A motor racing company led by former F1 driver Jonathan Palmer has agreed a takeover deal for Donington Park, the circuit which is home to the British round of the Wold Superbike Championship.
MotorSport Vision (MSV) will acquire the Donngton Park circuit business and lease the Donington Park Estate on an initial 21-year term from Kevin Wheatcroft.
Palmer owns MSV alongside Sir Peter Ogden and the business already operates Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, Snetterton and Cadwell Park.
Palmer said: "I am thrilled that MSV has now acquired the Donington circuit business.
"Donington has incredible history, being the first permanent road circuit in the country and the only circuit upon which the mighty pre-war Auto Unions and Mercedes Grand Prix cars raced in the 1930s.
"Like many circuits in the UK, Donington has had a turbulent time over the last ten years, though thankfully Kevin Wheatcroft and his team have now recovered the damage done by the previous owner of the business.
“Donington is a good British circuit that deserves further investment, energy and expertise in order to make it truly outstanding, and MSV will provide this.”
Donington Park hosted its first event in 1931. It was home to Grand Prix racing before World War II.
Very interesting news Burton, thanks for that. Not aware of what damage was done by a previous owner, but perhaps someone will enlighten me? I can’t see F! coming back here though, it’s hardly a GP circuit by modern standards, and no room to expand IMHO.
Oh - and whats the difference between a road racing circuit and Brooklands, which IIRC was the first racing circuit in England?
Leased by Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd in 2007 the hope that Formula One racing could return to the track, the incomplete venture failed to raise sufficient financial backing during the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis. DVLL consequently lost the rights to the British rounds of both Formula1 and MotoGP, and in its bankruptcy returned the track to the Wheatcroft family in December 2009.
Yes, I was aware of that episode, but not aware the track was damaged, though admit I didn’t visit it at the time. I was under the impression, as Silverstone had a problem with parking, (reason why they lost the franchise that year) that parking was the main problem at Donny, which seems to still exist, judging by last years event. Regardless they didn’t pass requirements, so F1 went back to Silverstone, which lets face it, is a good GP track. Footfall is a leading word in Bernie’s vocabulary I reckon.
I don’t know the politics involved but I do know that someone dug deep trenches across the track in about a dozen places, using an earthmover. I assume it was done by a contractor who was working on the circuit at the time the infield was being landscaped and altered in a major way.
As I recall, the previous owner was trying to do upgrades to the circuit in anticipation of hosting the British Formula One race but when the money ran out the circuit was left with parts ripped up or unfinished. I think there may also have been some bad blood with one of the contractors which may account for the trenches being dug but I can’t confirm that. To be honest, in my opinion the circuit was never right for the F1 race. Apart from being more centrally located it’s no match for Silverstone. The level of investment required to get the circuit and facilities up to the same standard was huge and I doubt it would be economically viable. Unlike many F1 races around the world, the British race is not subsidised either by the government or an uber rich oligarch.
Some of you may know of the new motor racing circuit being built in Wales (Rassau). They’re hoping to host the British MotoGP race but it’s such a remote location and situated at the top of windswept valleys I doubt anyone would want to bother, particularly anyone coming from overseas. The transport links are practically non-existent unless you drive. The circuit only got permission because of the huge deprivation in that area and the promises of the developer to create thousands of new jobs.
I remember all the damage to Donny it was a right mess the track was destroyed and the whole site was a mud bath, credit the the old owners to get it all put back together and once again it’s a great track.
I must agree with a lot of the above, Donington has a special place in my memory box ,I walked the circuit as the first revival was being done on a special Gunnar Nielsen day with a late friend who was treated at the same time as Gunnar ,we returned to race there several times ,I later marshalled on the RAC Rally [the proper one] a couple of times , very happy memories for an old speed freak , hope fully the the new owners will treat the circuit with the respect it and its fans desereve
The circuit now looks better than it’s ever done (I’ve seen it from not far above almost every working day since 2001) and have been going there on the ground since the early 1970s. The last F1 race was not long after and I believe it was subsequently discontinued mainly because the “run off” distances were insufficient for the high speeds involved.
I look forward to seeing it and enjoying it at ground level for many years to come and wish the new owners every success.
CB, that’s my interpretation of what happened. I recall that the entire track had been resurfaced then one day I noticed the trenches had been deliberately done to ruin it again.
I go to a lot of car racing at Snetterton and Cadwell throughout the summer months, both circuits are owned by MSV.
MSV have invested a great deal of money into Snetterton over the last few years and improved it immensely. There is also a great racing calendar at both circuits from March through to the end of October.
Burton, I’m fairly sure the Spitfire was full sized but it was a plastic replica. The real thing (a Mk19, owned by Rolls Royce) is in the hangar next to ours
I think that the trenches cut across the track were to provide the conduits for laying the new electricity and communications cables that were supposed to be required. Note that under the plan, the “Grand Prix pits and paddock” was supposed to be on the infield and they would have needed 3 phase 440 V AC, I assume.
of course, the developer ran out of money and the cables weren’t laid and he then went bust leaving the circuit in a parlours state until Kevin Wheatcrofts took the circuit back in house and started to repair the damage.
A motor racing company led by former F1 driver Jonathan Palmer has agreed a takeover deal for Donington Park, the circuit which is home to the British round of the Wold Superbike Championship.
Storm RannardSenior Digital Staff Writer