So what IS the truth about SIlverstone and a GP in 2010?
Discussion
So yesterday afternoon, just before quali, we heard that Silverstone had signed up for the European GP for 2010-2012.
By the close of play yesterday we heard that if Donington couldn't make the date, Silverstone might be staging the 2010 British GP.
Then we heard that Pete Smith has been asked to visit Donington next week to talk about marshalling at the 2010 British GP.
Then just as I left Winterhill, I was told we would be back at Silverstone in 2010....
...so is that to marshall for the 2010 European GP or the 2010 British GP?...or both?....
Curioser and curioser....
By the close of play yesterday we heard that if Donington couldn't make the date, Silverstone might be staging the 2010 British GP.
Then we heard that Pete Smith has been asked to visit Donington next week to talk about marshalling at the 2010 British GP.
Then just as I left Winterhill, I was told we would be back at Silverstone in 2010....
...so is that to marshall for the 2010 European GP or the 2010 British GP?...or both?....
Curioser and curioser....
I would imagine that Simon Gillett must feel somewhat deflated today - and I struggle to see how he is going to raise any further capital through loans in order to redevelop Donnington.
It's a self fulfilling prophecy for him. Talk down his chances of hosting the event; he fails to raise money because people have been talking down his chances; he fails to host it.
As wierd as he seems on the telly box - I think he has just been sold down the river.
It's a self fulfilling prophecy for him. Talk down his chances of hosting the event; he fails to raise money because people have been talking down his chances; he fails to host it.
As wierd as he seems on the telly box - I think he has just been sold down the river.
Only last week he released an 'announcement' that he'd extended his contract for the GP for a further 7 years (why? He's yet to host the first one!) and that the imrpovements would 'only' cost 80mill rather than the 100mill expected because of the credit crunch.
Desperate PR in the vain hope to attract investors?
Desperate PR in the vain hope to attract investors?
Well I wonder to, judging by the way every interview, had unsolicited praise for silverstone from every interviewee in todays broadcast it was if either there was a concerted effort to send a message or everyone had been let in on a v strong rumour.
Edited by Northern Munkee on Sunday 21st June 22:34
Stig said:
Only last week he released an 'announcement' that he'd extended his contract for the GP for a further 7 years (why? He's yet to host the first one!) and that the imrpovements would 'only' cost 80mill rather than the 100mill expected because of the credit crunch.
Desperate PR in the vain hope to attract investors?
The 7-year extension was of no obvious, direct benefit to Bernie. Its purpose appeared to be to make it easier for Gillett to sell debentures and otherwise raise funding. That made me wonder whether it was a straight extension of the original obligations of both sides, or perhaps it was an option for Bernie to extend for another 7 years if, a decade from now, it should suit the Commercial Rights Holder to do so. That would be of no fixed benefit to Gillet, only to Bernie, but if it could be depicted in the media as "evidence" of Bernie's commitment, then it could be marginally easier for Gillet to raise money.Desperate PR in the vain hope to attract investors?
Also, we were told a year ago that, if Donington were not ready to hold the race in '10, there would be a penalty fee of 2 years' full fees, which is a lot of money. It seems odd that Bernie would waive that out of the goodness of his heart, unless he reckoned that, were he to seek the penalty payment, there would be no solvent counterparty from which to collect it.
cant help with the FOTA issue aswell....both toyota and renault saying today a new series is def going to happen....why would anyone invest in a track that will be hosting a tin pot FIA series with no big teams. I hope Silverstone does host some kind of Top Series motorsport event whatever its new name might be
History often repeats it's self and it often comes as shock when the history is question is forgotten. The following is a from a history of Brands Hatch.
"Without a Grand Prix Brands Hatch concentrated on Formula 3000 but a huge multiple accident in 1988 raised questions of safety again and by 1991 the F3000 circus turned its back on the track. Nicola Foulston was unperturbed and continued to develop BHL as a business. In 1996 she floated the company on the London Stock Exchange.
This was a big success and Foulston began to make preparations for a bid for the British Grand Prix. In 1999 she announced that she had acquired the rights to hold the race in 2002. Planning permission was sought for rebuilding work but while this was still being discussed Foulston sold the company to Octagon Motorsports for $195m. Octagon failed to get the planning permission wanted and eventually did a deal to lease Silverstone so as to run the British GP."
I seem to remember Bernie made money from the above debacle.
Post edited to add this quote from Bernie
F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has said that Octagon paid too much when it struck a deal with him for the rights to run the race and that the contract is not commercially viable.
"Without a Grand Prix Brands Hatch concentrated on Formula 3000 but a huge multiple accident in 1988 raised questions of safety again and by 1991 the F3000 circus turned its back on the track. Nicola Foulston was unperturbed and continued to develop BHL as a business. In 1996 she floated the company on the London Stock Exchange.
This was a big success and Foulston began to make preparations for a bid for the British Grand Prix. In 1999 she announced that she had acquired the rights to hold the race in 2002. Planning permission was sought for rebuilding work but while this was still being discussed Foulston sold the company to Octagon Motorsports for $195m. Octagon failed to get the planning permission wanted and eventually did a deal to lease Silverstone so as to run the British GP."
I seem to remember Bernie made money from the above debacle.
Post edited to add this quote from Bernie
F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has said that Octagon paid too much when it struck a deal with him for the rights to run the race and that the contract is not commercially viable.
Edited by DWP on Sunday 21st June 23:05
tempus said:
This afternoon on the M1 I passed two transit sized advertising vans, the ones that tow the large billboards,on the back they had a Donington Park logo and on the sides it had "Share the vision" .I suspect they may be underwhelmed by the response.Tempus 
Remember in 93 when the F1 was at Donnington, Senna had one of his best drives IMHO, and Tom completed one of his life's ambitions to host F1. After that year he had the choice of F1 or the bikes and chose the bikes as they run there twice a year, so more profitable.
I think with whats happening right now investors should be keeping their hands in their pockets, and Donny should carry on the bikes another year, rather than shelling out 100million on a maybe.
p.s. Tom get well soon
The biggest problem Donnington faces is the public IMO. I was astounded when I read their ideas of how they intend to manage spectators.
Essentially there would be 8,000 parking spaces for 4 people or more in a car, the rest of the crowd forced to take buses to park and ride areas miles away and the buses wouldn't even start running until after 5pm. In reality you wouldn't get home until after midnight as the whole thing would turn into a complete mess.
Essentially there would be 8,000 parking spaces for 4 people or more in a car, the rest of the crowd forced to take buses to park and ride areas miles away and the buses wouldn't even start running until after 5pm. In reality you wouldn't get home until after midnight as the whole thing would turn into a complete mess.
Max Mosley said there will be A grand prix at Silverstone next year. All the BRDC bigwigs who showed up on stage last night at the after party said there will be A grand prix at Silverstone next year. Jackie Stewart said "Bernie Ecclestone hasn't got the balls to turn his back on Silverstone". Bernie Ecclestone said there will be no BRITISH grand prix at Silverstone next year. Make of that what you will.
Edited by flatfour1 on Monday 22 June 16:23
flasher said:
The biggest problem Donnington faces is the public IMO. I was astounded when I read their ideas of how they intend to manage spectators.
Essentially there would be 8,000 parking spaces for 4 people or more in a car, the rest of the crowd forced to take buses to park and ride areas miles away and the buses wouldn't even start running until after 5pm. In reality you wouldn't get home until after midnight as the whole thing would turn into a complete mess.
Silverstone have wose problems IMO though. Spent 5 years trying to get out of one of the carparks last year even with some overly aggressive lane changing. People were getting out of their cars on the dual carriageway walking to the Travelodge and booking in for a night. Essentially there would be 8,000 parking spaces for 4 people or more in a car, the rest of the crowd forced to take buses to park and ride areas miles away and the buses wouldn't even start running until after 5pm. In reality you wouldn't get home until after midnight as the whole thing would turn into a complete mess.
Donny Park might be right with this but the UK just doesn't seem to be setup to take an event like this anymore unless it is a race round the centre of London when everyone can jump on a tube and head home.
MrSpike said:
tempus said:
This afternoon on the M1 I passed two transit sized advertising vans, the ones that tow the large billboards,on the back they had a Donington Park logo and on the sides it had "Share the vision" .I suspect they may be underwhelmed by the response.Tempus
Remember in 93 when the F1 was at Donnington, Senna had one of his best drives IMHO, and Tom completed one of his life's ambitions to host F1. After that year he had the choice of F1 or the bikes and chose the bikes as they run there twice a year, so more profitable.
I think with whats happening right now investors should be keeping their hands in their pockets, and Donny should carry on the bikes another year, rather than shelling out 100million on a maybe.
p.s. Tom get well soon
I was sat next to Tom in the BRDC grandstand that year at the BGP and had a lovely chat with him about many topics (anyone else remember Formula Classic?) One of them was about the GP and he told me a number of things I would refrain from posting even today. Top of his list though was 'Never again'.donkeypunt said:
Silverstone have wose problems IMO though. Spent 5 years trying to get out of one of the carparks last year even with some overly aggressive lane changing. People were getting out of their cars on the dual carriageway walking to the Travelodge and booking in for a night.
Donny Park might be right with this but the UK just doesn't seem to be setup to take an event like this anymore unless it is a race round the centre of London when everyone can jump on a tube and head home.
In the nicest possible way what planet do you inhabit? We left at about 8:30pm and drove straight out. Donny Park might be right with this but the UK just doesn't seem to be setup to take an event like this anymore unless it is a race round the centre of London when everyone can jump on a tube and head home.
My folks left an hour earlier and were on the outskirts of Liverpool not long after 10pm in a motorhome.
A few other friends jumped in their cars 10 minutes after the flag and were at home in Worcestershire less than an hour and a half later.
Sure if you saunter back to your car and try to leave 1-2 hours after the flag falls your going to be sat in your car for a while, but then that's what you get for running with the herd.
Rude-boy said:
donkeypunt said:
Silverstone have wose problems IMO though. Spent 5 years trying to get out of one of the carparks last year even with some overly aggressive lane changing. People were getting out of their cars on the dual carriageway walking to the Travelodge and booking in for a night.
Donny Park might be right with this but the UK just doesn't seem to be setup to take an event like this anymore unless it is a race round the centre of London when everyone can jump on a tube and head home.
In the nicest possible way what planet do you inhabit? We left at about 8:30pm and drove straight out. Donny Park might be right with this but the UK just doesn't seem to be setup to take an event like this anymore unless it is a race round the centre of London when everyone can jump on a tube and head home.
My folks left an hour earlier and were on the outskirts of Liverpool not long after 10pm in a motorhome.
A few other friends jumped in their cars 10 minutes after the flag and were at home in Worcestershire less than an hour and a half later.
Sure if you saunter back to your car and try to leave 1-2 hours after the flag falls your going to be sat in your car for a while, but then that's what you get for running with the herd.
Still think a London street race would be a great idea.....Donny park will never be cut out to be a top F1 track, not with the current plans anyway. Best fans in the world, great drivers circuits in the UK but dogged by awful facilities for a 200,000 plus gate at everyone of the tracks capable of hosting a top formula motor race.
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