Hillclimb ace takes hot seat at Rockingham

In the second management shake-up in three months, the 51-year-old has been appointed as Chief Executive of the new facility. The combined oval and road course is currently nearing completion on a 300-acre former British Steel brownfield site, near Corby in Northamptonshire. It will host its opening event on May 26 and the American FedEx Champ Car series in September.

Grace will join Rockingham in February on the completion of his commitments to Scottish and Newcastle Breweries. He has worked in the pub and leisure industry, initially with Grand Met and Allied Breweries, then at Scottish and Newcastle Breweries where he was the Managing Director responsible for a £300 million operation.

"I'm delighted to be offered the chance to become involved with one of the most exciting leisure projects in Great Britain," said Grace. "Rockingham is now facing the challenges of moving from its planning and construction phase to becoming a profitable operating business. I'm looking forward to working with our management team to ensure the ongoing success of the project, offering our customers top class facilities and great entertainment."

Grace is joined on the Rockingham management team by Nigel Reed, who is appointed Finance Director. Reed has previously worked for Thomas Cook, where he was Group Finance Director, as well as bringing automotive experience with Ford, Perkins Engines and Haden MacLellan Holdings plc to the venture.

"I am delighted that two individuals with such outstanding business records have agreed to be appointed to these important posts," said Peter Middleton, Executive Chairman of Rockingham Motor Speedway. "This is a big project that has a number of different facets. Until now the emphasis has been on the design and build of the facility, what we now require are people to develop the profitable leisure management of the business which Rockingham will generate. David and Nigel are ideally qualified to lead those activities."