Donington GP hopeful of council green light

(GMM) Organizers of a British grand prix at Donington Park in 2010 are confident they will this week receive council permission to go ahead with the project.

After the South Derbyshire District Council recently declared that the local area will benefit from the event despite some environmental costs, circuit boss Simon Gillet said he was "confident we have the planning in the bag".

The final decision is set to be taken by the North West Leicestershire District Council on Thursday.

A circuit spokesman said work on the necessary improvements at Donington Park, said to be costing nearly $150m, is ready to commence.

"There is a strong determination to make it succeed. Work is set to start as soon as permission is granted," the spokesman Dave Fearn told the local Nottingham Evening Post.

He added: "We are optimistic that everything will go in our favor. It is a culmination of a lot of hard work by everybody on all fronts."