Group aims to save Donington Park

The cost of restoring the track has been estimated at �600,000

Supporters of motorsport venue Donington Park have begun a campaign to save the East Midlands track.

The circuit ran into problems after a deal secured by its operators to host the Formula 1 Grand Prix collapsed.

The lease reverted to the Wheatcroft family in December, who have been looking for new partners since.

About 8,000 people have joined a Facebook group and are holding an event to raise awareness of Donington's plight on 7 March.

'Positive people'

In the summer of 2008, Donington Ventures Leisure Limited won the right to stage the British Grand Prix starting in 2010.

But the firm struggled to attract enough investment to pay for upgrades to the track and facilities and went into administration in late 2009.

Unfinished work on the circuit meant it was no longer able to host any motorsport events.

The administrators then failed to find a new buyer so the 150-year lease reverted to the Wheatcroft family.

The track was built up by Tom Wheatcroft, who died in October, and his son Kevin is trying to secure its future.

Kevin Wheatcroft said: "We're getting to grips with where the damage is and what we can do about putting it back.

"It [the Facebook campaign] is too much goodwill to let slip by. They're all positive people that love Donington.

"I really want to do what we can do to make their dreams a reality."

It is estimated that getting the track back to racing condition will cost £600,000.

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