Jonathan Palmer’s MSV company tenders its bid to run Silverstone

Jonathan Palmer’s Motorsport Vision organisation has made an official bid to purchase Silverstone, according to sources.

Having been strongly linked with entering the race to buy the British Grand Prix venue recently [ MN, Sept 7], MSV is understood to have lodged a formal bid last week.

Silverstone’s owners, the British Racing Drivers’ Club, had been in lengthy negotiations with Jaguar Land Rover over the purchase to the circuit’s lease, but that deal has stalled. Ginetta owner Lawrence Tomlinson has also made an offer.

When contacted, Palmer refused to confirm nor deny making any bid to run Silverstone.

He said: “I’ve long felt Silverstone could benefit from the experience and stability of MSV running the circuit, including the grand prix, and we’re certainly keen to do that. But only if we can do so, on a sensible basis, that’s commercially viable.

“Our experience of the business, of running circuits, running them well and providing a high quality to our customers is well known.

“To be fair to Silverstone they ran a fairly good grand prix this year, putting in a huge amount of effort and it looked great.

“But nevertheless, the bit that has to be sorted out, that is currently of major concern, is how we get ongoing commercial viability from it, whilst maintaining and continuing to improve standards further.

“So I feel that MSV would be well placed to do that.”