If the British Grand Prix is not held at Donington Park in 2010 and beyond, then it will not be held at all that is the warning from
Formula One ringmaster
Bernie Ecclestone, as doubts persist about the Leicestershire circuit's deal to host the race.
The ten-year contract for Donington to welcome
F1 was announced on the eve of the 2008 British Grand Prix at
Silverstone, the self-styled Home of British Motor Racing'. Many, however members of Silverstone's owners the British Racing Drivers' Club included have questioned whether a venue, which last hosted the top flight some 15 years ago and has not staged the British Grand Prix since pre-war days, can ready itself in time for 2010.
Circuit boss Simon Gillett has argued that the track and facility improvements as stipulated by the terms of the deal
will be completed in ample time [see separate story
click here], and Ecclestone has now sought to dash Silverstone's greatly reduced hopes yet further by vowing: We won't come back.
There has been a British Grand Prix on the F1 calendar every year since the official inception of the world championship in 1950, with Silverstone holding the race on no fewer than 41 occasions over that period - and without fail since 1987.
Famously a man of little sentiment, however and one who has repeatedly advocated the need for the top flight to broaden its traditionally largely European horizons and branch out into the Middle and Far East in particular Ecclestone has explained that should
Donington's renovations not prove to be up-to-speed sufficiently quickly, then another country will simply be handed Britain's slot on the schedule.
I am sure they will be ready, the 77-year old commercial rights-holder is quoted as having said by
F1SA, but, if not, we will sign with another country. There won't be a British Grand Prix, pure and simple.
