The British Grand Prix has been granted grace with its inclusion in F1’s 2005 calendar, giving the BRDC until December to confirm a commercial deal for the Silverstone circuit.
The British Grand Prix has been granted grace with its inclusion in F1’s 2005 calendar, giving the BRDC until December to confirm a commercial deal for the Silverstone circuit.
Silverstone’s owners, the British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC), will need to conclude negotiations with Bernie Ecclestone before December 10. F1 commercial rights holder Ecclestone earlier threatened to remove the race from the calendar.
Ecclestone has apparently offered the BRDC a contract for next year with negotiations for the following six years. The BRDC is reportedly seeking a two-year deal, followed by negotiations for the following five years.
BRDC chief executive Alex Hooton added: “We are currently considering the terms of the draft agreement provided to us by Ecclestone, which will need further negotiation. But we are hopeful of concluding the matter as soon as we can.”
In response, Ecclestone said: “We can’t negotiate any more on this. They are on the calendar for the moment but we have to have a decision on this soon.”
There has been some concern in recent years about the condition of the British circuit, which many believe may have been kept on the calendar for sentimental reasons. The first grand prix was staged at Silverstone in 1950, and BRDC president and former F1 world champion Jackie Stewart remained optimistic that the British Grand Prix would remain on the calendar.
Ecclestone is under increased pressure to move some races from Europe to countries where the tobacco advertising laws are not as strict. The French and San Marino races also hang in the balance. Since neighbouring Italy already hosts a grand prix at Monza, San Marino’s Imola race is most likely to be axed.
F1’s Concord Agreement limits Ecclestone to 17 grands prix per season and he will need to trim the provisional calendar before the World Motorsport Council reconvenes on December 10. Ecclestone has already had to pay extra millions for the teams to compete in the additional race this season.
