Donington Upgrade Vital For British GP

The failure of the owners of Donington Park to complete extensive revisions to the circuit in time for the summer of 2010 would mean the loss of the British Grand Prix, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed.

Ecclestone stated that under no circumstances would the race return to Silverstone, where it is due to be held for the last time in June regardless of the construction schedule at Donington Park.

Reassuring noises have been made about the progress of the circuit extension and the building of enhanced facilities at Donington Park, but much work remains to be done against a tight schedule.

‘They’re doing a good job,’ Ecclestone said, but added that if they were not ready for the 2010 date, they would be in breach of their 10-year contract.

Commenting on the potential use of Silverstone as a back-up venue, Ecclestone said: ‘We left there because I’m trying to improve facilities throughout the world and when I get people to build new circuits to the standard which we’re trying to reach, how can we got back to Silverstone?

‘I negotiated a deal for them many years ago to give them enough money to build what we wanted. They didn’t build it.’

Ecclestone also announced that a round of the 2010 world championship will be held at a new circuit in South Korea, followed in 2011 by the addition of a race in India.

Eventually he plans to stabilise the annual calendar at 20 races, with European races which drop out unlikely to be reinstated.