Hill fears for Silverstone future

Damon Hill has revealed the future of the British Grand Prix is again "hanging in the balance".

Silverstone's contract to host an event that has been on the Formula One calendar since 1950 expires after the race in 2009. Beyond that is unclear, especially as traditional European venues face being squeezed out by the number of new countries looking to join F1.

In recent years Malaysia, Bahrain and China have joined F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone's circus and Hill said: "We (Britain) are going to be negotiating what happens beyond 2009, but I would say it (the future of the race) is hanging in the balance."

"If we did lose it, it would be very difficult to get it back," added the 1996 Formula One champion and president of the British Racing Drivers' Club that owns Silverstone.

"A grand prix is a mark of a country's arrival on the economic stage, and a way for countries to show they are forging ahead. There are countries that want those traditionally western emblems and status symbols, one of which is a grand prix.

"So we are in competition now with countries we would never have considered not so long ago. But many countries have over-invested in grand prix venues and found later down the line they suffer a bit of a hangover after the party.

"It has to make economic sense to hold a grand prix, and one of the difficulties we face is that we are restricted in ways we can generate revenue. It's a matter of negotiation because we don't have certain rights because over time they have been negotiated away."

One possible solution is for Britain to alternate its place on the calendar with another European circuit.

"We should remain open to all sorts of plans," added Hill. "It would be a last resort because we want to keep Britain in the frame every year. It has had a presence in the championship since 1950, and we'd like to keep that going.

"Doing it every other year would be the thin end of the wedge. It might then become every three years. But it (alternate years) is something that could be discussed, although I feel very strongly we should have a regular race and finding a solution to making it a viable thing to do."