New British GP venue to get major facelift…

… But will it happen in time for the 2010 race?

Donington’s owners have revealed details of the planned revamp that will bring the circuit up to modern F1 standards for 2010. That’s the plan, anyway. If they don’t get a move on, Bernie Ecclestone could still take his toys elsewhere.

The current 2.5-mile circuit last hosted a grand prix in 1993 (The European GP, won by Ayrton Senna). It will be extended by half a mile thanks to the addition of a new loop at the final corner. A new pit and paddock complex will be built on the inside of Starkey’s Straight, while the Esses chicane may also be removed to extend the length of the start-finish straight.

Track co-owner Simon Gillett explained the new layout to Autosport. He said:

“Off the Melbourne loop, instead of going around Goddards corner and 180 degrees onto the [current] start-finish straight, you’ll go straight on and do a half-mile loop before going back onto the [current] start-finish straight.”

It sounds like a sensible way to lengthen the track without changing its character too much.

Work on the update is due to begin in October and will be overseen by highly respected track designer Hermann Tilke.

Of course, all of this development work is subject to the whim of two dreaded English words: planning permission.