British GP to be held at Silverstone from 2010

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Sureshot
Stands: There aren't many at Donny, I can't think of any on the inside of the track.
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There are few permanent stands at Silverstone as well. Most stands are put up for the event then taken down afterwards. The same can be done at Donington.

If they can host 85,000 Moto GP fans year in year out, they can host 85,000 GP fans too.

Having spent the past weekend at Silverstone i can't really see what the issue with the facilities is. The teams take their own facilities with them and there is plenty of space for them there too. There are stacks of VIP marquees for sponsors to hob knob.
 
One of the most annoying things about the move to Donington is that
few people realise that it is not a double 'n'!
 
Thanks to my crappy connection, I was unable to post this post earlier. Lewis Hamilton ended up winning the race (I believe I had that right... ;-)).

My debate for this has to do with something I heard on Friday morning here in the States. There's already a thread on this, but here is my question anyways:



John's Debate! - Silverstone vs. Donnington Park
The big news story relates to Donnington Pack hosting the British Grand Prix over the long-running race at Silverstone. The deal set for 2010 will be F1's first visit to Donnington Park since 1993. If you had to choose between Silverstone and Donnington Park, which track would you like to see the British Grand Prix held at? Could there be a better track to host this race other than Silverstone or Donnington Park? Do you think Donnington Park will be ready in two years for racing in 2010 a la Fuji? Express how great a track Silverstone is if you're saddened to see F1 not racing around Silverstone for a long while.



Fire away!
 
Danachronism
I would welcome a move to Donnington, despite Alex. The heart of the reason you don't want it to move is that it's further for you to travel, if at all!

The circuit would be great for F1, looking forward to seeing what they do with Melbourne corner...
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It's quite close to me in fairness but I love the track anyway and yesterday's race showed that it can throw a fantastic weekend, I'm not saying Donington can't but this is the spiritual home of F1 as some call it and I seriously doubt Donny will have it all ready in time, including lots of new stands, new track, new facilities, car parks, and roads in and out of the venue. No chance.
 
Ardius
Theres only 2 people in the thread that consistently misspelt it, meh, lol.
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Do you think I've got away with my edits?

Though, I suppose I need to change 'Donny' too, but saying 'Dony' doesn't sound right. Too much like Pony.

[/offtopic]
 
Ardius
Theres only 2 people in the thread that consistently misspelt it, meh, lol.
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And I reserve my right to do so!

Alex.
It's quite close to me in fairness but I love the track anyway and yesterday's race showed that it can throw a fantastic weekend, I'm not saying Donington can't but this is the spiritual home of F1 as some call it and I seriously doubt Donny will have it all ready in time, including lots of new stands, new track, new facilities, car parks, and roads in and out of the venue. No chance.
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Hey, I don't see you defending Magny-Cours with such vigour! :lol:
 
Silverstone is a mighty boring track since they added 2 more chicanes to it back in '91. If it weren't for the rain, it might have become another snooze-fest this year.

So I personally welcome Donington back to the circus after 15 years.
 
I'll have to see how 2009+ spec Formula 1 cars manage traffic in the sweepers and high-speed corners (Magny Cours and Silverstone next year will show us) before I welcome the change - overtaking-wise, Cracker's layout looks like it has lots of sweepers that would make overtaking rather rare in the current cars.

Still, a new track is always welcome. I just think they should reorganize the European GP to tour the Nurburgring, Silverstone and Valencia. Actually, scratch Valencia off and use it as the Spanish GP, make Barcelona a testing-only circuit, unless they're bringing back Jerez.
 
Alex.
It's quite close to me in fairness but I love the track anyway and yesterday's race showed that it can throw a fantastic weekend, I'm not saying Donington can't but this is the spiritual home of F1 as some call it and I seriously doubt Donny will have it all ready in time, including lots of new stands, new track, new facilities, car parks, and roads in and out of the venue. No chance.
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I don't see why a redeveloped Donington would take longer to implement then a redeveloped Silverstone (which is what it would have needed)

Donington is next door to a major international airport, it's transport infrastructure would need very little. And like i said before, if it can cope with 85,000 bike fans it can cope equally well with 85,000 F1 fans.
 
Do you race?
Explain how people taking two hours to get out of the carpark is "coping with" 85,000 spectators ...
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It took me two hours to get out of Silverstone yesterday - And that was 4 hours after the end of the GP when the car parks were already empty!!!
 
TheCracker, I say this because all Silverstone would have to do is a couple of flashy buildings, but Donnington needs alot more than what it has now. Silverstone has the track, mostly satisfactory parking and spectator space, and now has good roads to improve entrace and exit from the venue. Donnington does not. Ok, the nearest airport is Luton which is 46 miles away but I haven't heard anyone complain about an airport being too far away.
 
Metar
Actually, scratch Valencia off and use it as the Spanish GP, make Barcelona a testing-only circuit, unless they're bringing back Jerez.
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Word.

Alex.
TheCracker, I say this because all Silverstone would have to do is a couple of flashy buildings, but Donnington needs alot more than what it has now. Silverstone has the track, mostly satisfactory parking and spectator space, and now has good roads to improve entrace and exit from the venue. Donnington does not. Ok, the nearest airport is Luton which is 46 miles away but I haven't heard anyone complain about an airport being too far away.
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Alex - just out of interest, have you ever been to Donington?

Donington has plenty of parking. What it will need is about 3 miles of dual carriageway built along the A453 between the circuit and the M1, a small circuit extension (about a mile) and some new buildings. That's all. Most of the teams will come in trucks - as they normally do for the European circuits - so airports aren't really an issue.

In any case, on a more personal level, by the time the GP gets to Donington you could have a driving license anyway, so you could go wherever you want anyway ;)
 
Nope I haven't been to Donington, but my main concern is that my college, which is heavily based on motorsport and single seater racing, is based at silverstone, and if silverstone loses the money it gets from the GP, and Silverstone goes down the pan, my college may not be very good at all.

I'm not going to talk in this thread anymore, it's not like we can do anything about it. But I bet £10 that Bernie is the investor in Donington.
 
Alex.
TheCracker, I say this because all Silverstone would have to do is a couple of flashy buildings, but Donnington needs alot more than what it has now. Silverstone has the track, mostly satisfactory parking and spectator space, and now has good roads to improve entrace and exit from the venue. Donnington does not. Ok, the nearest airport is Luton which is 46 miles away but I haven't heard anyone complain about an airport being too far away.
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I don't disagree at all that Silverstone at the moment is miles ahead of Donington as far as being a modern F1 facility. BUT Bernie as already stated that he still thinks that it falls well behind the standards he wants it to be and that there won't be a GP there at all after the current contract runs out until they have some major redevelopment there and bring it upto the standards that he is demanding.

I'd say it would cost the BRDC at least £100m to build a brand new pit and paddock complex as well as the necessary circuit changes at Club and Abbey for the proposed complex and the rest of the infield re-jigging. After sitting in traffic for hours even ages after the event finished yesterday i'd hardly call the road system great. My dad and step brother went to Indy a couple of years ago, they said it was no harder to either get in or out of the circuit then it was to get in or out of an average city centre on a Saturday afternoon. The roads around Silverstone may be much better then they were before, but they are still hardly upto the standard that most modern tracks can offer.

Alex.
Nope I haven't been to Donington, but my main concern is that my college, which is heavily based on motorsport and single seater racing, is based at silverstone, and if silverstone loses the money it gets from the GP, and Silverstone goes down the pan, my college may not be very good at all.
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I wouldn't worry about your college going down the pan Alex. Silverstone is still going to stay as a first class motorsport facility. It will still host all other top level motorsport other than F1 and stay as a F1 test circuit, probably more so then its used now. Silverstone is still in the heart of motorsport land, most of the teams, as i'm sure you know, are situated within 40-50 miles of the track so that's where all the jobs will be when you finish college. Nothing will change in that respect.
 
I guess so, reaching Formula 1 is definitely my target, I know how hard I have to work and how difficult it could be, but the reason I took the course is to one day be a formula 1 race technician. I hope your right Cracker. :(
 
Pupik
Silverstone is a mighty boring track since they added 2 more chicanes to it back in '91. If it weren't for the rain, it might have become another snooze-fest this year.
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What? Silverstone clearly has some of the most overtaking of the season in dry conditions… Sure you’re not thinking of Brands Hatch?

Do you race?
Explain how people taking two hours to get out of the carpark is "coping with" 85,000 spectators ...
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This is why Melbourne is great. Public transport out of its ears. Only takes like 15 minutes to walk the 400m of out the gate and then you’re at your hotel 20 minutes later by tram. Sounds slow, but in GP terms 40 minutes is a pretty quick exit.
 
Brands Hatch is 70% full throttle in Indy or Full guise. It's absolutely great when it rains, the surface runoff water makes it a real challenge.

Come to think of it, Snetterton would make a pretty good Formula One track. Maybe a bit short though.
snetterton.gif
 
Danachronism
Come to think of it, Snetterton would make a pretty good Formula One track. Maybe a bit short though.
snetterton.gif
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It would probably be a 45 second lap for an F1 car. They'd need to extend that slightly :sly: There are no motorways anywhere near Snetterton either, it would be hell to get to and from.

Let's have a GP at Cadwell Park shall we?
 
TheCracker
Let's have a GP at Cadwell Park shall we?
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Surely the track at Cadwell is far too narrow for Formula One!

Oulton20Park.gif

Oulton Park is another viable option, although facilities need to be vastly improved.
 
Danachronism
Surely the track at Cadwell is far too narrow for Formula One!

Oulton20Park.gif

Oulton Park is another viable option, although facilities need to be vastly improved.
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My local track!

You must be joking to think that they could host an F1 race there, its far too short and narrow. It would need a massive overhaul and there are no stands there, they dont even use temporary ones.

Oulton Park will forever be a touring car/super car track.
 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestershire/7499078.stm

BBC
Bosses at Donington Park in Leicestershire are planning to build a new pit complex ahead of the British Grand Prix at the circuit from 2010.

Work will begin in the autumn and the new facility will feature a race control centre and a media centre.

Donington Park spokesman David Fern said that a "totally new complex will be built with all of the pits fitted out to the latest specifications".

The track will also be lengthened to three miles (4.8km).

'Spectacular' improvements

The £3m pit and paddock, built three years ago, will remain largely intact.

Mr Fern said the lengthened track would include "a spectacular sweeping curve" with a computer-simulated lap of 77 seconds that would allow cars and bikes to travel at speeds of up to 200 mph (322 km/hr).

The construction work will start at the end of the racing season.

Donington Park chief executive Simon Gillett said about £100m would be spent on overall improvements at the circuit.

Donington Park has hosted the British Motorcycle Grand Prix since 1987 and will take over the British Grand Prix from Silverstone in 2010.

The track last hosted a Grand Prix race in 1993 when Aryton Senna won the race.
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