JANUARY 8, 2009

Donington gets planning permission

Donington Park has been granted planning permission to make the changes necessary to become a Formula 1 circuit. The North-West Leicestershire District Council agreed to the proposals put forward and the circuit can now go ahead with the plans to build.

"I am absolutely over the moon," said Simon Gillett. "It is a major coup. It is a culmination of six years' hard work."

The plans include widening and extending the track and building a range of new buildings.

The planning permission means that there can only be 40 days of racing at the circuit and temporary structures must be dismantled but the aim is to keep these to a minimum.