F1 links: Donington until 2026?

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Donington Park boss Simon Gillett has stated he has a deal to run the British Grand Prix for the next 17 years, as revealed on F1 Fanatic in April. And despite various setbacks he insists the track will be ready for the 2010 race.

Here’s more news stories and interesting links I’ve discovered today – post more of your own in the comments.

Brabham to sue Formtech over name

"The Brabham family have made numerous approaches to Formtech with proposals to amicably resolve the situation. In the absence of any response from the team, the family has been left with no alternative but to issue the relevant proceedings to protect the family name, irrespective of whether Formtech is granted an entry by the FIA on Friday 12 June." See here for more: New row over use of Brabham name

Pssst… wanna buy a used Honda?

"Brawn GP is selling off its collection of Honda and BAR racing chassis to boost its finances, giving fans a chance to get their hands on some unique, if not particularly front-running, memorabilia."

Webber had wiiinnngs long before Red Bull

"Rumour has it a couple of things happened in mid-flight:
1. He opened the door hoping to make a quick getaway once it had come to a halt.
2. He made a deal with a greater being to endure several years of bad luck to come away unscathed."

Classic British Grands Prix

"With such a fabulous choice, picking the best will not be easy – so why not give us a hand by telling us which one you would choose as your pick of the greatest of Silverstone's great moments?" For me it's got to be 1987.

More here:

Mosley to meet with teams today

"Mosley is willing to soften the FIA's approach to next year – which includes scrapping a two-tier category – even though he insists a budget cap must be in place in 2010."

Ted Kravitz – the Turkish GP from my perspective

"The truth is BMW did try to win the championship. They were going for it and did bring performance to the car, it's just that relations with Robert Kubica were a little strained at the time and they did not want to publicly contradict him. In any case, once Kubica fell victim to the safety car rules in Singapore and struggled in the wet in Shanghai, the dream had gone, so they aren't beating themselves up too much about that missed opportunity. "

These are links I’ve bookmarked using Delicious. You can see my Delicious profile here.

Author information

Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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19 comments on “F1 links: Donington until 2026?”

  1. I am totally behind the Brabhams family in suing Formtech over the use of their name. I still have a feeling that Mosley is behind teams using old heroic formula one names like Brabham just so can make a non Fota championship sound exciting.

  2. maybe Richard Hammond will be at the auction?
    I saw an episode of top gear where he had bought a honda f1 rear wing and used it on the renault they were modifying.
    Maybe top gear can buy the parts to buy the stig his own F1 car so he play on top gears track

  3. It’s pity there isn’t video of Webber’s 2 crashes at Le Mans in 99′

    Also a question for Keithand/or anyone who know categorically.

    Why has the Le Mans circuit never been considered as a venue for F1?

    1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXtb5eDUuQw
      1955 – “79 men, women and children”

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-VAB0l3f8s&feature=related
      1999 – mark webber during qualifying (1:35, wreckage, no crash)

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9EU8JH03gE&feature=related
      1999 – mark webber during warm-up

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3rxq7U1mA
      1999 – peter dumbreck during race

      “Why has the Le Mans circuit never been considered as a venue for F1?”

      modern answer:
      circuit de la sarthe does not comply with articles 7 and 8 of the sporting regs.

      classical answer:
      if everyone did it, it wouldn’r be special

      1. *wouldn’t be

    2. It`s owned by the city & I don`t think they`d want the expense, scunnyman.
      It would also take a hell of a lot of work (& money) getting it to a standard that F1 cars could race on as we`ve discussed (about other places) before.

  4. Also has an F1 car ever been driven around the Le Mans circuit????

    1. i don’t think so, but several years ago commentators said an f1 car would be about 10 seconds per lap quicker, and retired in under 2 hours.

      2009 has, technically, the best f1 cars ever. so let’s say 20 sec/lap advantage, and broken in 2 hours max.

      1. Yeh but i wouldn’t necessarily want an F1 car to compete in the Le Mans 24 hr.

        But a normal 1hr 59 minute race????? lol

      2. the Brawn looks like it would keep going all night.

        Or at least until they change drivers and Rubens gets in.

    2. I can`t think of one racing on the full circuit but, of course, they ran on the Bugatti circuit there.
      I have a feeling a modern Renault F1 did an exhibition on the Bugatti circuit in the recent past, too

  5. I have to agree with you Keith on 1987 being the best classic british grands prix. Nigel Mansell coming out of the pits 29 seconds behind Piquet with 28 laps to go. Fastest lap after fastet lap. He caught his team mate and past him on the last lap.

    But any british grands prix with Nige winning is classic to me.

    Also the year Rubens was overtaking everyone was good, can’t remember the year, 2003 i think.

  6. That 87 victory by Mansell is one of my earliest F1 memories. Absolutely fantastic.

    With the end of refuelling I’ve got my fingers crossed for something similar next year. No turbos to help out though unfortunately!

  7. Prisoner Monkeys
    12th June 2009, 6:42

    Donington until 2026?

    Hope it’s better than Silverstone. Don’t get me wrong, everything from Copse right down to the Hangar Straight is fatastic, but the rest of it – Vale, Abbey, Bridge, Brooklands et al – is just chicane after chicane. I had high hopes for the new “Arrowhead” configuration, but the corner that takes you off the current course and onto the new section is yet another chicane.

    Why are the Powers That Be so afraid of drivers (and riders) taking corners at anything more than a pedestrain speed?

  8. If I were Simon Gillett I wouldn’t be too confident about my 17 year deal. Anyone remember the 15 year deal Brands Hatch signed in 2000? How’s that worked out for them?

  9. Arthur Fowler
    12th June 2009, 8:43

    Regarding Ted Kravitz’s insight into BMW last year, If the relationship between them and Kubica was bad then, what is it like now???? Come on Robert, stop acting like a petulant child and just get on with it. Even Hamilton has a smile on his face!

  10. It does seem a rather long deal for Donington, has any other current circuit signed such a lengthy deal? While it would be nice to think the British GP is guaranteed till 2026 it would mean no return to Silverstone.

    1. Well at this rate who knows if F1 will exist in 2026!!!!!!!!!!! Although i hope it is.

  11. No credit crunch for the lawyers then I guess…

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