Mar.5 (GMM) Damon Hill, boss of the British grand prix venue Silverstone, has called on the FIA to help convince Bernie Ecclestone that formula one needs the event on its permanent calendar.

The British Racing Drivers' Club, led by 1996 world champion Hill, this week released computer rendered images of a proposed revamp of the ageing Northamptonshire facility, amid Ecclestone's demands for a better circuit and higher promotion fees.

Hill is hopeful that work on the futuristic track upgrade - pending planning permission - will begin shortly after this year's running of the F1 race, in time for the last contracted GP in 2009.

But he has also pleaded with the Max Mosley-led governing body to participate in the contractual discussions about 2010 and beyond with Formula One Management (FOM), of whom commercial supremo Ecclestone is chief executive.

"(F1) needs the traditional venues to provide a history and prestige which help," Hill told the British newspaper Daily Express.

"Each country has its own case to make but Britain is a very valuable marketplace for F1 and if the FIA could make that case to the FOM to improve the conditions of the contract, then that would be helpful," he added.