News from Donington
Discussion
...but again its more BS:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/78407
It won't happen, as it always seems to be "at the end of the month" when they'll announce the plans.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/78407
It won't happen, as it always seems to be "at the end of the month" when they'll announce the plans.
This is getting all too predictable. Always the news is that they are 'progressing well' but unable to confirm anything publicly. Surely if they are looking for finance, the best option to get people interested is to actually announce some good news now, not so close to Bernie's deadline?
I fully expect the end of September deadline to pass wthout hearing anything until Bernie steps in and gives Silverstone the green light. Then Gillett will start his public outcry of a lack of support from Bernie and the British motoring press as the reason for his failure to complete the financial package successfully.
I hope I'm wrong though, because seeing F1 cars down Craner Curves will be something to witness.
I fully expect the end of September deadline to pass wthout hearing anything until Bernie steps in and gives Silverstone the green light. Then Gillett will start his public outcry of a lack of support from Bernie and the British motoring press as the reason for his failure to complete the financial package successfully.
I hope I'm wrong though, because seeing F1 cars down Craner Curves will be something to witness.
It's fairly obvious that Gillett's gone out on a limb with the promise of backing with a very well put-together package. However, when he set off on this odyssey, surely the banks that were "behind him" knew the storm was coming and should have been honest rather than saying "yes Mr Gillett, it's all wonderful and you'll get that cash easily"
With this kind of a project, I'm sure he, and his team, are working their behinds off trying to put the pieces together to get it all going, otherwise it's going to take a brave decision to own up and admit they failed - which then looks bad, and will the backers run away, leaving a scarred circuit complex part demolished, but as a project for someone with the loot to finish.
In 4 weeks we'll know either way.
IF the project has failed, and Silverstone has it all back, they have won big time - they will have the F1, and the MotoGP. They'd probably pick up the WSBK too as Donington will become persona-non-grata as it'll be like a 1970's Spanish Holiday resort - not finished yet, and nothing will work - unless Rockingham pick that one up, which they tried to get last year - it seems the bike boys like 'The Rock'.
With this kind of a project, I'm sure he, and his team, are working their behinds off trying to put the pieces together to get it all going, otherwise it's going to take a brave decision to own up and admit they failed - which then looks bad, and will the backers run away, leaving a scarred circuit complex part demolished, but as a project for someone with the loot to finish.
In 4 weeks we'll know either way.
IF the project has failed, and Silverstone has it all back, they have won big time - they will have the F1, and the MotoGP. They'd probably pick up the WSBK too as Donington will become persona-non-grata as it'll be like a 1970's Spanish Holiday resort - not finished yet, and nothing will work - unless Rockingham pick that one up, which they tried to get last year - it seems the bike boys like 'The Rock'.
10 Pence Short said:
I hope they do it. And I hope if they do, the naysayers will be gracious enough to say "well done".
I completely agree.10 Pence Short said:
Not every person who's had a failed business is an utter b*stard, not everyone who has a successful one is a saint.
I rather think that the reverse is more often true.Don't get me wrong, I would like to see F1 at Donington, it's one of my favourite places in the world. Where else has motorsports, rock n roll, and such a huge collection of classic racing cars? My main gripes are that the "new" Donington will be s
t, as it will have been Tilke'd. Secondly, I'm very sceptical of Mr Gillet. He's always saying that an announcement will be made "in the next few weeks", and it never comes. If they want to race at Donington, it should be for the European GP, thus keeping the British GP where it belongs.
I also think that the European Gp should be held in the country of the reigning WDC. It's usually been done but in a different way, e.g. Mansell was WDC when the European GP was last at Donington, when Schumacher was champion, it was in Germany for many years, when Alonso was champion, it went to Valencia (although not until 2008, by which time Kimi was WDC). Bernie should have a deal with at least one racetrack in each country which has a driver in F1, and it must be a track which doesn't host a GP. I've just thought of a huge flaw though, what if the WDC isn't from Europe? Simples, have 2 GP's at their country. Thing is, I'd want Webber to dominate the WDC forever and a day, as then the only logical choice for F1 in Oz other than Melbourne is Adelaide.
t, as it will have been Tilke'd. Secondly, I'm very sceptical of Mr Gillet. He's always saying that an announcement will be made "in the next few weeks", and it never comes. If they want to race at Donington, it should be for the European GP, thus keeping the British GP where it belongs.I also think that the European Gp should be held in the country of the reigning WDC. It's usually been done but in a different way, e.g. Mansell was WDC when the European GP was last at Donington, when Schumacher was champion, it was in Germany for many years, when Alonso was champion, it went to Valencia (although not until 2008, by which time Kimi was WDC). Bernie should have a deal with at least one racetrack in each country which has a driver in F1, and it must be a track which doesn't host a GP. I've just thought of a huge flaw though, what if the WDC isn't from Europe? Simples, have 2 GP's at their country. Thing is, I'd want Webber to dominate the WDC forever and a day, as then the only logical choice for F1 in Oz other than Melbourne is Adelaide.
If it does go back to Silverstone next year here are a couple of things they can do to improve things:
1) Put something down at the entrances to the grandstands to stop the ground turning into a mud bath. The mud gets dragged up the steps and goes everywhere. This would take about 5 minutes.
2) Put a service road around the whole track for vehicles. It's absolutely ridiculous that when the circuit is emptying out you have a bin lorry taking up the whole road that people need to use to leave!
They could also do with more stuff off the track like the BMW pit lane park they had in 2008. There was nothing like that this year.
1) Put something down at the entrances to the grandstands to stop the ground turning into a mud bath. The mud gets dragged up the steps and goes everywhere. This would take about 5 minutes.
2) Put a service road around the whole track for vehicles. It's absolutely ridiculous that when the circuit is emptying out you have a bin lorry taking up the whole road that people need to use to leave!
They could also do with more stuff off the track like the BMW pit lane park they had in 2008. There was nothing like that this year.
47GT said:
Just tried to take a look at the Development Webcam on the Donington Park website to get an idea of progress now that the circuit is closed. No joy, either webcam not working or a problem on my PC.
Anyone witnessed any significant progress on building work this week?
Gillett's turned out the lights and done a runner!Anyone witnessed any significant progress on building work this week?
A few snippets on progress on the last page of the attached.
http://www.ten-tenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1...
Link contained in the above link to another piece providing a bit more information about the travel arrangements as well.
http://www.ten-tenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1...
Link contained in the above link to another piece providing a bit more information about the travel arrangements as well.
Anyone seen any pictures of anything other than the excavated Speedway with single motionless digger shot they always show? How big a hole do they need anyway? Maybe they're trying to dig all the way to Melbourne so they can get straight to a decent track without any extra construction?
It's toast - not going to happen.
Loved Bernies quote from the Autospoty article:-
Ecclestone also dismissed talk that if the event reverts to Silverstone it will be called the 'European' Grand Prix.
"It's in England? It will be the British GP," he said. "Why would you want to call it the European GP? People talk about the British GP having been at Silverstone for 100 years, so why should we change it?"
Why change it indeed. He could've saved a lot of people a lot of bother.
Loved Bernies quote from the Autospoty article:-
Ecclestone also dismissed talk that if the event reverts to Silverstone it will be called the 'European' Grand Prix.
"It's in England? It will be the British GP," he said. "Why would you want to call it the European GP? People talk about the British GP having been at Silverstone for 100 years, so why should we change it?"
Why change it indeed. He could've saved a lot of people a lot of bother.
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