Donington Park owners, Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd (DVL), today sumbitted its plans for the first phase of the redevelopment of the track with to the North West Leicestershire District Council. The phase includes the addition of an extra loop to the track as well as a new pits and paddock complex ahead of it appearing on the 2010 Formula One calendar as host to the British Grand Prix. The plans are part of a £100m investment aimed as redeveloping the track into a world-class motorsport venue.

“The submission of these plans heralds the start of a massive re-development project and a new era for Donington Park. It's an incredibly exciting time for everybody involved,” explained the circuit's Chief Executive Officer Simon Gillett. “We are delighted with the plans and when the work is completed we will have a facility that will be the pride of World Championship motorsport.”

This announcement comes just hours after the news that Gillett's partner in buying Donington Park, Lee Gill, had resigned his post as COO of DVL, thereby throwing the Donington bid for the British Grand Prix into further doubt. In today's announcement, Gillett acknowledged the departure of his Gill, and thanked him for his contribution.

“We wish to thank Mr Gill for his work at the circuit over the past 18 months in which we secured the prestigious FIA Formula One British Grand Prix,” said Simon Gillett the Chief Executive Officer, adding, “Mr Gill is pursuing other interests and we wish him every success. The move is part of the planned re-structuring of the company as it turns its attention fully towards the future, working towards the development of the circuit and the running of the 2010 British Grand Prix.”

As expected, the plans released for the upgraded track see the much-loved Craner curves remain unchanged, with the layout, designed by renowned architect Hermann Tilke, features a new loop exiting the old Goddards corner. The startline will be moved to Starkey's Straight, with the main straight extending from Coppice to the Melbourne Hairpin, straight-lining the old Fogarty Esses. The old main straght will also be altered slightly, in order to facilitate the exit from the new loop.

Here is the proposed layout: