The Minister for Sport, Richard Caborn, has given hope to British race fans who fear for the future of Grand Prix racing at Silverstone.

In recent years British fans have experienced a roller-coater ride of emotion, with the future of the Grand Prix at Silverstone under constant threat.

At times the Silverstone saga has crossed the line descending into farce, with many good men falling by the wayside, victims of a long and bitter campaign involving not only the battle with Bernie Ecclestone but bitter internal factions.

In late 2006, the future of F1 in Britain was back in the headlines, following Ecclestone's reverlation that he had considered having Britain and France share a round of the World Championship, hosting a race in alternate years.

Speaking in Birmingham yesterday, Caborn offered hope to British race fans and Silverstone, hinting that there might be government support for the development of the Northamptonshire track.

"We really do want to see it become the international centre of excellence for performance car production," he said. "As the government, working with the industry and working with the sport, I believe we can develop Silverstone, under the guidance of Damon Hill and his colleagues at the BRDC, into one of the finest centres in the world.

"That will keep us at our pre-eminent position for many years to come," he continued. "We have the opportunity to stay as the best in the world. It is very important, but it is part of our synergy."

Speaking of the Grand Prix, which remains the highlight of Silverstone's calendar, as it is for most circuits, hence the continual price hikes by FOM, Caborn added: "We have got to see the Grand Prix as part of the development of Silverstone, not just singularly on its own."

Of course, like most politicians, Caborn doesn't actually specify what sort of help might be given, and a government which is already under attack for all manner of other - far more important - issues, such as the failings of the NHS, is hardly going to regard the future of a race track as a priority.

As for the "international centre of excellence for performance car production", cynics might point to the way in which the government has presided over the death of the British car industry period... witness the shambles that is Rover, TVR...