Hope for British GP

The British Racing Drivers’ Club is optimistic a British Grand Prix will be held at Silverstone in 2005.

The BRDC, which owns the Northamptonshire circuit, has yet to agree a contract with Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone to hold a race next year.

It must put pen to paper on a deal before tomorrow, when world governing body the FIA will release the final version of next year’s calendar.

Ecclestone and the BRDC had reached an impasse over the exact breakdown of the seven-year contract.

He wanted a one-year deal with an option for six further season while the BRDC preferred a two-year initial period.

But BRDC chairman Alex Hooton remains optimistic those differences can be ironed out before the FIA releases the 2005 schedule.