Silverstone has been dumped as the home of the British Grand Prix in a shock development today.
The sports governing body, the FIA, announced that from 2010 it will move to the Midlands track Donington Park.
Silverstone has staged Grands Prix since the very first world championship year, including an unbroken 20 year run up to 2008 while Donington has staged just one race, in 1993, famously won in pouring rain by Ayrton Senna.
The current head of the Silverstone, Damon Hill, the ex-world champion, was second in a Williams that day.
The news will come as a massive blow to Silverstone’s management after spending more than £20m on improvements over the last three years.
In a statement Friday between the two practice sessions at Silverstone the FIA issued a release saying the British Grand Prix had kept its place on the calendar but then dropped the bombshell news.
“From 2010 the new home of the British Grand Prix will be Donington Park," said Max Mosley, FIA President.
“After many years of patient but fruitless negotiation with the BRDC, we are delighted that Bernie has nevertheless been able to ensure that the British Grand Prix will keep its place on the Formula One World Championship calendar.
“We understand that the development programme planned for Donington will achieve the very high standards we and FOM expect from a modern F1 circuit. Finally, British Formula One fans will get the Grand Prix venue they deserve.”
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Bernie Ecclestone, FOM President added: “Finally the uncertainty is over. A contract has been signed with Donington Park and the future of the British Grand prix is now secure.
“We wanted a world class venue for Formula One in Britain, something that the teams and British F1 fans could be proud of. The major development plans for Donington will give us exactly that. A venue that will put British motor sport back on the map.
“I am sorry that we could not have helped Silverstone to raise the money to carry out the circuit improvements and run Formula One.
“I believe that the government should have supported them which would have cost probably less than .002% of the government’s commitment for the Olympic Games."
