Silverstone Chief Questions Donington

Robert Brooks, the chairman of the British Racing Drivers’ Club which owns Silverstone, has cast aspersions over the contractual agreement put forward by rival circuit Donington Park to host the British F1 Grand Prix from 2010, stating that Britain is likely to lose its place on the sport’s calendar.

As Silverstone prepares for its last F1 race before the race movers to Donington, Brooks said: ‘Our concern is not about the long-term it is about the 2010 Grand Prix. We all know that Grands Prix don’t take sabbaticals terribly well, and 2010 is a big concern to us. We don’t think from where we sit that a summer grand prix in 2010 is a possibility at Donington.

‘I’ve looked at what we have been told about its business plans, and we have looked at the numbers that have been revealed to the public about the debenture schemes, and as a team we have run those numbers.

‘We had a debenture scheme as part of our thinking for building a grandstand as part of our masterplan here, and it would work well for building a grandstand or something of that nature, but the idea that you could fund a £100m development off a debenture scheme just doesn’t stack up.

‘I have always found in business that it doesn’t do anyone any good to knock the opposition, and in contract terms Donington is the opposition. Donington is a very exciting club circuit, as are a number of British circuits. But the difference between a good club circuit and an international standard Grand Prix circuit is massive, it is huge. And the amount of work that needs to go in is considerable.’

Brooks stressed that while Silverstone is not pushing to host next year’s race should Donington Park not be ready, they would be ready to step in if necessary in order to preserve the continuity of an event that is crucial to the well-being of the British motorsport industry.