an interesting question isn't it? The BRDC are going to be reticent to sign much in the way of a contract one imagines given the late notice and the effect this might have on sales/hospitality etc. It's not much of a cash cow at the best of times.

Edited by Piglet on Sunday 23 August 15:13

[mattsayle]

I have just got back from Donington and can say I really cant see it being there next year. the tunnel they have built was flooded. There was a digger and a wagon and that was it. The Paddock needs re doing as it is a HEAP. THey have also taken down the Grandstands that were there for WSBK and MotoGP which is annoying.

Also, the place was dead. hardly anyone there at all. How they are going to make there money I dont know.

It wont be by driving experiences, that is for sure. The cars were just abandoned in a field. Oh and the you could really hear the commentry (even worse then when the Cam Ams came out )

I hope J Palmer buys it as he made a fantastic job of Oulton and I would love to see Donington in a similiar state

[Scuffers]

mattsayle said:

I hope J Palmer buys it as he made a fantastic job of Oulton and I would love to see Donington in a similiar state

can't see Tom selling it no matter what. (you need to separate the operating company from the owners).

[mattsayle]

Scuffers said:

mattsayle said:

I hope J Palmer buys it as he made a fantastic job of Oulton and I would love to see Donington in a similiar state

can't see Tom selling it no matter what. (you need to separate the operating company from the owners).

I know bugger all abut buying race tracks . was just saying that it would be good if JP did so

[freedman]

lozriva said:

They won't make it, the race will be back at Silverstone...

And thousands will rejoice as the British Grand Prix remains at the dullest circuit in the country

[acf8181]

freedman said:

lozriva said:

They won't make it, the race will be back at Silverstone...

And thousands will rejoice as the British Grand Prix remains at the dullest circuit in the country

Don't be so bloody rediculous....its a lovely fast flowing circuit, watching an f1 car round there is something to be savoured, i bet driving it in one is amazing

[NewMetalSystem]

acf8181 said:

freedman said:

lozriva said:

They won't make it, the race will be back at Silverstone...

And thousands will rejoice as the British Grand Prix remains at the dullest circuit in the country

Don't be so bloody rediculous....its a lovely fast flowing circuit, watching an f1 car round there is something to be savoured, i bet driving it in one is amazing

Most of the drivers would agree. They all seem to love it.

[flemke]

freedman said:

lozriva said:

They won't make it, the race will be back at Silverstone...

And thousands will rejoice as the British Grand Prix remains at the dullest circuit in the country

Have you ever been around Copse, through Becketts/Maggotts, or through Bridge in a fast car?

[PetrolTed]

freedman said:

lozriva said:

They won't make it, the race will be back at Silverstone...

And thousands will rejoice as the British Grand Prix remains at the dullest circuit in the country

I used to think that. It's now one of my favourite circuits to drive.

[Adamantium]

Donnington was a joke from the start, they've ruined a fantastic circuit with some of the best views for some rich boy who seems to be intent on digging himself a massive hole and then running away from it.

someone needs to start sorting it out, and soon, it'll never be up and running for 2010 there isn't long enough to do it all and get it right, 2011 should be the aim, and Bernie knows this and just wants to make it more of a spectacle to make more money from it all!

i dont know if the BRDC would want it back as it wasnt the biggest money earner for them now was it! only way is if bernie reduces his cut to make it worthwhile for them, but he wont and well have the indian/canadian/russian/bulgarian gp instead.

if you want to see f1 its probably cheaper to drive to spa anyway!

[chevronb37]

mattsayle said:

I have just got back from Donington and can say I really cant see it being there next year. the tunnel they have built was flooded. There was a digger and a wagon and that was it. The Paddock needs re doing as it is a HEAP. THey have also taken down the Grandstands that were there for WSBK and MotoGP which is annoying.

Also, the place was dead. hardly anyone there at all. How they are going to make there money I dont know.

It wont be by driving experiences, that is for sure. The cars were just abandoned in a field. Oh and the you could really hear the commentry (even worse then when the Cam Ams came out )

I hope J Palmer buys it as he made a fantastic job of Oulton and I would love to see Donington in a similiar state

I was lucky enough to be at Donington yesterday as well. The place is a mess and needs sorting in short order. However, the new pits are a pleasant place to be and the PA on the outside of the circuit works well. What worries me is that Gillett seems to think that macadam falling apart is what happens when it rains. Well not on any building projects I work on it isn't. The sheer number and severity of errors already accruing is horrifying. I've been visiting Donington for 15 years and the place is looking very sorry for itself - Tom Wheatcroft must be mortified. The other issue which concerns me is that there seems to be no effort to promote any events there any longer. Of the three meetings I've attended most recently, the Superleague Formula was virtually dead, F2 was only promoted by MSVR and the Masters last weekend appeared to receive no press outside the Masters organisation themselves. I am deeply concerned by the whole affair.