Gray Matter: Goodbye Britain?

Eurosport - Thu, 18 Jun 14:24:00 2009

This weekend will see the last Formula One race ever held at Silverstone - or will it?

FORMULA 1 Silverstone generic view - 0

A former airfield in the middle of pristine English countryside, Silverstone has held the British Grand Prix for the last 23 years in succession but its tenure as the venue for the most historic race in Formula One is coming to an end this weekend.

The race moves to Donington from 2010 on a long-term contract, but just when the sport is entering one of the most unsteady periods in its lifetime, so the future of the British Grand Prix, whatever happens to the sport, remains under scrutiny.

Long-running disputes between Formula One ringleader Bernie Ecclestone and Silverstone's owners, the BRDC, have been in the headlines year after year, and it will be interesting to see what parting salvo Ecclestone will have for the venue this weekend.

Muddy car parks, limited access roads, poor road signage and an old-fashioned paddock have all been picked as problems in the past - yet each time the BRDC has done everything in their power to get the circuit, which hosted the first ever F1 race in 1950, up to scratch.

Grass car parks were replaced by gravel, the entrance route was improved, new signs were installed and a dramatic paddock revamp was promised - but that fell by the wayside due to a lack of funding and a reluctance from the government to back the event financially.

And that is the crux of the problem facing the British Grand Prix.

All of the recent new circuits have set a high standard but most have had some level of governmental financial support. Abu Dhabi is sure to step things up another level when it arrives on the calendar this year, and while Britain is the home of motorsport (there is no argument on that, considering the industry in &lsquoMotorsport Valley') you have to develop to stay in the game.

Wembley football stadium was recently redeveloped with the benefit of £161m of government funding - £120m from the lottery, £20m from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and £21m from the London Development Agency. But the Football Association almost matched that, with £148m, and commercial lenders more than doubled it, bringing £433m to the table.

Wimbledon has a new roof for Centre Court, which cost more than £200m to build, but the Lawn Tennis Association had no public money coming their way to pay for it. They financed it, as they did their new Number One court, with a debenture scheme - the same sort of idea Donington is proposing for their redevelopment.

Donington recently claimed it needs just £30m - down from £80 due to the recession apparently cheapening building costs - but the debenture scheme that was due to start in March lost its banking backer. It seems a new one has been found, though, and it is now scheduled to be unveiled next month.

In Wimbledon's case, the debenture scheme involved selling the option to buy a specific seat in Centre Court over five years for £25,000 each. What Donington's offer will be remains to be seen - but the challenge now is that less people will be willing to spend that sort of money on that sort of thing.

Silverstone has overcome pitfalls in the past, and there is no reason to doubt Donington either. So far they have secured planning permission, overcome legal disputes with the owners and, it seems, found a new solution after losing financing.

But while Donington's owners insist they are on schedule, there is a very real chance that at least next year could be without a British Grand Prix, because Ecclestone has offered them a one-year breathing space before running the race there in 2011.

But what would Formula One be without a British Grand Prix?

I lose count of the times I have headed to Silverstone &lsquofor the last time' in recent years, only to find it back on the calendar the following year. So with everything still up in the air, what chance a return in 2010...?

Award-winning sports journalist Will Gray has worked in and around Formula One for more than a decade, providing detailed technical insight as well as live news reports and features for newspapers such as the Daily Telegraph and Daily Star, AFP and Reuters news agencies and a variety of magazines. He has also worked as an F1 expert on TalkSPORT and Irish radio.

Will Gray / Eurosport

Comment 18 - 37 of 37

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  1. Every circuit has its own problems, it was well known­ for example that getting the track in Turkey was a­ nightmare and so lets not have anything said about the­ nightmare of Silverstone which on a a day to day basis­ is far easier to get to than Donnington Park. Most­ established circuits are built on old airfields­ (Silverstone) or land which cannot or is not suitable­ for arable farming (like Cadwell Park) and so they are­ often away from towns. Shanghai is away from the city­ but no one complains about that. Probably because most­ spectators are Chinese or visitors with drivers!
    If­ there are going to be arguments about circuits then­ lets have a level playing field. Our F1 supremeo Bernie­ needs to fully document and publish to us mere mortals­ the MINIMUM criteria for a circuit .. bet Silverstone­ meets the needs!! In tis economic climate why change a­ venue which works (mostly) OK and is recognised­ globally as the home of F1. Having said that there are­ few tracks used for F1 that actually challenge a­ driver, they all seem too 'smooth'. Lets use­ Brands (historical circuit used for GP's) or­ Snetterton (another place with a history) and see how­ they cope with these! F1 rules not needed at these­ places and real racing takes place here and now!

    From internationalfan, on Fri 19 Jun 5:50AM

  2. bernie,don't you realise how transparent you­ are!I'm sure you certainly do!But so long ago F1­ has become only money for you that your brain is­ inevitably twisted and there isn't any moral­ left!get your nazzi orientated buddy and go do your own­ camel race!

    From rad, on Fri 19 Jun 12:53AM

  3. the best thing that bernie @ his pet nastie could do­ for F .1 is to lay down on a track and be used as the­ finish line . apologies for the spelling mistake

    From f.brown40, on Thu 18 Jun 11:13PM

  4. All the drivers with exception say that Silverstone is­ one of the only true racing circuits left! So okay the­ externals such as car parking, access to the circuit­ etc have to be fixed, but surely the money required is­ peanuts compared to what is spent elsewhere! In fact if­ Blustering Bigot Bernie still had a drop of blood left­ in him after the rest has been turned to ice water, and­ that drop of blood was the slightest bit tainted with a­ touch patrotism to the Country of his Birth then he­ would be pulling out all the stops to ensure­ Silverstone stayed! I would go so far as to say that if­ the wee man paid his taxes in full instead of having a­ team of experts to keep from this, then he could save­ the circuit and set off the cost against his Income­ Tax, like a god honest tax paying cititzen! As this is­ unlikely he should have his Citizenship revoked and his­ Passport, which Al Fayed would dearly love to have,­ also taken off him! If hed like it in China so much he­ should go and live there! Millions of chinesse will­ make room for him and leave the country!

    From Easyrider2609, on Thu 18 Jun 10:48PM

  5. How bout we keep Silverstone and get rid of Bernie. ­ Michael C.

    From Michael C, on Thu 18 Jun 9:45PM

  6. Another brilliant decision by Bernie. To think England­ may not have a Formula 1 weekdn is unimaginable.

    From gegaard, on Thu 18 Jun 8:25PM

  7. Eamon,you no politician, donnington wont see the grand­ prix in 2010.

    From touronroute, on Thu 18 Jun 8:06PM

  8. I think bernie is unfair towards silverstone. But being­ a heavy metal fan as well as a motorsport fan it will­ be very cool seeing formula 1 at donnington. I saw the­ plans for the circuit on the their website and I think­ it's a race that will see overtaking and out­ breaking battles.

    From makosifan, on Thu 18 Jun 7:59PM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    ita a shame the a way a F1 isa now going ita seem to a­­ start once a mr a hamilton asun a joined muclaren from­­ a dirty a tactics onna track thena to the a Spyagate­­ anda then a Lieagate anda witha corrupt a stewards­ anda­ keep a changin a rules a F1 asa never a been same­ a­ since.. itta nowa a farce a since a mr a hamilton­ asun ­ arrived ata muclaren they are a now tarnished­ asa­ biggest a Cheat anda mr a hamilton asun with a­ fake a­ phoney Cheating a title itta couldnt a got any­ a worse­ mea think a why a FIA want anda keep a changin­ the­ rules after a spyagate anda lieagate toa bring the­ a­ JUSTICE a back to the a Tracks
    BUTTON THE A NEW­ KING­ OFA F1........F1 WORLD CHAMPION­ 2009-2010....JENSON A­ BUTTON

    From , on Thu 18 Jun 7:40PM

  10. hope ecclestone gets gang raped the horrible little­ @#$%!
    no thoughts on familys on low budjets taking the­ kids to the race . he just wants the mega rich and­ toffs going to the middle east earning him more and­ more !
    hope there is a breakaway series and the likes­ of silverstone can be @#$% free sorry ecclestone and­ brands given a chance of a come back with canada and­ magny cours etc

    From rock, on Thu 18 Jun 4:58PM

  11. Silverstone always produces one of the best races in­ the year, as did Canada. Look where that ended­ up.
    Bernie has no clue on how the racing goes.

    From Oliver Tunnah, on Thu 18 Jun 4:50PM

  12. 1993 wasnt a bad race at donington folks !!
    in the rain­ senna showing everybody how its done,
    silverstone has­ had a chance of upping its bar i loved going there for­ a 4 day bender but ecclestone the @#$% and mosley the­ pervert seem to dislike silverstone and only gave­ donington the rights cause the gmome and pervert would­ be hung up by their buster browns ! come think of it­ that ss loving @#$% would like that ?
    long live the­ british gp

    From rock, on Thu 18 Jun 4:49PM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    For one thing Silverstone has not been the only venue­ for the British Grand Prix, for several years it was­ held at Brands Hatch a far superior circuit than­ Silverstone Why was it not returned to Brands the Best­ circuit both for drivers and spectators in Britain.

    From DAVID, on Thu 18 Jun 4:44PM

  14. Bernie may the fleas of a thousand camels infest your­ crutch.

    From Rick Moth, on Thu 18 Jun 2:36PM

  15. LEWIS HAMILTON SAYS HE IS ROOTING FOR JENSON IN THE­ BRITISH GP HE SAID TODAY. IT WILL BE A PROUD MOMENT TO­ HAVE A FELLOW BRIT WIN THE THE BRITISH GP! TWO GENTS­ ALL THE BEST TO BOTH THIS WEEKEND. WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE­ THESE TWO DRIVERS TO SUPPORT IN THE UK LETS GIVE THEM­ OUR FULL SUPPORT AND STUFF THE POLATICTS!!!!!

    From jag man, on Thu 18 Jun 2:28PM

  16. The best thing that Bernie can do is pack his­ bags,clear his desk and get out. Formula 1 can do­ without dictators like him. Frank

    From nungu65, on Thu 18 Jun 12:49PM

  17. tell brands hatch to bring there track up to date. at­ least you can see a lot of this track motor way next to­ it easy parking

    From STEVE CROYDON SURREY, on Thu 18 Jun 12:40PM

  18. Ecclestone's dream is not Donnington but the city­ of London but the political fix has disappeared.

    From Dred, on Thu 18 Jun 12:38PM

  19. The trouble with Bernie is he is so geared up, scuse­ the pun! to commercial gain for him. S'stone is run­ along the lines of a gentlemans club and that gets­ right up BE's nose. He wants it to be run like a­ business. He has no real control over it either which­ really gets to him. He's so used to shouting the­ odds and getting his way. Bye Bye Bernie, wake up and­ smell the coffee!

    From andyb442003, on Thu 18 Jun 12:36PM
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