Donington set for British GP?

The East Midlands venue has been approached by Brands Hatch - which owns the rights to the race - to discuss hosting the event.

The plan comes amid fears that the Brands Hatch circuit may not granted the planning permission that is necessary to bring it up to Formula 1 standards.

F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone claims he would offer no objection to the race being moved to Donington Park but said the track would have to be modernised since its last Grand Prix in 1993.

Speaking to AUTOSPORT: "They've said they may be able to get together and have the race in Donington.

"If Donington brings up their standard, yeah (I'd be happy).

"They say they're going to. They reckon they can spend whatever it takes to do it. Everything's possible."

Donington's managing director, Robert Fearnall, confirmed that talks with Brands' US owner, Octagon, had taken place but said the circuit's chances of staging a race were still an "awfully long way off".

The circuit has already started work on improving the standard of its facilities by spending £1m on increasing the gravel traps at Coppice and McLeans corners.