Ecclestone: Britain out of Grand Prix if Donington not ready in time

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Britain will lose its grand prix if Donington Park is not ready by 2010.

Bernie Ecclestone, who last week signed a 10-year deal to take race to the Leicestershire circuit, on Sunday confirmed there would be no return to Silverstone.

He said: 'We won't come back. I'm sure Donington will be ready, but if not we'll sign with another country. There won't be a British Grand Prix. Pure and simple.'

The chances of Donington being ready in time appear slim, if the contradictory evidence of the last 48 hours is any guide.

On Friday, Ecclestone confirmed a press release from Donington's owners that the £100m redevelopment of the track and surrounding roads would be bankrolled by a single donor on the board of the circuit's company.

He even said the mystery benefactor was an English businessman whom he had actually met.

But on Sunday Simon Gillett, chief executive of Donington - home of MotoGP - claimed there was no single individual to fund the project, instead saying they will launch a debenture scheme similar to Wembley.