Silverstone and Donington battle for British GP 25/11/2009 |
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Silverstone boss Richard Phillips claims the track is “very, very close” to signing a deal to host next year’s British Grand Prix, but Donington’s owner Simon Gillett believes his circuit is not out of the running yet.
Donington lost a 17-year contract to host the race from next year after failing to raise the funds to redevelop the track and Bernie Ecclestone has given Silverstone a deadline of December 9 to sign a contract.
Silverstone Holdings managing director Phillips said that a deal was imminent and that he hoped it would be for at least 10 years.
“I don’t think there are any real stumbling blocks – we’re going through the last details of the deal,” he told the BBC. “I’m pretty convinced that it will be run at Silverstone next year.
“There is a lot of detail to go through, so if you make a mistake, there’s a long time to repent.
“You can come to high-level agreements quickly, but the devil is in the detail. We’re very, very close.
“We certainly would like the contract to be for more than 10 years – that’s the minimum.”
However, Gillett feels that Donington has still got a realistic chance of hosting the race even though leasing company Donington Ventures Leisure Limited is in administration.
“As far as I see it there are two tracks competing, so in my mind that makes it 50-50,” he said.
“As Bernie said last week, if someone comes in now and invests in Donington the chance is still there.
“The administrators are working hard and if we had the money we would have the 17-year agreement.
“There are half-a-dozen people interested at the moment, from different backgrounds, with different ideas and intentions.
“But from a location point of view and a fans’ point of view, everything about Donington makes it a viable circuit.”
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