News

Gillett denies debt reports

Tuesday 10th February 2009

Simon Gillett is adamant his vision will lead to the British Grand Prix being staged at Donington Park next year.

Gillett has been left baffled by reports Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd, his company that operates the circuit, reportedly has debts of £66.7million.

Gillett maintains work that started last month after he was given planning permission to undertake a £100million redevelopment by North West Leicestershire District Council, is ongoing.

To a specially-invited audience on Wednesday, Gillett is even planning to 'unveil' the track via the F1 simulator.

High-end graphics will reveal the new circuit, along with pit and paddock areas, grandstand and club house as Gillett seeks to turn Donington Park into one of the world's leading motorsport venues.

"It's business as usual at Donington Park and absolutely nothing has changed," insisted Gillett.

"Work is continuing on site and all of our staff are completely focused on delivering a full and exciting calendar of events this year ahead of our hosting of the British Grand Prix in July next year.

"Our 2008 financial report has not been filed with Companies House, which leaves me confused as to where certain publications have sourced their 'facts' and figures from.

"We have always maintained we will reveal details of our financial package for the grand prix in quarter one of this year.

"True to Donington Park's belief in delivering on promises, we will make this information available at the end of March."

Despite the report claiming Donington Park recorded a £12.4million loss last year, and in the wake of a Government report last month that branded the redesign of the track as "weak", Gillett remains bullishly optimistic he will not fail.

"The planned developments have the potential to put Leicestershire and the rest of the country on the world map for our motorsport facilities, and that's something I remain passionate about," asserted Gillett.

"It would be easy to roll over and give in when faced with a constant barrage of scepticism and criticism, but that's not my style.

"If it was, I would never have embarked on this project in the first place. Our plans are not dreams, but vision.

"As somebody (it was author/metaphysician Florence Scovel Schinn) once said, 'Every great work, every big accomplishment, has been brought into manifestation through holding to the vision, and often just before the big achievement, comes apparent failure and discouragement'.

"We will succeed."

Post to del.icio.us

E-mail Article Print-Friendly Version