Silverstone's owners are doing their best to keep the British Grand Prix on the Formula One calendar, former champion Damon Hill said today. "It's moving along, that's all I can say," the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) president told reporters after contract talks with Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The BRDC own Silverstone, the World War Two airfield circuit that hosted the first championship race in 1950 and had been due to hand over to Donington Park next year after that track secured a 17 year deal. Donington's hopes disappeared this week when they were declared in breach of contract for failing to come up with the necessary funds to develop the circuit as promised, putting Silverstone back in the frame.

The BRDC have baulked in the past at Ecclestone's terms and in particular a reported "escalator clause" in the contract which sees an annual increase in the hosting fees. The Briton has ruled out a special deal for Silverstone when he has other would-be hosts elsewhere clamouring for a race and offering far more luxurious facilities.

"We've got to sort this out, and I think Bernie's been very helpful," said Hill, who refused to set any deadlines for securing what is a home race for many of the teams as well as the last two world champions Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.

Hill also said: “But we're a small player. As a venue operator, we operate with a pretty tiny margin and we have to be careful," added the 1996 champion. There is no backstop for us. We don't have a safety net. It has got to be within those defined limits somehow. Both of us have to be flexible and try and find a solution, and that's what is happening.

"Bernie is adamant that his product, globally, can fetch a fee well in excess of what he sees the UK contributing," said Hill. "My argument would be that the UK contributes in many other ways, and that in the absence of state-funding there has to be some recognition of the efforts made by Silverstone and the BRDC to be partners in this business, in this sport."- Reuters