Donington future still in doubt as no buyer found

[Bob]

Administrators Begbies Traynor have failed to find a buyer for Donington, “despite offers from a number of interested parties”. The 150 year lease has now been handed back to the Wheatcroft family who own the complex. They will now decide the circuit’s future.

Donington Ventures Leisure Limited (DVLL), who held the 150-year lease, went into administration with debts of around £20m after a failed attempt to attract F1. DVLL were not able to attract the investment required to modernise the circuit for F1. Work carried out to that point has stopped, rendering the circuit unusable.

The British Superbike Championship has already announced they will not race at Donington in 2010, with the World Superbike Championship yet to make an announcement on the future of the British round normally held at the circuit.

[Bob]

Donington Park owner Kevin Wheatcroft has vowed to restore the circuit. The family took back control after leaseholders Donington Ventures Leisure Limited went into administration.

Wheatcroft pledged to bring the circuit back to former glories as a tribute to his father, Tom Wheatcroft, who rebuilt the circuit back in the 1970s. “My father lived for his work and motorsport” said Wheatcroft “He put his heart and soul into Donington Park and he was very upset by what happened to it and the mess it was left in.”

Wheatcroft said that assessments of what is required to put things back as they were (before DVLL started work to change the track for F1) has shown it will cost £600,000 “But to get it up to Grand Prix standard, you could add a couple of zeros.” Back to its former state, so fit to return as one of the UK’s best bike circuits will do fine…