Former F1 world champion Damon Hill is fighting to return the British Grand Prix to Silverstone.

Silverstone's failure to retain the British Grand Prix is far from a mystery.

There are three elements to it: Bernie Ecclestone, the British Racing Drivers' Club and the Government.

Ecclestone, or so the story goes, once approached the BRDC with the offer of financial assistance to help redevelop Silverstone, but in no uncertain terms he was told to hurry along.

It has been said Ecclestone then maintained a grudge, and so when the chance arose for him to slate Silverstone's facilities, he never missed.

Finally, refusing to listen to their promises any longer, he opted to jump into bed with Donington Park, putting the boot in with an announcement during last year's British Grand Prix weekend.

As for the BRDC, the old boys network with too many indians and not enough chiefs, dithered and dallied for years before finally moving with the times.

An executive board, known as Silverstone Holdings may have been in place for the last two and a half years, but despite their efforts they have always been faced with an uphill battle due to the lack of Government support and financial assistance.

Silverstone does profit from staging the British Grand Prix, but nowhere near enough to fund the multi-million pound development demanded by Ecclestone for it to fall into line with other ultra-modern circuits around the world.

Those governments not only found the money to build their facility, but also to pay Ecclestone the 25 to 30 millions dollars he demands each year just to stage the race.

No wonder BRDC president and 1996 Formula One world champion Damon Hill admits the club have been caught in a vicious circle over the years.

"This is one of the most profitable events on the circuit," said Hill.

"We're good business; we've high ticket prices, sell-out crowds over three days, so it's a big do.

"But in comparison to a subsidised event, such as Australia and many others where the government recognises its value in economic terms, we're only able to afford on our commercial model.

"We have done very well to provide the maximum we can for Formula One, and also to survive as a business.

"But it's not the highest payer, and the reason is simply because I am not king and this isn't my country.

"You are comparing us to those countries who have decided a Formula One grand prix is of significant value to their economy.

"The facility being demanded (by Ecclestone) can be bought out of a more profitable deal because that is our only revenue stream.

"But then there are events that cannot afford a Formula One race, like Canada and France.

"My belief is that it is the ambition of Formula One to be funded by governments wherever it goes, to have state funding.

"If that is the case, a commercial operation (like Silverstone) doesn't fulfil that ambition."

Despite accepting the BRDC has had its faults over the years, Hill is keen to defend the organisation, insisting much of the flak to have come their way has been without foundation.

"The BRDC does not like the criticism it has had with its role regarding Silverstone," insisted Hill.

"It feels it has done an important job in developing Silverstone over a number of years, and under extremely difficult contractual conditions.

"It's all too easy to throw rocks at Silverstone, but this year we will be providing one of the best and most successful grands prix we have ever had, and we're still in business, which is the key.

"But there is not enough in the pie to take a high risk and invest in something when there isn't a reassurance that business is going to continue.

"That game was played the whole time, which prompted the question as to how we delivered the facility being demanded, but we're still going forward.

"We've the Moto GP (from next year), so Silverstone is going to carry on developing as best it can, putting itself forward as not just the best venue in the UK, but we hope one of the best circuits in the world."

And so to Donington Park next year, or so we hope, because although circuit CEO Simon Gillett this week stated he now has a 17-year deal in place to host the race - not just 10 - financial viability is still being questioned.

"We're watching the events unfold," remarked Hill.

"As the BRDC, we are obviously concerned Britain retains a grand prix, and that concern has been growing since the announcement was made last year that it's going to Donington.

"Like everyone we are seeing the problems being faced by Donington, so we are very uncertain as to whether or not this is going to be a do-able thing.

"We clearly think Silverstone is still an acceptable venue to host a grand prix, and that's not to say there has not been the will to produce an even better facility if possible.

"But economics are a factor, and the question is whether those economics accepted by Donington have been accepted in the full knowledge of what is entailed."