Silverstone’s continued hosting of the British GP could come under threat with a potential return to Donington Park as soon as next year.
The GP is already on borrowed time at the Northamptonshire circuit, owned by the F1-oriented British Racing Drivers Club. Silverstone took over the race from Donington in 2010, but then lost it to the planned Circuit of Wales.
But when that project was at first delayed, Silverstone stepped into the breach in 2015, and with Donington undergoing equally delayed rebuilding, the race has stayed at Silverstone ever since.
The Circuit of Wales project was finally killed off without a sod having been turned at the proposed Ebbw Vale site when the local government refused funds.
Meanwhile Donington Park had now been bought by MSV (MotorSport Vision), the company that runs BSB and already owns five other British circuits, including Brands Hatch; and is known to be interested in regaining MotoGP.
Riders canvassed on the potential move shared similar opinions – regretting the loss of a fascinating long and highly technical lap, but happy if they can leave the bumps behind.
Silverstone is heavily used, not least for the British car GP, and the current generation of F1 cars generate more downforce than ever, leading to ripple-bumps in the braking areas and potentially (as at the Austrian GP two weeks ago) badly rubbered-up surfaces.
Riders requested a resurface last year, but nothing has been done.
As Dovizioso said: “If we can have new asphalt here, it is wonderful.”
But many riders have fond memories of Donington, with its swooping corners and hilly layout making for a superlative bike circuit. Pedrosa said: “With F1 here you don’t know how long a resurface will last, but the Donington Park layout, up and down, is also really nice.”
