After being criticised that he was to drive the British Grand Prix because of financial lures from his sponsors, Damon Hill announced yesterday that he will donate all his profits of the British Grand Prix next week to charity.

Hill, who has decided after his disastrous weekend at the French Grand Prix not to see through this season and quit now, was under pressure from Benson & Hedges to race at the British Grand Prix for the last time, as that race holds vital promotional and financial importance to the English-based sponsor. B&H even offered Hill to pay him his full salary for the season should he agree to race at Silverstone, or otherwise not pay him for more than the seven races he already raced this year. When Hill took them up on their offer and announced two days ago that he will race next week, some criticism was voiced.

Now, as a result, Damon Hill announced that he will proceed all his income from the British Grand Prix to charity organisations. "I'm not doing the British Grand Prix for profit," he said. Hill, one of whose four children has Down's Syndrome, said he would give all profits made from his merchandising sales during the Grand Prix weekend to the Down's Syndrome Association and Leukaemia Research.

Hill also commented on the possibility that he might actually race further than just next week's Grand Prix. "If I was a second faster than the Ferraris and McLarens then I'd probably keep going," he said. "But as we stand, this is my last race. I've always wanted to be competitive, I've always wanted to win. But I can't spend all my life at a race circuit. I have four children and they need my time and it's not fair on them or my wife to deprive them of that."

Hill is currently testing at Silverstone, along with teammate Heinz Harald Frentzen. Yesterday, Hill was almost a second faster than Frentzen in the morning session, but about half a second slower than the German in the overall time for the day. None the less, Hill said he enjoyed being back in the car, and feels confident he could do well on his last race, on his home track. "I don't need to prove anything, but I've had a great time this morning," said Hill. "I've felt fantastic in the car. It's the first time I've enjoyed it all year, which is partly because a few things we started changing on the car are coming through, and I'm confident at the moment."