Formula One news

Hill: Donington a 'high-risk strategy'

Damon Hill's doubts remain over Donington Park being home of the British Grand Prix from 2010 onwards. The East Midlands venue is due to be hosting the event for the first time next year although Hill, head of the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC), believes that Silverstone may remain on the calendar.

With both FIA president Max Mosley and F1 commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone having assured that the British Grand Prix will remain on the calendar next season, the only question marks remaining are those hovering over the two venues' chances. "I think there has been a lot of scepticism, and perhaps justified scepticism, of Donington's claim to be ready for 2010," BRDC president Hill told Autosport. "Everyone's anxiously watching that space because it may be that there won't be a venue available to host the British Grand Prix in 2010."

Hill sees completion of the Donington project as a potential struggle

With Silverstone looking to be waving goodbye to F1 on the run-up to this year's event, the 1996 World Champion has praised the organisation of the weekend. "I think everyone at Silverstone did a superb job," Hill continued. "Richard Phillips (managing director of Silverstone Circuits Ltd) should take an enormous amount of credit for managing that but also, of course, in the last two years we've had two British drivers in contention for the championship which helps put bums on seats."

With Donington Park still under intense development work in order to bring the circuit up to Formula One standards, Hill is watching on. "The thought that the British Grand Prix could be in jeopardy because of, let's call it a high-risk strategy, is actually worrying because Britain has shown over the years that it is one of the greatest supporters of Grand Prix racing and of motorsport in the world," Hill concluded. "It doesn't seem to be right that there should be any doubt over that."

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