Construction company to run Donington Park

Grant Prior 15 years ago
Share

Adroit Construction is set to take over the running of Donington Park motor racing circuit.

The Worcestershire based contractor and property developer is planning to spend £2m upgrading the track this year.

The circuit has been unused since last September following an ill-fated attempt to stage the British Grand Prix.

The track closed and administrators were called in after leaseholder Donington Ventures went into administration last autumn.

The company, which leased the circuit from owners the Wheatcroft family, folded after failing to raise the millions needed to upgrade facilities to stage the British Grand Prix.

Current owner Kevin Wheatcroft confirmed an agreement has been reached in principle for the Adroit Group to take over the running of the circuit on a 25-year lease.

David Broome, managing director of Adroit Group, said: “It is a big task and nobody is under any illusions about that.

“We intend to bring the site back up to a world class standard. The entire site needs attention whilst much of it will require a total overhaul from the track itself to the medical centre, hospitality suites, phone, radio and PA systems, IT systems, CCTV and general ground work.

“There is no magic wand, but through a calm, cautious, credible and sensible approach we know that we have the experience, expertise and absolute commitment to bring the glory years back to Donington.

“I believe the very fact that we fully understand the task at hand and were able to convey our realism and pragmatism were factors in us winning out over the other parties.”

Redevelopment work had already started and sections of the circuit had been dug up, making it unfit for racing.

The new operator is expected to take over running of the entire site, including exhibition facilities and the Norton motorbike factory.

Adroit Group’s operations director, Steve Watton, said the group hopes Donington can regain its FiA Grade 2 Licence following an inspection in August.

Regaining the licence would allow racing to resume at the track in September.

Mr Watton said: “It is a vast and multi-faceted site and our approach will dictate that no one element will suck the attention, life and finances from any other. Quite the opposite, everything must enhance everything else.

“Not only will we bring existing aspects back up to scratch but we intend to make exciting new introductions that will not demand huge capital outlay but will make best use of what we already have on our doorstep.

“It is also critical to us that we work with the Castle Donington community. It is as much their facility as anyone’s and we want them to feel part of it and be proud of it.”

Mr Watton, a club racing driver for more than 20 years, added: “Donington Park is one of Britain’s big three racetracks alongside Silverstone and Brands Hatch. It has the most fantastic heritage stretching back as far as the 1930s.

“This is going to be a dynamic new era but we want to preserve and celebrate such rich heritage.”

Latest news

Winners named for £2.6bn NHS SBS Modular 3 framework

Twenty-seven secure spots on health, education and resi framework
2 hours ago

Leeds kicks off homes vision for Elland Road regeneration

Council plans to deliver 2,000 homes around United’s revamped stadium
3 hours ago

Britcon targets £70m turnover after string of framework wins

Major AMP8 win and regional expansion fuel contractor’s biggest growth push yet
7 hours ago

Go-ahead for 37-storey tower at Leeds Merrion Centre

Town Centre Securities to deliver over 1,000 student rooms
7 hours ago

Taylor Wimpey fined £800k after apprentice falls down stairwell

Teenage brickie injured after falling with pile of concrete blocks
1 day ago

Green light for life sciences buildings in campus expansion

Construction to start this year on Wellcome Genome Campus in South Cambridgeshire
6 hours ago

Morgan Sindall scores £63m twin wins on flagship leisure projects

£36m Southampton and £27m Bishop Auckland jobs get underway
5 hours ago

Hill and L&G partner on £450m Coventry city centre revamp

Partners to deliver opening phase of 991-home City Centre South scheme
21 hours ago

Graham snaps up sector veteran to lead office fit-outs

Peter Allan most recently held director roles at ISG and Overbury
6 hours ago

Construction growth of 0.9% bucks wider shrinking economy

Construction output climbs for third straight month
1 day ago

Crest Nicholson returns to profit

House builder back in the black after huge fire safety provisions last year
1 day ago

JN Bentley profit surges as revenue tops £500m

Surging water work and plant investment underpin £19m profit
1 day ago

Willmott Dixon bags £49m East London business school job

Builder secures second job in a year for Queen Mary University
1 day ago

Another extension for competition probe into house builders

Spotlight will stay on seven housing giants for another few months
2 days ago

Strike ballot for 1,500 Sellafield construction workers

36 contractors working on nuclear clean-up could be hit
1 day ago

WSP to buy Ricardo

Consulting giant to add another 2,700 staff
2 days ago

Infrastructure and major projects boost profits at Vp

Specialist construction, water and transmission sectors are star performers
2 days ago

TClarke jumps to top of M&E firms rankings

Growth in data centres and commercial refits creates optimism for year ahead
2 days ago

JRL plans Sutton 12-storey office to co-living revamp

St Nicholas House to be stripped back and reworked into high-rise homes
2 days ago

Plan to double affordable homes spend at centre of spending review

£39bn will be injected into social housing over 10-years
2 days ago

Lindum lands £44m automation centre contract

Construction to start this summer on Sutton-in-Ashfield site
2 days ago

Esh seals £160m sewer repairs deal with Northumbrian Water

Eight-year deal caps 25-year partnership with Northumbrian
3 days ago

Rolls-Royce wins race to build UK’s first small modular reactor

BAM Nuttall, Laing O’Rourke and Atkins are supporting Rolls-Royce-led consortium
3 days ago

Plans in for £100m Digbeth regeneration scheme

Developer Hartwell plans mixed-use project at former ironworks site
3 days ago

Founder retakes the reins in Reds10 leadership shake-up

Chief exec steps aside as founder returns to steer growth push
3 days ago

Sizewell C powers up as Government commits £14bn funding

Around 70% of contracts for 3,500 British suppliers as construction to gear up
3 days ago

Plans in for 3,000-capacity TraffordCity ice arena

Second ice rink for Trafford as Peel pushes leisure-led regeneration
3 days ago

Walker Modular wins pods deal at £90m Greystar site

Latest package win with McAleer & Rushe on Birmingham student tower
3 days ago

Pre-pack deal rescues online building materials firm

Lords acquires £71m-turnover CMO from administrators for £1.8m
4 days ago

Russell WBHO lands £25m Oldham industrial deal

Next phase of scheme will deliver 13 distribution and manufacturing units
3 days ago

Contractor services