Legal wrangle hits Donington

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Wheatcroft & Son Limited, the owners of the circuit due to stage the race from next year, are seeking £2.47million in rent arrears from Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd, as well as forfeiture of the track lease.

DVLL, the organisation run by Gillett, acquired a 150-year lease from the Wheatcrofts in January 2007, but it has become clear the landowners and leaseholder are now enduring a rocky relationship. The proceedings against DVLL were started at Derby County Court by lawyers at Browne Jacobson LLP, acting on behalf of the Wheatcrofts, Tom and Kevin.

Kevin Wheatcroft said: "It is with great reluctance we have taken this decision.

"Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd owe us nearly £2.5million in rent dating back to September 2008.

"Despite receiving numerous reassurances over a number of months, they have consistently failed to meet their financial obligations under the terms of the lease.

"We have held off taking legal action for as long as possible, but have been left with no choice but to commence proceedings to recover the outstanding rent and forfeiture of the lease."

It was in July last year Gillett trumped Silverstone to the rights to stage the race from next season, signing a 10-year agreement with Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone. Gillett convinced Ecclestone of his plans for the future of the East Midlands venue after Silverstone's owners stalled over signing a new deal.

However, it was not until January this year that the green light was finally given to begin work on a £100million redevelopment. Although work began immediately, it threw a spanner in the works as events have had to be cancelled due to the track not being given a safety certificate by the Motor Sports Association, robbing Gillett of vital revenue.

Thursday's events will again raise doubts over Gillett's ability to stage one of British sport's showpiece occasions. As Ecclestone recently stated, if Donington Park does not come through, there will be no British Grand Prix from next year.