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.

British circuit hasn’t even applied for planning permission

The 2010 British GP at Donington is less than two years away, but the North West Leicestershire district council is yet to receive planning applications from the operators of the track. Hmm, is that the smell of petty bureaucracy in the air?

Wee Bernie Ecclestone has warned that he would not hesitate to drop the British GP from the calendar if the owners of the circuit don’t get their act together.

“We have not yet actually received the planning application although we have been talking through the project with the race promoters during the phase prior to last week’s official announcement,” council spokesman Ian Hill told The Guardian.

Donington signs 10-year-deal to host British GP from 2010

That’s right folks, you read it here first (unless you already read it somewhere else): The F1 British Grand Prix is moving back to Donington Park!

The news is generally good for British F1 fans, who feared that Wee Bernie Ecclestone would take away their GP altogether, but it couldn’t come at a worse time for the owners of Silverstone, with this year’s British GP just two days away. At least Silverstone has the chance to host the 2009 event, before Donington takes over on a 10-year contract.

As usual, Ecclestone played down the news. In an interview with Five Live reporter Holly Samos, he remained his usual deadpan self:

MotoGP world champion booed at Donington

Casey Stoner is a hard rider to love. He speaks in a monotone whine, he lacks charisma, he rarely smiles, and he’s Australian. It’s the perfect recipe for unpopularity, at least in Britain.

So when Stoner won Sunday’s British round of MotoGP, not everyone was happy. He received a mixed reception on the podium, with boos as audible as the cheers.

“What do they want? Are they here to watch racing? It’s not the right way to come to a race track,” Stoner said after the race. “It’s nice to see people here in good numbers but not if they’re here for the wrong reasons.”