Thursday 8th January 2009

Donington Park, located in Leicestershire, England announced that they had secured the planning permission necessary to bring the circuit up to the specification required by the FIA. After Bernie Ecclestone’s announcement the previous year, that the race would make the move north, it was seen as the first major sign of progress. “I’m over the moon,” gushed chief executive Simon Gillet. “From tomorrow morning it’s shovels at dawn and away we go. It starts in earnest now and time to start focusing on 2010 and delivering the best grand prix in the world. We are going to do it.” The plan ultimately failed. Unable to raise the necessary funds for redevelopment Gillet’s company went into receivership and the race reverted to Silverstone.