This is my interview with Donington Park owner Kevin Wheatcroft in today's Mercury (click on link below);
http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/news/tried-shield-dying-dad-Donington-crisis/article-1838137-detail/article.html
Because of space restrictions, I was not able to include Mr Wheatcroft's response to the many rumours about the track's future which have circulated in recent weeks.
He said he had never spoken to East Midlands Airport about selling part of the 500-acre site and told me Formula One racing supremo Bernie Ecclestone (pictured) is not buying land surrounding the track.
On the latter, he said: "I heard that too. I asked Bernie and he denied it. I have no reason to doubt him."
It begs the question: where do some of these rumours come from? Is it me or does the idea of Ecclestone buying land around the track, as opposed to the track itself, seem quite bizarre. The only possible explanation I can think of is he is looking for a side line as a car park operator.
But surely that would only be lucrative if Donington won back the MotorGP and World Superbikes, and perhaps, in the long-term future, F1 racing.
The first two are a priority for Mr Wheatcroft, while the third is more of a dream.
One piece of speculation the track owner did confirm was that businesses had approached him to turn the circuit into something other than a motor racing track. Three "non-motorsport development" proposals were put to him, all were dismissed. I will leave it up to you to speculate what form these proposals took.
Mr Wheatcroft is planning to make an announcement about a new circuit operator on Sunday, March 7 at an event at the track organised by the Save Donington campaign group. For more details go to;
http://www.savedonington.co.uk/
http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/news/tried-shield-dying-dad-Donington-crisis/article-1838137-detail/article.html
Because of space restrictions, I was not able to include Mr Wheatcroft's response to the many rumours about the track's future which have circulated in recent weeks.
He said he had never spoken to East Midlands Airport about selling part of the 500-acre site and told me Formula One racing supremo Bernie Ecclestone (pictured) is not buying land surrounding the track.
On the latter, he said: "I heard that too. I asked Bernie and he denied it. I have no reason to doubt him."
It begs the question: where do some of these rumours come from? Is it me or does the idea of Ecclestone buying land around the track, as opposed to the track itself, seem quite bizarre. The only possible explanation I can think of is he is looking for a side line as a car park operator.
But surely that would only be lucrative if Donington won back the MotorGP and World Superbikes, and perhaps, in the long-term future, F1 racing.
The first two are a priority for Mr Wheatcroft, while the third is more of a dream.
One piece of speculation the track owner did confirm was that businesses had approached him to turn the circuit into something other than a motor racing track. Three "non-motorsport development" proposals were put to him, all were dismissed. I will leave it up to you to speculate what form these proposals took.
Mr Wheatcroft is planning to make an announcement about a new circuit operator on Sunday, March 7 at an event at the track organised by the Save Donington campaign group. For more details go to;
http://www.savedonington.co.uk/
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