It is claimed that there are as many as three potential buyers for Donington following the collapse of plans to take the British Grand Prix there.

While Silverstone celebrates a new deal with Bernie Ecclestone which will see the British Grand Prix remain at the Northamptonshire venue until 2026, Donington, which had previously secured a 17-year deal, is left in tatters little more than a vast building site.

However, following the collapse of Simon Gillett's Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd, which has now gone into administration, Nigel Price, a partner at Begbies Traynor, administrator for the Derbyshire track, remains optimistic for the future as he seeks a buyer for the 150-year lease.

"Obviously we are disappointed at the news from Silverstone," he admitted to the Derbyshire Telegraph. "There is a break clause on either side of 10 years, so that closes the door on Formula One at Donington in that time scale.

"However, we are still in negotiations with three parties with a view to Donington continuing to operate as a national and club circuit," he added. "We are hopeful a deal can be done by the end of this week."

In addition to losing the Grand Prix, Donington has also lost the British round of the MotoGP championship to its Northamptonshire track.