Monday 13th December 2004

Silverstone wins five year reprieve

British GP saved for £60m cost plus FOS 2005 clash

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Silverstone has been restored to the Formula One calendar for at least the next five years. The track's owner, the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC), has reached a deal with F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone that includes the organisation spending £60m on new facilities, starting immediately. Underpinning this is the £30m that each GP event brings to the local economy.

The BRDC has already started talking to commercial developers who will be asked to tender for 750,000 square feet of commercial space including hotel facilities on the 800-acre site. It's also talking to the East Midlands Development Agency and local authorise about its plans and how best to weave its way through the various planning regulations. This is separate from the £4m that the BRDC plans to spend on a new engineering centre for use for R&D by local motorsport businesses.

However, Ecclestone has reportedly warned that unless facilities are improved, the deal will end after the agreed five years -- there will be no more British Grand Prix. It's even mooted that the track layout will be redesigned as part of the redevelopment plan.

Meanwhile, 2005's new date for the British GP has been shifted from its original slot on 3 July to 10 July. While this doesn't clash with Wimbledon, motorsport fans may find it annoying that it forces them to choose between either an F1 race or attending the Goodwood Festival of Speed, which happens on the same weekend.

More on the F1 situation: www.itv-f1.com/Home.aspx

More about the Goodwood FOS: www.goodwood.co.uk/2004/fos/news.asp

[zumbruk]

Boring procession of identical cars headed by M Schumacher or the Goodwood FoS? No contest.

[MGV8]

Mr E whats all the circits to sigh up so the teams and not leave and setup there own F1!

[JonRB]

As I mentioned in another thread, this is just like the panto season.

"The British GP is on"
"Oh no it isn't"
"Oh yes it is!"
"Oh no it isn't"
"Oh yes it is!"

"Look behind you - it's the evil dwarf"
"Where?"
"Behind you!"

etc. etc.

[rude-boy]

Don't worry - i would have thought that the nice Lord March will change the date of the FofS PDQ.

Lets face it one of the main attractions has been the F1 drives and cars close to the fans

[skinny]

why change the circuit - is there a circuit left that the drivers actually enjoy?

[agent006]

"However, Ecclestone has reportedly warned that unless facilities are improved, the deal will end after the agreed five years"

That would imply him still being in control of the sport by then.

[Eric Mc]

Lord March is changing his dates.

There will be an announcement from Goodwood sometime this week.

[oppressed mass]

Maybe we should suggest Mr E gets a scalextric set and two of each car. Then he can put them all in the same groove and watch them follow each each other nose to tail for 2 hours. He can even change his track layouts without having to ask.

More importantly the rest of us can follow some proper motorsport....maybe WSB or similar..



>> Edited by oppressed mass on Tuesday 14th December 12:56