Silverstone willing to host 2010 British GP

Silverstone is still hoping Donington's plans for the 2010 British Grand Prix fail and Bernie Ecclestone agrees to keep the race at the historic track.

Ecclestone, the F1 chief executive, has penned a 17-year-old deal with Donington beginning in 2010, and warned that if the Leicestershire venue is not ready for next summer, the British GP will sit off the calendar for a year rather than stay at Silverstone.

Ahead of theoretically the last Formula One race at the circuit, Silverstone owner the BRDC's chairman Robert Brooks raised the prospect that Donington will indeed be unable to deliver its promises.

"We have looked at Donington's plans," he said. "The idea they could fund 100m pounds (sterling) on the back of debentures does not stack up.

"On the other hand, we could demonstrably hold next year's race because we are holding this year's race," Brooks added.

Silverstone is also leaving the door open to hosting a round of FOTA's breakaway series.

Former Ferrari and Jaguar driver, 1999 championship runner-up Eddie Irvine, also doubts Donington's ability to follow through its plans to come up to Ecclestone's high standards.

"If Silverstone can't make the numbers add up - and they have the infrastructure already in place - then Donington won't," the Ulsterman told Sky News.