Donington plans still need official approval

On the day British Grand Prix winner Lewis Hamilton expressed his regret that Formula One's most historic race is to move from Silverstone to Donington Park in 2010, a senior council chief has revealed that the proposed new £100million super-circuit at Donington does not yet have planning permission.

Any delay in giving the green light to the extensive rebuilding of the midlands venue could jeopardise the controversial project and Damon Hill, president of the British Racing Drivers' Club who own Silverstone, insisted the days of his track hosting the British Grand Prix were not necessarily numbered.

Hamilton described Silverstone as "a phenomenal circuit" and said: "I will be sad not to have a race there. You have some circuits that you prefer more than others - and this is one of my favourite circuits."

Richard Blunt, leader of the North West Leicestershire District Council, which administers the Donington area, welcomed the boost the Grand Prix would bring to the local economy. But he added: "There is, though, an awful lot of work needed in the next few months. The announcement suggests that there will be significant building work needed on the site and clearly this will require planning permission. At present we have not received plans for the site."

Those comments will fuel concerns that Donington will not be ready for

2010. And Bernie Ecclestone, the F1 supremo who has signed a 10-year contract with Donington co-owner Simon Gillett, conceded it is possible for Donington and Silverstone to come to a private business agreement for Silverstone to retain the race.

Hill said: "There's certainly a feeling that we don't think we're completely out of the hunt yet. We've got a fantastic facility and the government has already spent quite a considerable amount of money investing in the infrastructure.

"We're still here, and we'll still be here for motor sport."

Gillett, who intends to raise much of the cost of rebuilding Donington through the sale of public debentures, insisted the deadline of 2010 will be met.