A £250m plan for a Formula 1 track in the centre of London has been revitalised, according to The Times.
A ‘London Grand Prix’ could reportedly be set to join the Formula 1 calendar as soon as 2026 as part of a project to develop the Royal Docks area into a new waterfront destination.
Designed to ‘maximise overtaking’, the proposed 3.64-mile circuit in London’s Docklands has been likened to the Circuit de Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal and would feature 22 corners and an average speed of 127mph.
The track would include floating grandstands meaning that around 95,000 spectators could attend and watch the race.
The report states that talks have already been held between consultancy firm DAR and built environment experts LDN Collective, who are behind the project, the Greater London Authority, which owns most of the land in the area, and Formula One owner, Liberty Media.
Max Farrell, Chief Executive of LDN Collective told The Times, “There’s a general level of support for the idea. Obviously, there’s a lot to work to go through in terms of the practicalities and the planning, but if the political will is there, we believe that this is a very credible and deliverable proposition.”
However, it is expected that further private investment will also be needed to bring the multi-million-pound project to life.
Although Formula 1 would be the headline of the new complex’s offering, it would also serve as a community leisure and entertainment hub all year round, which would include cycling tracks, running paths, playgrounds and tennis courts, as well as several bars, restaurants and hotels.
A planning application by Dar and LDN could be submitted within the next 12 months, with the group confident that with planning consent, the site could be ready to host a Grand Prix by 2026.
It’s still not known where the London Grand Prix would fit into the Formula 1 season and whether it would put the British Grand Prix at Silverstone at risk.
Image Credit: DAR LDN
