LONDON (AFP) - Silverstone circuit owners are confident world champions Ferrari will support a bid to guarantee the British Grand Prix next year.
Every Formula One team apart from Ferrari agreed on Tuesday to cut testing by 50 percent to bear the cost of two extra races -- the British and French GPs -- in a collective agreement brokered by Formula One commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone.
Ferrari, who oppose a cut in testing, were absent from the meeting.
But the British Racing Drivers' Club who own Silverstone said they were "pretty confident" Ferrari can be persuaded to agree to the arrangement.
Alex Hootton, chief executive of BRDC, told BBC Radio: "Next year there will be 19 races, which is two more than the teams are obligated to go to.
"In order to accommodate that Mr Ecclestone, I believe, has reached an accommodation whereby he will pay them fees to turn up to two extra races and the teams have added their contribution to it by agreeing to a range of cost-cutting measures.
"The only word of caution is that Ferrari were once again not present and their compliance would be required to make this work.
"Let me put it this way we understand from the teams themselves that they are pretty confident Ferrari will come along."
Silverstone has been given a provisional date of July 3 on next year's draft schedule but a commercial deal must be agreed before the race is confirmed.
The International Automobile Federation (FIA) published a draft 19-race calendar in October which included the British, French and San Marino Grands Prix, all of which have faced the axe.
A final calendar is due to be issued on December 10.
Ecclestone is limited to 17 Grands Prix a year by contract with the teams.
This year he had a multi-million pound bill for paying the teams to participate in an 18th race.
11/10/2004 - 13:13 GMT - AFP