Members of the British Racing Drivers’ Club, the owners Silverstone, the home of the British Grand Prix, voted by an 80% majority to make available 97 acres of the 760 acre site for sale or lease for development. Sunday Times

This is a vote of confidence in the club’s ‘masterplan’ to raise the money for the Northamptonshire circuit’s upgrading and may help it to retain the British Grand Prix after its contract with Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone expires in 2009. Ecclestone has demanded a new pits complex and media centre.

Recent unsolicited offers to buy Silverstone have been rejected.