London is closer than ever to staging a Formula One race after funding was secured to build a circuit in the city’s East End.
Sportsmail understands US investment firm 777 Partners are working with a UK sports group on plans to host a grand prix and develop a new sports and entertainment complex at the Royal Docks in the borough of Newham.
The consortium have been in talks with F1 about introducing the London Grand Prix to the race calendar in addition to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. The proposal has the full support of London mayor Sadiq Khan, who wants to bring F1 to the capital before his second term ends in 2024.
‘We are hopeful that it is coming. We are hugely excited about it,’ said Josh Wander, founder of 777 Partners, who also own Italian football club Genoa.
‘There will be an electric atmosphere as the greatest athletes in the world, along with an international fanbase and the world’s largest companies as sponsors, descend on the Docks for race weekend.
‘More importantly, we will build a world-class sports and entertainment complex that can serve the community year-round and revitalise the surrounding areas. It is the type of thing you really can’t quantify until it actually happens, but the impact is dramatic.’
Formula One could host two grands prix in Britain, as in addition to Silverstone (above) advanced plans are also in place to stage a race in London at the Royal Docks in the East End
Sportsmail understands that funding has been provided to build the proposed circuit
London has long been mooted as a potential F1 venue, with previous proposals including a race taking in the city’s most famous landmarks, such as Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square.
But Sportsmail reported two years ago that the Royal Docks — home of events venue ExCeL London — had emerged as the most realistic site and we can now reveal that plans are at an advanced stage.
Sources insist the intention of the Docklands circuit is to host a second annual race in the UK rather than to wrestle the British Grand Prix away from Silverstone, which has a contract until 2024.
The project was delayed last year because of the Covid pandemic, but it is now firmly back on the table with Khan hoping to make
