Grand prix bridge to come down

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Dunlop Bridge, an icon synonymous with motor racing's Donington Park, is to be dismantled in preparation for the 2010 British Grand Prix.

Engineers will begin to take it down later. The pieces will be stored until a new site in the grounds is chosen.

Redevelopment got under way last month with the construction of a £750,000 access tunnel, capable of taking two lanes of HGV traffic under the track.

The work is part of a multi-million pound facelift for the circuit.

Track extension

Earlier this week, the owner of Donington Park, Simon Gillett, dismissed reports that financial problems would prevent the completion of improvements to the site in time for the British Grand Prix in 2010.

In a statement, he said: "It's business as usual at Donington Park and absolutely nothing has changed.

"Work is continuing on site and all of our staff are completely focussed on delivering a full and exciting calendar of events in 2009 ahead of our hosting the British Formula One Grand Prix in July 2010."

Planning permission was granted in January for a £100m revamp of the circuit including a new pit complex and a three-mile extension to the track.

The new facility will also feature a race control centre and a media centre.

Donington Park last hosted a grand prix in 1993 when Ayrton Senna won the European Grand Prix.