A big loss to Silverstone

Lewis Hamilton's victory was just what Silverstone needed after losing the right to host the British Grand Prix after 2009.

Heikki Kovalainen's McLaren in action during practice at what could be the penultimate British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

On my way home from Silverstone on Sunday night, the showers stopped, a little sunshine crept through and out came a rainbow. It would be too Hollywood or sugary to suggest the pot of gold was to be found at the race track, but I bet it was mighty close! This was a magical day for the historic venue. The perfect 60th birthday present as home hero Lewis Hamilton roared to victory in a thriller. It is just what was needed after a few days of dismay and depression as the track lost the right to host the British Grand Prix after 2009. The mood was bleak beforehand, even Hamilton said he would have been happy with a point after failures in his last two races, but every cloud has a Silver lining. Hamilton was unstoppable and the 90,000 crowd lapped it up. Rain? Who cared! But next year could be the last time a Formula One race is held at the famous circuit, which hosted motorsport's biggest event in the UK in 1948 before the first world championship race came to the former World War II bomber base two years later. That would be a massive shame and I hope the watching Bernie Ecclestone will not consign such a sporting bastion to the scrapheap. The president of Formula One Management has signed a 10-year deal to stage it at Donington Park, saying he waited patiently for the British Racing Drivers Club (BRDC), which owns Silverstone, to strike a new deal. Maybe he should have waited just a little longer to drop his bombshell because it has only painted him in a poor light. Yes, Silverstone needs investment to improve its facilities, but the foundations are there. So too the tradition and history; it just needed the money. Donington will need to spend heavily to bring its venue up to scratch, but backed by a private investor, a £100 million development over five years is in the pipeline. But will it even be ready in time? Will the roads around the Leicestershire site be running smoothly to avoid traffic chaos? That is a major question as the rate buildings, roads and facilities built in the UK are not in in the same league as the UAE. Just take a look at how fast Yas Island is going up. There are many who fear Donington will struggle to meet the deadline. In 1999 the British Grand Prix was heading to Brands Hatch for the start of 2002, but ended up back at Silverstone because they could not develop the venue in time. So why take another gamble? Donington has the cash and, ultimately, it all boils down to money. Sir Jackie Stewart, a former BRDC president, says shelling out redevelopment costs and then £11 million per race, with a small percentage rise per annum, would have ruined the club. Government help would have been welcome and I'm sure that message will have got across to Gerry Sutcliffe, the Sports Minister, when he was at the race on Sunday. "It is very difficult for a private members' club to try and continue to afford the kind of monies needed to retain the race in this country," says the motor racing legend Stewart. "Almost every other country in the world that hosts a grand prix, if not every one, has government support. For the BRDC to continually lose money, just to keep the British Grand Prix, is not correct. Eventually it would have bankrupt the BRDC. I wish Donington well with it, but I know it's not possible for them to financially justify it." Silverstone could well get a British leg of the MotoGP in the future, but will that be enough to fill the gaping hole left by the loss of F1? Whatever the reasons for the switch, whatever the gripes between Ecclestone and the BRDC, this has been a sorry affair. Hamilton's success provided some much-needed cheer and he is hoping it is not the end after next year's race. "This is a phenomenal circuit," he said. "For sure, I will be sad not to have a race here in a year. "You have some that you prefer more than others and this is one of my favourite circuits. But I hope one day we can still come back here and re-live the Silverstone experience." Hamilton is not alone.

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