Formula One news

Gillett shuns talk of Ecclestone fall out

Simon Gillett has denied claims that he and F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone are involved in a war of words as stories continue to circulate surrounding the future of the British Grand Prix. Gillett, head of Donington Park's project for 2010, is currently under pressure to prepare the venue to host next year's race.

Bernie Ecclestone

With a strict time limit (set by F1 commercial rights holder Ecclestone) to ensure the fit racing state of the Derbyshire circuit, Gillett - owner of Donington Ventures Leisure, leaseholder of the track and organiser of the event - has been granted an extension to the end of June to ensure Donington is ready to host its first Grand Prix since 1993. With Ecclestone repeating that a failure to race at Donington will result in no British Grand Prix, Gillett was quick to defend his company's position.

"If Bernie wanted something he could do it," Gillett said to PA Sport. "He doesn't need someone like me to step in and facilitate that for him. He has a great relationship with the Wheatcrofts (owners of the site) and he knows various other circuits; he has the ability to do whatever he wants to do.

"If Bernie wanted to be in charge of the British Grand Prix at Donington Park, he has the ability to do that, I'm quite sure. But at the moment we're working very well, and I don't see any hint of that." He went on to confirm that Donington Ventures' £2.47m owed debts to the Wheatcroft family will be deliberated during a court hearing on 8 June.

The 'new' Donington will see the start/finish line move to the Starkey straight, with the Melbourne hairpin being Turn 1

"We have an agreement of ongoing works here," he continued. "There was a way we allocated funds over a period of time during the winter, which we used elsewhere; everyone has their spats in a business relationship, we're not unlike a lot of businesses at the moment where we have our issues. But we're resolving those, and I would say you will see some positive news coming out on that very soon. It's not going to jeopardise the project.

"We're 110% committed to making sure it happens and 100% confident it will. It would be lovely if a few people got behind us, but for the moment we'll keep doing it on our own."

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