If Hammond and May Leave, What Happens to Dunsfold?

"AJ Feldman (alecmets2011)" (alecmets2011) 03/25/2015 at 16:07 • Filed to: None

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I was never sure who exactly owned the track. Dunsfold the town? The BBC? Someone else?

If the BBC owns it, would they sell it? Other plans? I'm curious

dogisbadob > AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) 03/25/2015 at 16:09

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Isn't the BBC just going to make Top Gear with new hosts?

djmt1 > AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) 03/25/2015 at 16:12

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Yeah the BBC own it. Clarkson has been trying to get the tracked moved further north for years so I don't see them having a problem getting rid of it. That said the track is pretty busy these days with "Top Gear experience" track days. If I had to guess, its fate will be the location of the new BBC land.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) 03/25/2015 at 16:13

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I thought that Dunsfold was still an airfield of sorts. Very minor, but I'm pretty sure it is still used occasionally.

In any case, it's private property. The BBC just rents it for Top Gear when they need to do a shoot.

PanchoVilleneuve ST > AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) 03/25/2015 at 16:13

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It continues on as an airport like it always has.

AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) > dogisbadob 03/25/2015 at 16:18

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We don't know that yet. Plus, it's be very hard for them to do it with THREE new hosts. Not impossible, but it would likely be a failure.

ranwhenparked > AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) 03/25/2015 at 16:21

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If you're talking about the whole property, a real estate development firm called Rutland Group owns it, the BBC just leases space for the Top Gear studios, offices, and test track. There's several other business tenants on the site, too.

AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) > PanchoVilleneuve ST 03/25/2015 at 16:21

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A VERY minor one. I still haven't gotten a clear answer on who exactly owns it, but even if the BBC just rents, that probably is Dunsfold's main source of income. Without TG, It wouldn't surprise me at all if it had to be sold or even abandoned to some extent (more unlikely)

AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) > ranwhenparked 03/25/2015 at 16:25

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But is the BBC the primary tenant? I would think so.

Without the BBC, would Dunsfold have enough income to survive?

It'd be very cool if someone else bought it or leased the race track part. Mainly because it's one of few remaining tracks without a noise limit

Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy > AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) 03/25/2015 at 16:32

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The BBC just rents the track and that hangar out. Dunsfold will continue to operate as a minor airport and test facility for McLaren. And if Top Gear doesn't continue now that all three hosts are gone, then that leaves it open to be used by whatever show Clarkson/May/Hammond do next.

nermal > AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) 03/25/2015 at 16:39

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I would think the BBC will keep it for whatever "next Top Gear" turns out to be. If not, then the owners would be wise to capitalize on its notoriety and use it for a tourist attraction.

"Come drive the *former* Top Gear test track!"

ranwhenparked > AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) 03/25/2015 at 17:05

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This is it as it is now. The blue dotted line is the Top Gear track. The BBC has one of the red warehouse buildings by the track on the upper right and a few temporary office trailers next to it.

And this is Rutland's master plan for the site, which they've been pursuing for years regardless of what does or doesn't happen to Top Gear.

AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) > ranwhenparked 03/25/2015 at 17:09

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Rutland's plan makes me want to cry

Groagun > AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) 03/25/2015 at 23:44

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Currently there is a plan to expand the airport facilities, not for air flight purposes but for on site manufacturing and test facilities for automotive companies. I know of one in particular.

AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) > Groagun 03/26/2015 at 07:59

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Yes. The one who likes to name their cars like 90s cell phones

Groagun > AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) 03/26/2015 at 20:30

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? Not the one I'm thinking of, I think.

AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) > Groagun 03/26/2015 at 20:41

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MP4-12C?

Groagun > AJ Feldman (alecmets2011) 03/27/2015 at 00:51

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No not them, it's another all together. McLaren is already a client at the track, I'm not sure what if any permanent facilities they have however.

This new client would be taking both production and R&D/Technical facilities.