2006 British F3 champion Mike Conway will drive for Super Nova in GP2 in 2007, alongside series returnee Luca Filippi.

“Super Nova is one of the big names and I am very happy to be with David (Sears, team boss) and I am looking forward to a good year,” said Conway.

“I won the British (F3) championship in style this year and then took victory in Macau, which was a fantastic end to a fantastic season.”

After success in 2005 with Adam Carroll, Super Nova ran Jose Maria Lopez and Fairuz Fauzy in 2006, with less than happy results.

Richard Caborn, Minister for Sport, has pledged Government help for Silverstone in securing the future of the British Grand Prix.

Caborn said that the issue was not just about finance, but also in clearing potential red tape and procedural matters that should help ease Silverstone’s future.

“There is some funding there, but it is not just about money,” he explained. “It is about how you get the planning in there. How do you get the development there? how do you get universities there?

“We are working with Silverstone in the development of the plans and we helped very much with the road network, and we will be looking at what is necessary to develop in both the terms of the planning and development, but also how we can encourage higher education to be a major partner in that.

“There are a number of areas where a strong partnership between industry, the sport and government are necessary and we are determined to do that.”

Last year Bernie Ecclestone suggested that Silverstone and Magny Cours could alternate on the F1 calendar.

Renault’s R27 has run for the first time at Silverstone with test driver Nelson Piquet Jr at the wheel. Bad weather meant that Piquet was only able to complete 20km. Giancarlo Fisichella will carry out the first proper shakedown of the new car at Jerez next week.