Oct.28 (GMM) Donington’s eleventh-hour efforts to cling to its British grand prix hosting contract have entered yet another day.
Despite widespread reports that all final deadlines have now definitively elapsed, as F1’s talks with alternate venue Silverstone resume, the Daily Express newspaper said Donington chief Simon Gillett is not giving up yet.
The newspaper said Gillett has confirmed that his GP contract is still alive, after he transferred the outstanding 12 million pounds sterling to the bank account nominated by F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone.
But after Ecclestone already extended deadlines several times, Gillett’s payment may reportedly be rejected because it arrived “after close of business” on Tuesday.
Ecclestone declined to comment, but with the billionaire now also at odds with Silverstone about an alternative venue for the 2010 race, Damon Hill admits the prospect that Britain will drop off the F1 calendar altogether.
“It’s a possibility — absolutely,” the 1996 world champion, president of the Silverstone-owning British Racing Drivers’ Club, told BBC radio Five Live.
“Silverstone is not responsible to provide a grand prix, and it’s not Bernie Ecclestone’s job to give a discounted race to Britain,” added Hill.
