Formula 1 Thread

[isaidno]

The sign-off for Donington Park’s redevelopment plan has been delayed by its local district council – raising fresh doubts about the venue's readiness to stage the British Grand Prix in 2010.

Donington won the contract to host Britain's GP from Silverstone earlier this year when Bernie Ecclestone signed a surprise 10-year deal with the Leicestershire circuit.

The owners are planning a £38 million redevelopment scheme to get the facility up to Formula 1 standards by 2010, including a new pit and paddock complex and an extension of the track itself.

Planning approval was expected this month, but North West Leicestershire District Council has postponed its decision until 27 January in order to carry out a full environmental impact assessment.

It means organisers will have just 14 months to complete work on the circuit before their self-imposed deadline of 1 April 2010.

Nevertheless, they remain confident that the construction work will be completed on schedule.

"There is no question that Donington's ability to stage the race will be jeopardised by this delay to the planning procedure," a spokesman told the Daily Telegraph newspaper.

"As soon as permission is granted construction work will begin."

Ecclestone has made it clear that Britain's race will simply be taken off the 2010 calendar if Donington cannot satisfy the FIA that it will be ready in time

This is never going to happen

[Brainy]

Webber suffers broken leg

[isaidno]

It's going to hamper him in a big way next season. He has no time to learn the new cars

[The Stig]

BBC F1 Team Announced

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport...one/7745347.stm

Presenter - Jake Humphreys (Former kids TV presenter. Does occasional football and has covered Olympics)

Pundits - David Coulthard & Eddie Jordan

Commentators - Jonathan Legard (Former Five Live F1 Commentator until he left to be their football correspondant) & Martin Brundle

Pit Lane Reporters - Ted Kravitz & Lee McKenzie (Former host of Sky Sports' A1 Coverage)

BBC Sport Online Regular - Murray Walker

[Milky]

BBC F1 Team Announced

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport...one/7745347.stm

Presenter - Jake Humphreys (Former kids TV presenter. Does occasional football and has covered Olympics)

Pundits - David Coulthard & Eddie Jordan

Commentators - Jonathan Legard (Former Five Live F1 Commentator until he left to be their football correspondant) & Martin Brundle

Pit Lane Reporters - Ted Kravitz & Lee McKenzie (Former host of Sky Sports' A1 Coverage)

BBC Sport Online Regular - Murray Walker

He's been so lucky in his career so far considering he's just an average presenter with limited sporting knowledge.

[hairy]

This new medals thing makes me think Ferrari threw the baby out the pram after Brazil. Bernie always pampers to Ferrari.

[Brainy]

I'm glad Brundle has moved to the beeb, I love his gridwalks.

[dandannieldanok]

This is never going to happen

It was a strange decision in the first place, Silverstone may be slightly outdated by Donington is far too small to hold an event of such scale.

BBC F1 Team Announced

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport...one/7745347.stm

Presenter - Jake Humphreys (Former kids TV presenter. Does occasional football and has covered Olympics)

Pundits - David Coulthard & Eddie Jordan

Commentators - Jonathan Legard (Former Five Live F1 Commentator until he left to be their football correspondant) & Martin Brundle

Pit Lane Reporters - Ted Kravitz & Lee McKenzie (Former host of Sky Sports' A1 Coverage)

BBC Sport Online Regular - Murray Walker

Looks pretty reasonable, glad Brundle has joined.

[The Stig]

One other slice of information. Jake and Eddie will present from a studio in London. David and the rest of the team will be at the track.

[isaidno]

Quite impressed with that. Not sure about Johnathan Leggard, I'm glad Eddie Jordan has joined. No Mark Blundell :

[Floating Fox]

Quite impressed with that. Not sure about Johnathan Leggard, I'm glad Eddie Jordan has joined. No Mark Blundell :