Palmer eyeing buy-out bid for Silverstone

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Jonathan Palmer has said that he would be interested in making a bid to buy the Silverstone Circuit from current owners the British Racing Drivers Club.

The BRDC says that it needs to sell the circuit because of mounting losses and a lack of capital reserves, despite the British Grand Prix proving to be one of the year's best-attended race with 139,000 fans turning out for July's race.

A deal valuing Silverstone at £33 million was reached with Jaguar Land Rover in April, but rival manufacturer Porsche has reportedly used an existing contract with Silverstone to block the planned sale.

With the situation apparently stalled, the BRDC is understood to have reopened negotiations with another possible purchaser, businessman Lawrence Tomlinson whose LNT Group owns sports car manufacturer Ginetta.

Now Palmer has also indicated an interest in buying the facility. A former Formula One driver and father of current Renault star Jolyon, Palmer is also majority shareholder and chief executive of MotorSport Vision which owns Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, Cadwell Park and Snetterton.

"We are definitely interested in making an offer and have a lot of confidence in our ability to bring a great deal of stability to it and a vision for the future," Palmer told the Daily Telegraph this weekend.

"On a number of occasions I have said that MSV would be interested in running Silverstone," he said. "The BRDC hasn’t approached me, but I’ve told them that I certainly want the opportunity to be invited to put a deal forward.

"Apparently a teaser document has been sent out but nothing has been received by MSV," he added. "My view has always been that an open tender process is needed to ensure the BRDC is achieving the best result for members."

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