Formula One news

Ecclestone 'disgraced' with British GP disorganisation

Bernie Ecclestone has slammed the manner in which the future of the British Grand Prix is being moulded, with news emerging yesterday that Donington Park now has issues of its own which could prevent the Grand Prix taking place after this year. Furthermore, Ecclestone is shocked at the government's lack of support of the event.

It was announced last year that Donington Park had won a ten-year deal to host the British Grand Prix from next year, after Ecclestone claimed that Silverstone had repeatedly failed to live up to promises made. With news of Donington's owners now claiming debts of some £2.47 million against organisers of the event, however, the future of the British Grand Prix looks to have been thrown into doubt.

Ecclestone also stressed that, in the event of the Derbyshire track failing to be ready in time, Silverstone would not be an option. "If Donington can't put on the British Grand Prix then that's it, we will be leaving Britain," the F1 supremo said in Bahrain on Friday. "There is no question of us going back to Silverstone - they have had enough chances and have not delivered what they promised."

Moreover, Ecclestone is disgusted at the lack of support and funding for the F1 spectacle from the parliament. "It's a disgrace that the British government don't step in to help," he continued. "They are throwing billions at the London Olympics; they could do what is needed to save the race by putting in a fraction of it - 0.002 per cent. I've been in talks with Simon Gillett (of Donington Ventures, leaseholder of the venue) today and we've been talking through the money situation. I'm trying to help him sort things out - what he really needs is an investor, that's the best hope of saving the race."

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