UK ELMS/ALMS date on the cards

Donington Park and another unnamed British circuit are the two tracks in contention to fill the April 14 date, which will count towards both series.

Scott Atherton, president of the series-organising Panoz Motor Sports Group, admitted that negotiations with Donington were ongoing. But he refused to reveal whether the second track in the frame was Silverstone or Brands Hatch.

The former hosted one of two ELMS pilot races this year and was pencilled in for a round in July 2001 prior to the track's blue riband event, the British Grand Prix, returning to its traditional date.

Brands, which last hosted an international sportscar race in 1996, is also known to have expressed an interest in running the event.

Atherton explained that a race in Britain was one of his targets: "The United Kingdom has a significant place in the world of sportscar racing," he explained. "The number of teams and constructors that come from Britain prove it is a market in which we belong."

Atherton said that a race in Britain was not yet a certainty: "We can't say that until we have a deal signed."