FEBRUARY 5, 2007

Donington is sold

Donington Park has been acquired in its entirety by a new company called Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd (DVLL). This company was founded last year by Simon Gillett and Lee Gill, who say that they intend to develop the racing circuit and to widen the appeal of the facility in other leisure and entertainment activities. The acquisition includes the land and the Donington Grand Prix Collection of Grand Prix racing cars.

Donington Park founder Tom Wheatcroft will assume the role of president while his son Kevin will be a special advisor. DVLL says that it is planning a series of phased developments that include improvements to the spectator facilities, expanded and enhanced corporate hospitality facilities and improvements to the exhibition and conference centres. In the longer term it will explore "a wide range of leisure-oriented facilities and examine investments that are complementary to the expanding local area".

One way that this could be achieved is with a Grand Prix and with the British Grand Prix contract up for grabs shortly the change of ownership is interesting.

The big question therefore is who are Gillett and Gill - and who is behind them.

The circuit was previously owned by Wheatcroft but was leased to an American promotions company called Live Nation (formerly Clear Channel Group).