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*Oggy*
19-11-2009, 03:43 PM
Donington Park operators enter administration

By Gary Pinchin -
General news
18 November 2009 16:19

Donington Park faces an uncertain future with news announced today that the company holding the circuit lease has entered administration.
For bikes fans the news places a huge question mark over the future of the circuit’s two major 2010 events: the World Superbike round scheduled for August1 and the British Superbike round schedule for September 12.
The affairs of Donington Ventures Leisure Limited (DVLL) are being handled by partners Nigel Price, John Kelly and James Martin from the Birmingham office of corporate recovery specialists Begbies Traynor.
DVLL had a 17-year contract with Formula One Administration to host the British Grand Prix round of the Formula One World Motor Racing Championship, signed in July 2008.
It also had a 150-year lease on the circuit, with landlord, Wheatcroft & Son Limited, signed in January 2007, which also hosts the likes of pop concerts, corporate days and markets as well as motor sport.
Work has already begun to develop the circuit to Formula One Grand Prix standard and Mr Price said: “This need not be the end of Formula One racing at Donington. We are certainly hopeful that a 2011 Grand Prix could take place at the site.
“We are looking for a purchaser for the business and the potential opportunity to bring Formula One to this part of the Midlands by funding the work that needs to be carried out to the circuit.
“It still remains a fantastic location – next to an airport and main motorway connections.
“It needs people of vision to get the dream to the starting grid and we would be very interested in talking to interested parties.”
Mr Price said Begbies Traynor was still assessing how much was owed to creditors.

triumph
19-11-2009, 03:50 PM
that will be bloody sad if donington park has to close its doors.

Captain
19-11-2009, 03:50 PM
Do they hold track days there? Are they run by the same people?

*Oggy*
19-11-2009, 03:55 PM
Yep.. All the usual Car and Bikes road or race schools there...


Most Famous would be the Ron Haslem one.....


Quote below from their website...... (this is 269 pounds)



Using more powerful Honda CBR600RR machines complete with ABS (new for 2010) we offer a more advanced session with longer track time and more intense instruction. This course gives a greater knowledge of machine and riding techniques.
A detailed classroom debriefing, a more in depth introduction to the track and the bike.
This half day course gives you three track sessions with more intense, personalised tuition.
Each track session is followed by a debriefing session to allow you to discuss any points raised during the track session(s), or any other points you may have.

Captain
19-11-2009, 04:34 PM
Once I read this, I could go no further, it was hard to focus :)

Using more powerful Honda CBR600RR machines

Foghorn
19-11-2009, 05:16 PM
Don't CSS also operate there?? At a cost 412 pounds sterling for the day

*Oggy*
19-11-2009, 07:43 PM
Don't CSS also operate there?? At a cost 412 pounds sterling for the day

I know when I was there in May.. I had a quick look at trying to get out on any track, but the prices were pretty expensive for a poorly paid Ozzie Pommie.... Couldnt justify it (back of the mind was I could do 2 or three EC trackdays when I return for that money !!!!)..

Hopefully someone will buy it off the recievers and keep it going , but it seems with the US trend of people sueing other riders for trackday instances there...and pretty rigid noise regs, its getting a bit PC for normal guys to go out there and just thrash a bike around....

spotcom
20-11-2009, 09:09 PM
It's a shame. Hopefully the administrators will find a viable working option for the track.

They've been hovering on the brink for a few years now, to the point where this year's WSBK races there were in doubt for a while. Looks like next years are as well. :(

PlatinumGrit
26-11-2009, 02:14 PM
Unfortunately, I reckon Donnington Park's had it.

I just recently read Jackie Stewart's Autobiography, and he mentions a few of the issues with the site there. The outrageous prices the Formula 1 body are asking simply for the right to hold the F1 there each year, the lack of any Government support, the crazy taxes, insurance, and politically correct regulations constantly being inflicted on the site make it just about impossible to continue.

It's a shame, really. There's so much history there, it's steeped in world class racing memories and it's an absolute disgrace that it's being driven into receivership.

Ah well, RIP Donnington.