Donington handed further extension
Ecclestone has granted Donington a two week extension
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By inthenews. |  |
Tuesday, 13, Oct 2009 09:43
By Adam Leveridge
Donington Park bosses have been granted a further extension to prove they have the necessary funding to develop the circuit in time to host the 2010 British grand prix.
After several extensions to their deadline, formula one supremo Bernie Ecclestone gave circuit boss Simon Gillett until the end of the week to prove the funding was in place.
But, as the deadline approached, Ecclestone expressed doubt over whether the circuit will be finished in time.
"It's not good, is it?" Ecclestone told the Times newspaper.
"Even if they get the money, I cannot see how it will all be ready in time to go. It is very disappointing because we thought it would happen, but they cannot go on missing deadlines.
"They could still come to us saying they have the money, but there is no way the circuit would be ready at this late stage.
"It looks as though we will have to start planning again."
However, Gillett said on Monday that he is fully committed to completing the construction in time and he stated that he had been handed an additional two weeks by Ecclestone to demonstrate Donington's credentials.
"We can confirm that Donington Ventures Leisure Limited (DVLL) has another two weeks from today to further demonstrate our credentials for hosting the British F1 grand prix and to provide full information regarding our financial backing and construction timescales," said Gillett.
"We have made great strides in recent weeks and greatly appreciate the additional time allowed to us to finalise the information for public distribution in what has been a much more difficult than anticipated economic climate.
"We appreciate the British public's growing frustration with regard to uncertainty that has been cast over the country's largest and most successful motorsport event, but remain committed to delivering on the promises that we made at the start of this process and have the interests of the sport and its fans at heart."