Donington Park is to be redeveloped under the watchful eye of renowned
Formula 1 circuit designer Hermann Tilke, with promises that the venue frequently criticised for its traffic problems will be easily accessible for all.
A £100 million cash investment has been revealed to bring the circuit which has not hosted the top flight since 1993, when it staged the European Grand Prix, and has not been the scene of the British Grand Prix since all the way back in the pre-war days up to the necessary
F1 standard.
Prior to the announcement of Donington's surprise new ten-year contract to hold the race replacing the traditional home of Silverstone as of 2010 Tilke visited the track to assess what would be necessary to perform a major upgrade, but Donington boss Simon Gillett rubbished suggestions that any modifications might change the fundamental character and nature of the popular circuit.
We're going to be using Hermann Tilke as our design partner, Gillett confirmed to
GPWeek, but as for track changes...I think if we were to touch the Craner Curves I'd be lynched!
Meanwhile, Donington Park owner Tom Wheatcroft has revealed how he was instrumental in luring the grand prix away from
Silverstone, following a secret meeting with F1 supremo
Bernie Ecclestone in London in 2007, during which the plans clearly earned the approval of the sport's famously demanding commercial rights-holder.
The 86-year-old who purchased the circuit and part of the 1,100-acre Donington estate for £100,000 in 1971 gave Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd (jointly owned by Gillett and Lee Gill) a 150-year lease on the track in February of last year, and admitted in an interview with the
Derby Evening Telegraph that the new deal very nearly didn't happen at all.
I'm very pleased we have got it at
Donington, he underlined. Around 18 months ago I leased the circuit. Donington Ventures came along and I was not bothered if I leased it or not; in fact I nearly didn't, because the negotiations went on for a while, but I went ahead with it for my family.
