British GP Track Wars V- The return of Donington Park
Posted: 16 Apr 2009, 14:21
Sorry if this seems a little early, but I was wondering what F1 Rejects, and it's forum members, thought of the British GP returning to my home town.
Currently, the tracks history of the British Grand Prix has been a Star Wars-esque, 4 part saga:
I- Silverstone alone
II- Aintree
III- Slivertone and Brands Hatch share the responsibility
IV- Bernie falls out with the owner of Brands Hatch and we're back to Silvertone alone. Brief blip of Donington hosting the Euro GP in '93, but Sliverstone still hosts British GP
and finally, after 17 years of waiting, Donington Park returns in part V!
Currently, work is scheduled in the near future, to upgrade the track to Grand Prix specifications. Including a new pit straight and pit complex, grandstands, and a new infield section. This new section will not only increase the length of the lap to 3 miles, up to minimum length requirements, but will also include an incline curve, like Eau Rouge but steeper.
Here is an image of what the track will look like:
On the above pic, the red sections denote alterations.
I personally think that the circuit will be good. Senna's greatest triumph in the only previous race here proved that the circuit already had potential, especially considering that there is a perpetual light drizzle in this area in summer: Enough to make the race interesting, without having to call it off.
One issue I noticed, is that the Eco movement has struck again, as this race will only be accessible by public transport, which has been cited as the Buses and Trains. No cars will be permitted to enter the grounds.
I will clear a few things up for non locals.
1- The nearest train station to the track, is over three miles from it, and the train service in the area is notoriously poor.
2- The buses, though good (it is near an airport after all), would not be able to cope with the projected thousands of fans heading to the circuit.
It seems ridiculous to me that we are no longer allowed to use our cars, to go and see other cars racing. Surely they must be using thousands of litres of fuel in the weekend, yet we fans are being punished for using a minute fraction of this to go and see these cars.
Environmental statements have failed in F1, or at least the only noteworthy one, Honda, did. Something makes me believde that tis one will too. No matter how good the racing is, I predict that the circuit will not be able to renew it's contract as spectator numbers at the track fall, and the race will move somewhere else. I hope it doesn't, it's good to see this area have something move to it, but it's likely to happen.
What are your thoughts on the race moving to Donington?
Currently, the tracks history of the British Grand Prix has been a Star Wars-esque, 4 part saga:
I- Silverstone alone
II- Aintree
III- Slivertone and Brands Hatch share the responsibility
IV- Bernie falls out with the owner of Brands Hatch and we're back to Silvertone alone. Brief blip of Donington hosting the Euro GP in '93, but Sliverstone still hosts British GP
and finally, after 17 years of waiting, Donington Park returns in part V!
Currently, work is scheduled in the near future, to upgrade the track to Grand Prix specifications. Including a new pit straight and pit complex, grandstands, and a new infield section. This new section will not only increase the length of the lap to 3 miles, up to minimum length requirements, but will also include an incline curve, like Eau Rouge but steeper.
Here is an image of what the track will look like:
On the above pic, the red sections denote alterations.
I personally think that the circuit will be good. Senna's greatest triumph in the only previous race here proved that the circuit already had potential, especially considering that there is a perpetual light drizzle in this area in summer: Enough to make the race interesting, without having to call it off.
One issue I noticed, is that the Eco movement has struck again, as this race will only be accessible by public transport, which has been cited as the Buses and Trains. No cars will be permitted to enter the grounds.
I will clear a few things up for non locals.
1- The nearest train station to the track, is over three miles from it, and the train service in the area is notoriously poor.
2- The buses, though good (it is near an airport after all), would not be able to cope with the projected thousands of fans heading to the circuit.
It seems ridiculous to me that we are no longer allowed to use our cars, to go and see other cars racing. Surely they must be using thousands of litres of fuel in the weekend, yet we fans are being punished for using a minute fraction of this to go and see these cars.
Environmental statements have failed in F1, or at least the only noteworthy one, Honda, did. Something makes me believde that tis one will too. No matter how good the racing is, I predict that the circuit will not be able to renew it's contract as spectator numbers at the track fall, and the race will move somewhere else. I hope it doesn't, it's good to see this area have something move to it, but it's likely to happen.
What are your thoughts on the race moving to Donington?