Despite his company going into administration and Silverstone representatives saying they are close to securing a 10-year deal with Bernie Ecclestone, Donington's Simon Gillett remains confident that he might yet win through.

Having run out of time in which to raise the required £135m, Gillett's Donington Ventures Leisure Limited - which already appeared to have hit the buffers - then suffered further calamity with the news that it was to go into administration.

However, Gillett refuses to give in and insists that he might yet secure a deal to take the race to the Leicestershire venue.

"As far as I see it there are two tracks competing," he said, according to Metro, "so in my mind that makes it 50-50. As Bernie said last week, if someone comes in now and invests in Donington the chance is still there.

"The administrators are working hard and if we had the money we would have the 17-year agreement," he continued before claiming: "There are half-a-dozen people interested at the moment, from different backgrounds, with different ideas and intentions. From a location point of view and a fans' point of view, everything about Donington makes it a viable circuit."