Doubts have emerged over plans to involve Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone in the redevelopment of Silverstone after a new twist in the power struggle at the British Racing Drivers' Club.

Rebel member Harry Stiller, an ex-Formula Three champion, unveiled a deal with Ecclestone as part of his efforts to remove the BRDC board.

That proposal was for an equal partnership to share the cost of rebuilding Silverstone, which the BRDC own, and promoting the British Grand Prix.

But it is understood Ecclestone has privately denied agreeing to such a deal, while Stiller has moved to postpone the vote of no confidence in the BRDC board which he initiated.

Stiller contacted BRDC chairman Stuart Rolt on Friday, proposing to delay the extraordinary general meeting set for April 28, in return for payment of his £7,000-plus legal bill.

BRDC president Sir Jackie Stewart said: "He suggested he would like the EGM postponed or put off. In return for doing that he would like us to pay his legal costs.

"We do not wish to do so but it gives some idea of the kind of person we are dealing with.

"I am confused by his tactics. I rather suspect he's been told by Bernie that all the things he has said are not reality and he wants more time to pull together the proposal."

Since the Ecclestone proposal was made public last Thursday, Stewart claims no further details have been forthcoming, despite the BRDC board welcoming the plan.

"If there is a real proposal or an alternative way to go rather than leasing out the circuit to developers for a number of years, we need to know about it," the three-time world champion added.

In his six-year term as BRDC president, a role he voluntarily relinquishes later this month, Stewart has led a ceaseless campaign to find funding for vital rebuilding work at Silverstone.

If Stiller's hopes of an alliance with regular Silverstone critic Ecclestone do not come off, the Northamptonshire track faces an uncertain future.

Stewart has faced stiff opposition to his plan to fund a redevelopment by leasing the site to developers St Modwen for 150 years a dramatic step he was willing to take only after pleas to the Government fell on deaf ears.

He has met dozens of MPs and lobbied the highest-ranking politicians in the country but to no avail.

That has led to fears the British Grand Prix could be lost before action from the Government, who will dole out over £190m to Olympic sports in the run up to the 2012 Games.

The last plan to rebuild Silverstone was projected to cost £90m and safeguard the long-term future of an event which brings an estimated £42m into the local economy every year.

The costs of hosting a Grand Prix have forced promoters in Germany and Belgian heavily into debt. It is feared Silverstone, which among other bills spends almost £500,000 a year on traffic police, could struggle to balance the books.

Stewart said: "What we are asking for is a pittance to try to improve Silverstone to retain the Grand Prix and provide the public with the facilities they deserve."