Parallels were drawn with a similar announcement, nine years ago, that saw the British Grand Prix poised to return to
Brands Hatch amid much fanfare and promises of upgrades to the Kent facility. When Brands did not receive the planning consent it needed, the grand prix duly returned to Silverstone - and Ecclestone's
Formula One Management concern accepted a substantial payment to allow then owner Octagon to back out of its deal.
Questions have been raised about
Donington's ability to complete the overhaul - both to its own facilities and those in terms of access - that would be required to bring the Leicestershire circuit up to the standard currently enjoyed by
Silverstone. Despite claims to the contrary from circuit owners, those involved in the recent
MotoGP event there continued to complain about the track surface which, it is alleged, is regularly doused with aviation fuel from aircraft approaching the nearby East Midlands airport - a track surface that would have to be significantly lengthened and widened to approach
F1 standards elsewhere. The 1993 European Grand Prix raised such issues, despite the event being deemed a success on other levels.
Donington has recently rebuilt its pit-lane and media facilities, other aspects of the venue need serious upgrading, while the road network accessing the circuit falls short of Silverstone's new dual carriageway and improved A43 approach. The UK government played its part in facilitating those improvements, and it is unlikely that it will want to contribute to a second similar project on the whim of those involved in the sport.
And, even if Donington has access to the sort of investment claimed in Friday's announcement, it might not have corresponding freedom to play with time, with the two-year period between now and the proposed switch unlikely to be enough to complete the work needed to make the first British Grand Prix at Donington Park an enjoyable experience for all.
