British GP may not be held in 2010
After a meeting with Donington's Simon Gillett this week, F1 chief executive Ecclestone said that if work on the venue is delayed, "we would be happy to skip a year".
Gillett's project, scheduled for a F1 debut in 2010, has been dogged by negative speculation, amid reports of questionable finance and legal actions.
The latest snippet of bad news, for example, is that a catering firm is owed 46,000 pounds sterling.
But on Thursday Gillett was quoted as insisting that formula one's historic British event is "safe" even if it may not take place mid next year.
"There was an announcement this week from Bernie that if we do have a problem he's prepared to wait a year rather than take it anywhere else," he told the BBC.
04/24/09 (GMM) New doubt on Thursday fell on Donington's ability to host the British grand prix beginning in 2010. It emerged that the circuit's owners, Wheatcroft and Son Ltd, launched legal action over $3.6m in unpaid rent.
The lawsuit filed with Derby County Court is also calling for the termination of the 150 year lease held by track boss Simon Gillett, who last year secured a ten-year contract to see the formula one race move from Silverstone to the Leicestershire venue.
"Despite receiving numerous reassurances over a number of months they have consistently failed to meet their financial obligations under the terms of the lease," owner Kevin Wheatcroft said in a statement issued by his lawyers. "We have held off taking legal action for as long as possible but have been left with no choice but to commence proceedings to recover the outstanding rent and forfeit the lease."
04/23/09 The viability of the 2010 British Grand Prix "is in doubt" after the F1 event's promoter, Donington Park Ventures, was sued by track landlord Wheatcroft & Son. Wheatcroft is "seeking to recoup a 150-year-old lease of the racetrack which it sold to Donington Ventures Leisure" in '07 as well as US$3.6M in unpaid rent. Donington Ventures in July '08 won the right to the race for 10 years beginning in '10. Silverstone will host this year's event Bloomberg News