Despite the threat of moving the British Grand Prix to Donington, or even removing Britain from the calendar altogether, British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) President Damon Hill is confident for the future of the race at the Northamptonshire track.

"I am 100 percent confident that we have got what it takes to deliver a venue that F1 and the UK will be proud of", said Hill yesterday as a three-day pre-GP test came to an end. "But it's a mistake to think anything is a foregone conclusion. My experience is that you should never make some presumptions. But F1 benefits from being in the UK. We are at the forefront of technology, and we have the drivers and teams. You would be hard pressed to find another F1 venue with such strength in depth.

"A tremendous amount of work has gone in to Silverstone, getting it to the position where it's teed up to become a leading centre for world motorsport," he continued. "The circuit is ideally placed for Formula One and for all motorsport. We also have ambitions to fulfil the objectives of the government - to provide education, vocational training and also promote the UK. We believe we have everything in place to make us a very strong candidate for a Grand Prix contract and potential investment.

"Our planning application for a new Pit and Paddock complex has been approved, but it's one step at a time," he added. "The negotiations with Bernie and Formula One Management are ongoing and, I expect, won't come to a conclusion until the final hour - whenever that is. It's going round in circles, but the circles are getting smaller and I think we're getting closer to the final stage. We're definitely making progress, and it's foot by foot, rather than inch by inch."