Page last updated at 15:09 GMT, Sunday, 7 March 2010

Fans meet to save Donington Park race circuit

Donington Park track 19/11
The cost of restoring the track has been estimated at �600,000

About 2,000 motor racing fans have gathered at Donington Park as part of a campaign to bring motor racing back to the circuit.

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

About 8,000 people have joined a Facebook group and held Sunday's event to raise awareness of Donington's plight.

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

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

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.

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.



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SEE ALSO
A brief history of Donington Park
05 Mar 10 |  History
Group aims to save Donington Park
18 Feb 10 |  Leicestershire
Donington owners 'close to deal'
05 Feb 10 |  Leicestershire
Donington Park set for new deal
13 Jan 10 |  Motorsport
Donington fails to attract buyer
24 Dec 09 |  Leicestershire
Donington loses Superbike event
11 Dec 09 |  MotoGP
Donington firm in administration
18 Nov 09 |  Leicestershire
No Donington GP, says Ecclestone
29 Oct 09 |  Formula 1

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