Jaguar Land Rover’s plan to take over the Silverstone circuit appear to have reached an impasse – and the stumbling block was reportedly placed by a rival automaker.
This automaker, according to the report from British newspapers The Telegraph, is Porsche. Although the German manufacturer has not put in a counter-offer, it operates one of its driving experience programs at the track. A clause in its contract precludes the track from being used by another automaker, so Porsche is understandably unwilling to relinquish that condition.
The home of Formula One’s British Grand Prix, among numerous other events, is owned by the British Racing Drivers Club. But while the facility turns a profit, the BRDC lacks the capital to invest in the track’s improvement.
JLR, in response, submitted a bid valued at £33m to take over control of the circuit and its adjoining facilities. The Indian-owned, UK-based automaker reportedly planned to similarly use the track for customer experiences, while also relocating its headquarters to the facility and building a hotel and museum on site.
Ginetta owner Lawrence Tomlinson has reportedly put in a bid of his own that may be favored by some BRDC members, particularly if the JLR offer falls through. It remains to be seen, however, whether Porsche would raise the same objection. Ginetta is primarily a racing car constructor and race organizer, but has been known to offer road cars from time to time – albeit on a much smaller scale than either Porsche or Jaguar Land Rover.
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