All systems go and business as usual at Donington Park!

Donington Park circuit roared back into action this morning (Friday) signalling that it is “business as usual” at the Leicestershire circuit now that the initial phase of the necessary redevelopment ahead of the staging of the British F1 Grand Prix has been completed.

For riders taking part in the first busy motorcycle track day of the season at the Leicestershire venue, the most noticeable feature of the circuit was the complete removal of the iconic Dunlop Bridge which had stood over the straight from Coppice for three decades. The massive structure, which had to go in preparation for the re-aligned circuit, has been carefully dismantled over a two week period, and stored with the intention of relocation elsewhere on the 650 acre parkland estate.

Not so noticeable for the participants, who were putting their own machines through their paces, was the completion of the tunnel constructed under the straight between McLeans and Coppice at a cost of £750,000. The tunnel is a vital part of the 2010 F1 project in that it enables works to continue apace on the circuit infield without interrupting 2009 circuit activities.

The digging of the tunnel was the first job, once planning consent had been given for the major £100 million build of the state of the art facilities required to stage motorsport’s premier event, the F1 Grand Prix, for a decade starting in July next year.
Initially the tunnel will be used by construction traffic – it is wide enough for a two-lane road and high enough to cope with Europe’s largest articulated vehicles. It will then play a key part in access for the teams using the new pits and paddock complex, which is to be built on the existing infield area.

“If sceptics are still questioning our capabilities to deliver the British Grand Prix, then perhaps seeing these two important early jobs completed on schedule will rubber stamp what we have always said: Donington will deliver” said circuit owner and Chief Executive Simon Gillett. “Even despite some of the worst winter weather in years, we have remained focused and continued to make progress. We are now moving quickly onto the next part of the project which is to prepare the ground works for the pits and paddock complex to be built,” he added.

In addition to the construction works, the circuit will now be in daily use with a variety of ‘ride and drive’ trackdays, testing, and a full programme of racing – beginning over the weekend of 28/29 March with the all-new MotoSix Nations Motorcycle Team Challenge. This is followed by British Championship action for Touring Cars, Formula 3 and Superbikes prior to the World Championship feature events for Superbikes (June 28) and MotoGP (July 26) in a season that runs through to October.