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Door still open for Donington

Bernie Ecclestone has suggested next year’s British Grand Prix could yet be staged at Donington Park.

Donington Ventures Leisure Limited (DVLL), the company which held the lease over the circuit, secured a 17-year contract to host the event in July 2008 but went into administration earlier this month after missing Ecclestone’s deadline to secure £135million of funding.

But on Friday, the Formula One supremo appeared to have had a change of heart when asked by BBC Radio Derby whether the event could still take place at Donington, saying: “Definitely. If someone comes along with the right ideas and funding, then yes.”

Ecclestone has been in negotiations with Silverstone as a possible alternative venue, but there remains a chance the race may not take place at all.

“We are having a meeting in December to decide the calendar for next year,” Ecclestone said. “If nothing is in place by then, Britain will be taken off the calendar.”

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