Silverstone details £45million facelift plans

Plans have already been drawn up to re-design the Northamptonshire circuit, which has become the home of the British Grand Prix, by Sepang track designer Hermann Tilke. The changes will be funded jointly by Octagon, the company that holds the rights to the British GP and has leased Silverstone for the next 15 years, the BRDC and Bernie Ecclestone's Formula One Administration company.

The plans, to be revealed on June 20, include a new state-of-the-art Formula 1 paddock on the Hangar Straight, as revealed in Autosport last December.

"The £45million is for phases one and two that will create a substantial improvement in the layout and the facilities at the circuit," said Octagon Motorsport chief executive Rob Bain. "If we get a similar amount of money from the Government then we will achieve what it would be nice to have. If we can get Government funding then the circuit would be head and shoulders above the rest of the world. If we don't get Government funding then we will still be in the top five

Bain also revealed a £250,000 plan to improve drainage at Silverstone in an attempt to avoid last year's fiasco where spectators were turned away from qualifying and got stuck in muddy car parks on raceday.

"At least we have got a July date so at least we're hopeful of improved conditions," said Bain. "The money spent on drainage and car parking should allow cars to park more easily and pass each other on the access points."

The only shadow on Silverstone's horizon at the moment is the investigation by the Complaints Commission into Octagon's ownership of the British Grand Prix, its 15-year lease of Silverstone and its possession of many of Britain's other race tracks. The commission is expected to publish its findings in August.