Formula 1: Donington Park: A Fresh Start

It's controversial, it's provocative. Donington Park's position as post-2010 British Grand Prix host has caused both surprise and horror, yet maybe there are some advantages to this change.

The fans, teams and drivers have been complaining about Silverstone for years. The carparks are muddy, the hotdogs expensive and, since 2003, the racing turgid.

Yet Donington? Personally i've never been there but from what i have seen, it reminds me of Jerez. With sweeping corners and a relatively small infield, it will certainly be a change for Formula One, now populated by Tilke-esque sharp corners.

Silverstone is undoubtedly tops for full throttle acceleration, but what will happen with the post 2009 wing technology removals? Could we see Donington as a place of dramatic overtaking? At the moment it is far too early to speculate, with BTCC and MotoGP not serving as useful examples, yet i can see change being useful to the sport.

A new, testing challenge (in 1993 even Michael Schumacher beached his Benetton in the gravel) awaits the F1 fraternity- even the most biased fan would struggle to suggest that every Silverstone race has been exciting

Bernie has certainly been riled for this recent switch. Even MotoGP has declared Donington as unsuitable for major events, but i am certain that things can be sorted out after two years of committed effort.

To those complaining, just think; would you rather have no British Grand Prix? Maybe confiscating the European Grand Prix from Spain (giving Valencia the race and binning the traditional snore-athon of Catalunya) on account of their abhorrent winter-testing racism and giving the event to Silverstone would placate the fans, along with showing the World that discrimination of any kind has no place.

Spanish Formula One is all but over; unless Fernando Alonso gets his act in gear (rumours are circulating linking him down to Honda), it may be time to give the crown to someone else. Hamilton-mania makes Britain the obvious target.

Donington is close to the East Midlands Airport (and M1), is in a central position, and has proven it can deal with a major Formula One race, albeit one back in 1993. With an increase in infrastructure, and a possible extension, the at present 2.5 mile circuit has the potential to be one of the greats.

Attempting to look positively on this situation, i feel the 2010 British Grand Prix will be what the fans, and of course the organisers,  make of it. All i can say is good luck to them.