DONINGTON TAKEOVER

Motorsport Vision (MSV) has reached agreement with Kevin Wheatcroft, owner and operator of Donington Park, for MSV to take over the Donington Park circuit business and to lease the Donington Park Estate for an initial 21-year term. MSV, owned by former F1 driver Jonathan Palmer and Sir Peter Ogden, already owns and operates four UK race circuits – Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, Snetterton and Cadwell Park, plus Bedford Autodrome. In addition MSV expanded into Europe in 2015 following the freehold purchase of a former military airbase in France, which is currently developing into a large motorsport village. MSV also holds the promotional rights for the MCE British Superbike Championship and the BRDC British F3 Championship. MSV Chief Executive Jonathan Palmer said: “I am thrilled that MSV has now acquired the Donington circuit business. Its modern day existence is purely down to the vision and energy of tom Wheatcroft, whom I admired enormously. Donington is a good British circuit that deserves further investment, energy and expertise in order to make it truly outstanding, and MSV will provide this.” Kevin Wheatcroft, Donington Park’s owner, said: “I am particularly pleased to have finally done a deal with MSV’S Jonathan Palmer in what is our 40th year since my father reopened the circuit in 1977. “Since taking the circuit back under my own control in 2009, huge efforts have been made to bring Donington back to the forefront of British motorsport, not to mention the many millions it’s taken to do so.”