We are losing the Grand Prix
Discussion
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Big loss of income for the area.
Big loss of income for the area.
Edited by Nicol@ on Friday 4th July 12:10
The_Burg said:
From aspectator point of view Donny is much better, Silverstone is a god awfull track to spectate from. Brands would be better though i guess.
It does make me wonder if people have ever actually been to Silverstone when they post garbage like this 
. There is more to the track than just the Luffield to Copse section, y'know. Take a walk down to the back of the circuit, from Abbey round to Stowe (in an anti-clockwise direction so you can always see the cars coming towards you 
). From there you'll find you can see a lot more than just one corner, and there's also good opportunities for some photography over the fences as the spectator banks are quite elevated too.I've always found spectating at Donington to be a rather detached affair. Okay, you can see a good proportion of the circuit from the bank above the Old Hairpin, but you are miles away from the action. Otherwise you need to stand close to the track at either Goddards or Redgate, or on the outside at McLeans or Coppice, and either way you can only see one corner...
As for Brands being better, have you been there recently? I don't really think anything has changed since I first went there 20 years ago. It's lovely taking a walk through the woods to the back of the GP loop but, like Donington, Brands isn't really much more than a glorified club racing circuit. Absolutely no way they could host a GP, and I don't think Dr Palmer and MSV would see the sense in spending millions to lose millions just for the privilege of hosting the BGP. After all, they already have DTM, A1GP, WSB, WTCC and a couple of big historic meetings that I'm sure keep the coffers rolling in. Plus their noise issues and NIMBYism would throw a large spanner in the works, I'm sure.
£100m to bring the circuit up to Bernie's spec in 2 years? No chance. There's only one circuit in this country that's got anything like the facilities and infrastructure to host a GP, and that's our local one (no, not Rockingham...
).Trackside said:
The_Burg said:
From aspectator point of view Donny is much better, Silverstone is a god awfull track to spectate from. Brands would be better though i guess.
It does make me wonder if people have ever actually been to Silverstone when they post garbage like this . There is more to the track than just the Luffield to Copse section, y'know. Take a walk down to the back of the circuit, from Abbey round to Stowe (in an anti-clockwise direction so you can always see the cars coming towards you ). From there you'll find you can see a lot more than just one corner, and there's also good opportunities for some photography over the fences as the spectator banks are quite elevated too.I've always found spectating at Donington to be a rather detached affair. Okay, you can see a good proportion of the circuit from the bank above the Old Hairpin, but you are miles away from the action. Otherwise you need to stand close to the track at either Goddards or Redgate, or on the outside at McLeans or Coppice, and either way you can only see one corner...
As for Brands being better, have you been there recently? I don't really think anything has changed since I first went there 20 years ago. It's lovely taking a walk through the woods to the back of the GP loop but, like Donington, Brands isn't really much more than a glorified club racing circuit. Absolutely no way they could host a GP, and I don't think Dr Palmer and MSV would see the sense in spending millions to lose millions just for the privilege of hosting the BGP. After all, they already have DTM, A1GP, WSB, WTCC and a couple of big historic meetings that I'm sure keep the coffers rolling in. Plus their noise issues and NIMBYism would throw a large spanner in the works, I'm sure.
£100m to bring the circuit up to Bernie's spec in 2 years? No chance. There's only one circuit in this country that's got anything like the facilities and infrastructure to host a GP, and that's our local one (no, not Rockingham...
).
Silverstone has been under threat for some time and it's no real surprise.
Compare (for instance) Spa to Silverstone and you can understand why they have made the decision. I have driven both and whilst I prefer Spa, Silverstone GP is still good fun, but it lacks in so many ways.
Dony on the other hand has a huge budget to make necessary improvements to it's circuit, the padocks, garages and access. Lets just hope they do it right.
It also has elevation, which to me, makes a more interesting circuit.
I personally can't wait to see F1 cars tearing down Craners at full throttle
We got a little treat of it at the Renault World Series last year. Awesome.
And you also gotta look at it this way -
Least there still will be a British GP as the whole lot was under threat
Compare (for instance) Spa to Silverstone and you can understand why they have made the decision. I have driven both and whilst I prefer Spa, Silverstone GP is still good fun, but it lacks in so many ways.
Dony on the other hand has a huge budget to make necessary improvements to it's circuit, the padocks, garages and access. Lets just hope they do it right.
It also has elevation, which to me, makes a more interesting circuit.
I personally can't wait to see F1 cars tearing down Craners at full throttle
We got a little treat of it at the Renault World Series last year. Awesome.
And you also gotta look at it this way -
Least there still will be a British GP as the whole lot was under threat
System-G said:
Dony on the other hand has a huge budget to make necessary improvements to it's circuit, the padocks, garages and access. Lets just hope they do it right.
It also has elevation, which to me, makes a more interesting circuit.
They can spend sixteen zillion on that, and still not solve the big problem...access.It also has elevation, which to me, makes a more interesting circuit.
They would need to build at least two new dual carriageways to make the site at all usable as a GP circuit.
This ain't gonna happen any time soon, so (and I still think this story has a few twists & turns) if the GP moves, it'll be the biggest feck up imaginable.
Donny is great as it is and should be left that way.
Silverstone is not as bad as everyone makes out. I agree with Trackside that a short walk to the other side of Bridge corner and beyond can be very rewarding.
The GP will not move from Silverstone - all it needs is some work on the pits, paddock & stands. Donny needs all that and a whole load more! Lets not forget, the only reason this has happened is not because of the unsuitability of Silverstone but the understandable unwillingness of the BRDC to pay Bernie £11m + he wants for the race.
As far as I can see it the likely outcome is Donny's backers will (if they haven't already!) -
1. work out the total cost of Bernies fee plus the development costs is stupid
2. do a deal with BRDC for them to be the promoters but host the event at Silverstone.
This approach makes financial sense and will prevent the situation of £xx million being spent on 2 circuits located very close together where neither can match the standards of the new venues in the rest of the world.
Having said the above IF the GP did move to Donny I wouldn't be able to stay away
Longers
Silverstone is not as bad as everyone makes out. I agree with Trackside that a short walk to the other side of Bridge corner and beyond can be very rewarding.
The GP will not move from Silverstone - all it needs is some work on the pits, paddock & stands. Donny needs all that and a whole load more! Lets not forget, the only reason this has happened is not because of the unsuitability of Silverstone but the understandable unwillingness of the BRDC to pay Bernie £11m + he wants for the race.
As far as I can see it the likely outcome is Donny's backers will (if they haven't already!) -
1. work out the total cost of Bernies fee plus the development costs is stupid
2. do a deal with BRDC for them to be the promoters but host the event at Silverstone.
This approach makes financial sense and will prevent the situation of £xx million being spent on 2 circuits located very close together where neither can match the standards of the new venues in the rest of the world.
Having said the above IF the GP did move to Donny I wouldn't be able to stay away
Longers
Not sure who is at fault for this really… I’ve heard rumours that the lack of investment has been the problem, but also that the local planners haven’t got their fingers out… whatever the truth is, the result is not good (also interesting given how many race teams are around Silverstone).
Longers said:
As far as I can see it the likely outcome is Donny's backers will (if they haven't already!) -
1. work out the total cost of Bernies fee plus the development costs is stupid
2. do a deal with BRDC for them to be the promoters but host the event at Silverstone.
This approach makes financial sense and will prevent the situation of £xx million being spent on 2 circuits located very close together where neither can match the standards of the new venues in the rest of the world.
I agree, and I think Bernie alluded to as much during an interview at the weekend. The situation Donington will find itself in, I believe, will become pretty untenable, leaving the way open for Silverstone to continue staging the GP. 1. work out the total cost of Bernies fee plus the development costs is stupid
2. do a deal with BRDC for them to be the promoters but host the event at Silverstone.
This approach makes financial sense and will prevent the situation of £xx million being spent on 2 circuits located very close together where neither can match the standards of the new venues in the rest of the world.
Trackside said:
I agree, and I think Bernie alluded to as much during an interview at the weekend. The situation Donington will find itself in, I believe, will become pretty untenable, leaving the way open for Silverstone to continue staging the GP.
And no doubt Bernie has clauses in the contract that mean if the event isn't held at Donington for any reason, but held at a revamped Silverstone, he'll make the Donington purses pay for a breach of contract of some sort!!
Nicol@ said:
In a couple of years time...
Donnington will not be good enough or have satisfactory access for the GP.
Silverstone will not have developed.
We lose the GP from the UK completely for a few years.
I hope this doesn't happen.
Exactly that.Donnington will not be good enough or have satisfactory access for the GP.
Silverstone will not have developed.
We lose the GP from the UK completely for a few years.
I hope this doesn't happen.
We are losing the GP, but it won't be to Donny
2 years and £100m.... honestly!
5 times both and maybe it would be possible !
Sigh.
Another good friendly track that will be made less public friendly.
Donington's major appeal was the accessability and friendliness.
Wait for the big concrete walls, limited access, high hard visability fences, closed off centre access (where you could sit on the grass) and higher entrance fees. Keep it at Silverstone. I don't know where the need to change is.
Another good friendly track that will be made less public friendly.
Donington's major appeal was the accessability and friendliness.
Wait for the big concrete walls, limited access, high hard visability fences, closed off centre access (where you could sit on the grass) and higher entrance fees. Keep it at Silverstone. I don't know where the need to change is.
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