Humble Track That Inspires Fondness But Not Confidence

The promoters of the proposed British grand prix at Donington Park may have pledged to invest £100m in establishing the circuit near Derby as a credible home for a top-class international racing series, but those who recall the facilities available are bound to be skeptical. Those there in 1993, when the European grand prix was staged in bitterly cold conditions of driving rain, will appreciate just how much work will be needed on the infrastructure if it is to be equipped as a state-of-the-art circuit for its first race in 2010.

Ayrton Senna memorably won that race in champion style, but the paddock facilities looked like something out of a club meeting at Snetterton with gravel strewn in all directions. The makeshift press center, charmingly, had paper tablecloths on view to add to the snug image.

Thankfully, the appalling weather and the fact that it was Easter weekend ensured that only around 25,000 fans braved the elements to savor the spectacle. Everybody in the business was happy that the track's popular owner, Tom Wheatcroft, escaped with his shirt, but there was no question of his risking a financially ruinous repeat performance.

The pits were cramped, their bare brick walls in dire need of a lick of paint and TLC, the track was too short and too narrow by today's standards of safety and security. At a time when Silverstone is looking to invest about £30m in upgrading its facilities in a bid to secure the grand prix for itself, the feeling is that Donington will have to spend just as much on its own infrastructure if it is to be in with a reasonable chance of success.

The question of access for spectators is another crucial matter. The circuit lies adjacent to the main access roads leading to East Midlands airport, bringing with it the obvious possibility of congestion as cars attempt to reach both places simultaneously. Within the confines of the circuit, the pits, start-line complex and paddock area will have to be flattened, probably to be re-developed on the inside of the track rather than in their current location on the outside.

"Donington is a jolly nice little club racing circuit, but it is not big enough to stage a grand prix," said Stirling Moss, who was the world championship runner-up on five occasions. "A lot of people still believe that Bernie [Ecclestone] has made this announcement simply to destabilize Silverstone over the grand prix weekend, digging a pothole in front of the BRDC [British Racing Drivers' Club] membership which I think they would do well not to fall into."