Formula One news
History should save British GP, says Hill
04 May 2009Damon Hill claims that historical values of the British Grand Prix should save the event, as Donington Park looks to be struggling in its quest to host it for the first time next year. Hill, like most British racing fans, is hoping that Silverstone could move back into the picture in the event of the Derbyshire venue not being ready in time.
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After much wrangling over the past five years, the British event has been subject to much controversy following a string of upsets between Bernie Ecclestone, F1 commercial rights holder, and circuit owners the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC). With Donington confirmed as home to the race for a decade from 2010, the race there has looked to be under threat since circuit owners requested a transfer of some £2.47 million from leaseholders for rent of the venue.
"Britain is a key protected race," Hill said to The Times, as 1996 World Champion and current chairman of the BRDC. "The first Grand Prix of the modern era was held at Silverstone and this country has been loyal to the championship throughout. Now we have new countries wanting to stage Grands Prix and governments willing to put up the money for them, but there is no government money for a British Grand Prix and Bernie needs to recognise that. It will not happen." Ecclestone has recently encouraged government backing with a response from the Labour party's Secretary of Stage for Business, Peter Mandelson, although no further action has been taken.
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| 'No Donington equals no British Grand Prix,' Ecclestone has repeated |
It is believed that the latest version of the Concorde agreement - a document contained all terms by which competitors takes part in the sport - states that the British Grand Prix should remain part of the calendar due to its heritage with France, Italy, Belgium and Germany also doing so. With Magny-Cours already off the calendar and the document yet to be finalised and signed, though, this argument may be bettered by the logistical one, as several F1 outfits are based just a small number of miles away from the Northamptonshire track.
"Everybody was sceptical about Donington from the start, yet we have funds here to improve our circuit and we are improving all the time," Hill continued, with the BRDC on standby with funds of £40m. "But we have to do it with our own means and with our own money; the FIA (governing body) should also act responsibly for the health and wellbeing of the sport - Britain is a protected race and they should look after it."
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