Green light for MSV's Donington Park takeover

MotorSport Vision’s takeover of Donington park has been given the green light following approval from the Competition and Markets Authority.

The group, which already owns Brands Hatch, Cadwell Park, Oulton Park, Snetterton and Bedford Autodrome and owns the MCE British Superbike Championhip, reached an agreement in January with Kevin Wheatcroft, the owner and operator of Donington Park, to lease the Donington Park estate for an initial 21-year term.

However, following a referral to the CMA, the firm weren’t allowed to be involved in the operation of the circuit. That is no longer the case with the CMA today announcing that it has ‘unconditionally cleared’ the acquisition.

Speaking of the news, MSV Chief Executive Jonathan Palmer said: “I am delighted that the CMA has decided to clear MSV’s purchase of the Donington Park circuit business at the initial, Phase 1 level. Whilst it has been frustrating to put our plans on hold whilst we awaited this decision, we have never doubted that Donington’s customers and end users will benefit significantly from MSV’s much greater investment in all aspects of the venue, and the associated improvement in the customer experience both in terms of service and value.

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“My management team at MSV are all very excited about the potential of Donington Park and we are planning a great new era for the circuit. We now look forward to immediately getting to work with the existing Donington personnel in order to achieve this.

It’s understood MSV have big plans for Donington in the future years, not least with the recent news that the British round of MotoGP is up for grabs after series bosses tore up a deal with the Circuit of Wales. While Silverstone remains in a strong position to take the event forward, Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta told MCN they would discuss the future with Donington too.  

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