Silverstone Given the Chop!

mike65

Well he's finally done it...:(

British GP axed


The British Grand Prix has been omitted from the Formula One calendar for the first time in the sport's history.

Silverstone is not on the provisional 2005 calendar, which must be ratified by the FIA world council on 13 October.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone reportedly wanted £8.9m from race organisers the British Racing Drivers' Club to host the race.

BRDC president Sir Jackie Stewart described the decision as "a disaster" and called on Ecclestone to rethink.

The BRDC had until Thursday to submit to Ecclestone an offer to promote the 2005 Grand Prix.

If the decision stands it will be the first time Britain is missing from the Formula One calendar since the world championship began, at Silverstone, in 1950.

Stewart told BBC Radio Five Live: "Even at this late stage we would ask Mr Ecclestone and the British Government to think again and see if we can retain the Grand Prix for the sake of the industry, sport and the country.


"We've gone as far as we can in making cutbacks in other areas to be able to afford the Grand Prix because we feel it is very important for the country as a whole.

"The gap between money being asked for (by Formula One) and what we can offer is comparatively small - in single figures of millions - but the amount is unaffordable.

"The British Racing Drivers Club cannot afford the British Grand Prix at any price."

Stewart was also critical of the Government for failing to offer financial help to Silverstone.

"We've been in contact with the Government for nearly four years," said Stewart.

"Unlike in other countries where Grands Prix are hosted - these governments have assisted in hosting and promoting the Grands Prix - our Government has made a decision it does not wish to do that."

But the Government responded immediately, defending its record of investment in and around Silverstone.

A spokesman for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said: "Clearly the Government supports and wants to see a British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

"But the current commercial negotiations about the promotion of the Grand Prix are a matter between the BRDC and Formula One.

"We have done everything, and will continue to, to help bring the parties together to discuss the matter.

"The Government has already made significant financial contribution to motorsport and Silverstone - in 2002 we invested over £16m to support the industry and £8m to improve road access around the track."

The chief executive of South Northamptonshire Council, Rob Tinlin, said: "It is a huge disappointment for the area and it is a huge blow for the BRDC who have worked very hard to improve the circuit and keep the Grand Prix.

"It will have a big impact for the local economy as the race brings in £30m to the area each year."

Mike.

robo

The hype on ITV every year when Silverstone comes around is always much bigger than for any other circuit...a big loss to the calendar, especially with the number of drivers who hail from the UK. I think it is awful that they won't have the British GP!

aidan_dunne

Look, every year now for about the past six or seven years this issue has always popped up around the time of both the British GP and the issuing of the provisional calendar for the following season. And every year there has been a last minute turnaround by Bernie and the FIA and they've included Silverstone at the last minute. It's all just part of the game Bernie keeps playing to try and get his way and to try and force the BRDC to improve the facilities at Silverstone. I reckon that, once again, this is just another case of Bernie rattling his saber to try and scare the BRDC/British government/whatever to stump up the cash for the GP next year. No doubt, come the issuing of the final calendar for next season, or by next June or July at the latest, the British GP will take place. Just look at what happened with the Canadian GP this year, for example. It's Bernie just playing the political game again that he's so good at doing.

Though, to be honest, I am sick and tired at this stage of all the moaning and complaining about Silverstone by Bernie and then the retorts by Jackie Stewart and the BRDC and others saying "Oh, but we have to have the British GP at Silverstone. It's tradition, it's one of the best tracks in the world, it's a classic, blah, blah, blah." Yes, it's traditional, just like Monaco, Monza, Spa, etc. (though, I always reckoned Brands Hatch was a better venue for the GP when they used to alternate each year). But it is not one of the best tracks in the world. For the drivers and cars, yes, it probably is, but not for the fans and when you compare the facilities to the likes of Sepang, Bahrain and China just last weekend, well, I'm sorry Sir Jackie, Bernie's right, Silverstone just doesn't match up and really does need to raise it's game. With more and more countries looking to host Grand Prix's, and investing huge sums of money and building amazing circuits (facility-wise, not necessarily in terms of the track layouts, which just seem to be built from the "Herman Tilke Book Of Generic Racing Track Templates" and can often be quite boring), Silverstone, in it's current state, hasn't a hope of competing against them. And it shouldn't expect to be "entitled" to a Grand Prix every year "just because".

At this point, I do hope Silverstone is dropped from the calendar, even if it's just for a year, like they did with Spa last year. Why? Well, as much as I think its a great circuit (and, love it or hate it, you do have to admit it's still a great driver's circuit) and I would miss it off the calendar, at least if it was dropped for a year it would show the BRDC and the British government that Bernie is serious and wasn't just huffing and puffing this time around and that, no, sorry folks, Silverstone isn't entitled to a date on the calendar by default and that you do need to up your game, spend the money, improve the facilities for both competitors and, especially, the spectators if you want to have a date on the calendar. If anything, being dropped from the calendar could be the best thing that might happen to Silverstone if it gives certain people in the BRDC and the British government the swift kick up the arse that they so badly need and force them into spending the money in doing up the circuit.

Though, as I said, I can't see it happening, to be honest. More sabre-rattling and scare tactics by Bernie, I reckon, and we'll probably see the British GP going ahead at the delapidated, run-down, windy, blustery and often rainy Silverstone again in 2005. And then, this time next year, this row will all kick off again, I'm sure!

gs39t

This is just another suicide attempt with formula 1. In ten years i guarantee there wont BE a formula 1 championship; when Schumacher retires the entire F1 fanbase will disappear, and there's not much to fall back on for fans when that happens. Dropping races and bringing them back, like they have already done, is amature-ish. The supposed new engine rules and regulations proposed for (when is it now? 2006?) will just be a mess.

frodi

One of the main problems is that they are losing tobacco sponsorship and every body is looking to replace that money. I can't think of another industry rich/daft enough to give that kind of money for just a badge on a car/driver/billboard etc. (except maye €ircon )