Formula One news

Hill: "Silverstone could keep British GP"

Damon Hill has hinted that Silverstone could have the opportunity to retain its place on the Formula One calendar should Donington Park not be able to host the British Grand Prix as of next season. News yesterday revealed that the Derbyshire venue's owners are looking to collect debts of approximately £2.47 million from leaseholders.

Damon Hill, BRDC President

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has warned that, in the event of Donington not holding the Grand Prix next year, we will see no race in Britain for the first time ever. "If Donington can't put on the British Grand Prix then that's it, we will be leaving Britain," Formula One commercial rights holder Ecclestone said in Bahrain, also stressing that Silverstone has made too many unkept promises.

Damon Hill, however, states that - as head of the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) - he has been in talks with Mr. Ecclestone with regards to Silverstone retaining a position on the calendar after this season.

"We've had communications," Hill told the BBC. "There's always been an open line of communication between ourselves and Bernie; we're very keen on Formula One and Silverstone has a long history with Formula One, so we've always tried to keep the door open." The Northamptonshire track hosted the first ever F1 race in 1950, which was won by Giuseppe Farina and Alfa Romeo.

The Silverstone circuit is soon set for a makeover

"Some countries are happy to pay, as a government, for a Formula One event because they believe it provides benefits for their country and economy," 1996 Champion Hill continued, in response to Ecclestone's comments that the British government should input funds for the event.

"In a free market - if you're arguing there's a market out there for Grands Prix and that his job is to get the best price he possibly can - if he is doing his job properly, he would take the highest bidder; therefore that's the criteria for getting a Grand Prix. On the other hand, if it's a proper free market then the business should run on proper free market principles, which would not require it to receive government investment."

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