South-west firm Bond Pearce advised Donington Park race track on the deal that will make it home to the British Grand Prix for ten years from 2010.

The deal was struck between Donington’s owners and Bernie Ecclestone’s Formula One Management, which was advised in-house. Formula One’s governing body, the FIA, has approved the deal.

Bond Pearce partner Julian Hamblin said lawyers hurried to get the deal done so Ecclestone could announce Donington’s scoop before last Sunday’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone. ‘The main challenge was to get all the deals tied up in time so the announcement could be made at Silverstone,’ he said.

Representatives from Silverstone were simultaneously looking for a renewal of their contract. However, FIA president Max Mosley said negotiations with Silverstone’s owners had proved ‘fruitless’.

The East Midlands circuit is now planning a five-year, £100m development programme.