Donington Park insists grand prix will go ahead next year
Simon Gillett is adamant he will not require Bernie Ecclestone's safety net and Donington Park will host next year's British Grand Prix.
British Racing Drivers' Club chairman Robert Brooks yesterday expressed his grave concern the race could be lost forever if Gillett is forced to take up Ecclestone's offer of a sabbatical.
Ecclestone recently announced if Donington was unable to stage the event due to delays in their multi-million pound redevelopment, it could take a year off before returning to the calendar in 2011.
Brooks, whose organisation owns Silverstone which on Sunday will run their last British Grand Prix, cast doubts on Donington's business model and does not believe they will be ready for 2010.
Pouring cold water on Brooks' remarks, and speaking to PA Sport in the Silverstone paddock, Gillett said: "Robert has his business plans and he is understanding of what can happen.
"But we have ours, and if they differ, they differ, although the ones he specifically commented on were generated by IMG.
"They are the world's largest sports marketing company, understood by Max (Mosley) and Bernie (Ecclestone), and everyone who has seen them in detail understands them.
"IMG have generated it, and believe in it. They have done it for Wembley, for Twickenham, many stadiums around the world.
"Right now, we're on track. We're in our financing round which will close by the end of July. That's just to give ourselves some space.
"In March our funding source hit the buffers. So now we are in a position where we have come from zero to about 0.9 on a 10-point plan, but we are moving forward.
"We've the right calibre of people in there, and enough of them to give us comfort that we will have it sorted by the end of July.
"Last week we broke ground on the pits and paddock. We've started the ground work there, so the construction is looking good.
"So will we be ready for next year? I know we will, absolutely, 100% for definite.
"Bernie has given us a safety net, and it's a hell of a safety net, but we're confident we will be there for 2010.
"To have it, though, if something untoward happens - and based on the news this morning anything can happen in this sport - then it does help."
Gillett is also unperturbed by the threat of a breakaway series as a watered-down F1, with no Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton or Jenson Button would greatly affect the marketability of a race at Donington.
"We're kind of reeling from the news," added Gillett.
"But reason will break out. It's a 60-year-old sport, a massive global brand, and I don't think anyone has the appetite to break it up for the hell of it.
"So I think compromise will happen, they will walk to the middle, mediate, go forward and we will have the same cars on the grid for next year."
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