Motorsport set to return to Donington Park

Donington Park has not been used in 10 months

Donington Park's new leaseholders expect to be granted their racing licence again next month.

Steve Whatton, operations director for Adroit Group, says work is on schedule to get the Leicestershire circuit up to speed for the inspection on 2 August.

And Whatton told BBC Radio Leicester that will mean motorsport will soon be back on the agenda.

"Providing everything is fine, we have a full provisional programme planned until the end of the year," he said.

"We have everything in the pipeline but it's difficult as you are not permitted to promote an event or advertise an event without a full licence."

Donington Park has not been used since September last year after former leaseholder Simon Gillett, who ran Donington Ventures Leisure Limited, failed in his attempts to stage the British Grand Prix at the East Midlands venue.

Gillett's company were unable to get the financial backing to upgrade the circuit and the East Midlands track went into administration in late 2009.

The 150-year lease then reverted to the Wheatcroft family before being taken over by the Worcestershire-based Adroit Group.

But Whatton is confident the renovations and rebuilding have gone smoothly and they will be getting good news next month.

"We have had a very good response with the FIA and the MSA [Motor Sports Association]," Whatton said.

"They have set in place a further programme that they want us to follow to bring the track back to where it should have been anyway.

"Certain things have been allowed to go by the wayside so we are playing catch-up but the FIA are not being obstructive at all. We've got to comply with all the safety regulations obviously and that's coming along too.

I don't want Superbikes or MotoGP coming back here and seeing Donington in a poor state

Steve Whatton

"All in all we have been working very hard and we now have a complete circuit again.

"The state it was in was a shame but if it hadn't been in that state we would have never got our hands on it. You don't often get the chance to take over an international venue like this with the heritage it has got.

"We started in the end of May and the beginning of June and I think by the time racing commences here we well have spent £2m."

And although Whatton is desperate to attract top-class motorsport to the track again, he says there is no danger of them rushing things.

"I would really like the big bikes events to come back here," he said. "But I want them to come back to Donington when the facility is ready for them.

"I don't want Superbikes or MotoGP coming back here and seeing Donington in a poor state so I would think a couple of three years is realistic."