Owners of Donington Park want flights from East Midlands Airport to be restricted during the British Grand Prix in 2010.

Racetrack boss Simon Gillett says the skies should be clear at peak times when Bernie Ecclestone brings the Formula One roadshow to Castle Donington for the first time.

He said this would allow the many people who would come to the event by helicopter, private plane or jet to get there without problems.

Mr Gillett said he was in talks with the airport about severely restricting air traffic over the three days of the grand prix – and even suspending it on occasion.

He said: "We are working with them to ensure we minimise their traffic. We don't necessarily have to fully close them, but we are thinking when the race is on, no one is going to be flying in or out.

"The idea is that at peak times the airport has exclusive use for Formula One and us."

A car ban is set to apply to 90,000 of the anticipated 100,000 visitors, with people taking the train to the East Midlands Parkway Station – under construction near Ratcliffe-on-Soar.

Only VIPs and those who need their cars, such as the disabled, will be able to drive to the track, which is just off the M1.

However, airport managers said as far as it was concerned, they would be open on the day.

A spokesman said: "There are no discussions to close at this time. As far as we are concerned we will carry on as normal."

Councillor Nicholas Rushton, county council cabinet member for highways, said: "As far as I am concerned, they (Donington Park) are completely and utterly bonkers. East Midlands Airport is completely commercially run and I would be surprised if they would agree to stop their flights."

However, Mr Gillett insists planning permission to improve the circuit ahead of the 2010 British Grand Prix is "in the bag".

North West Leicestershire District Council is due to deliver its verdict on Mr Gillett's £100 million masterplan on January 8.

"We have done it on a calculated risk, but we are confident we have the planning in the bag," he said. "It's not as if we've not worked with the council. We've been in consultation with them, and we're recommended for approval, so we're going there on January 8 expecting to walk out with a piece of paper."