Silverstone Snub
Discussion
http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/Bernie-Eccl...
The landlords of Silverstone circuit insist they will prepare to host the British Grand Prix next year despite Bernie Ecclestone saying he would rather cancel the event for a year than hold it in Northamptonshire.
In his biggest snub of the circuit yet, Mr Ecclestone has said that if Silverstone's troubled rival, Donington Park, is not ready to take up the Formula 1 contract next year, he would still reserve a place in the F1 calendar for the event.
But rather than give the race back to Silverstone he would be prepared to give the Leicestershire circuit 12 more months to prepare, leaving Britain with no grand prix in 2010.
However, Silverstone said yesterday it would be keeping the circuit in prime condition and make appropriate preparations just in case Mr Ecclestone can be persuaded to change his mind.
A spokeswoman for Silverstone said: "It is up to Mr Ecclestone what he says but we are available and willing to take the grand prix if we are needed."
Mr Ecclestone's dissatisfaction with the circuit has led to a long-running dispute between himself and Silverstone's landlords, the British Racing Drivers' Club.
The Formula 1 commercial rights holder insists the track compares unfavourably with newer circuits such as those in Singapore and Abu Dhabi, despite Silverstone's planned multi-million pound pit and paddock scheme.
Government ministers still hope to talk Mr Ecclestone round if Donington fails to complete its own preparations, but he has repeatedly used public statements to close the door on the Northamptonshire track.
Yesterday, The Times quoted Mr Ecclestone as saying he had a "very good" meeting in London with Simon Gillett, the chief executive of Donington Park Ventures.
Mr Ecclestone said that if Donington was progressing well, he would be prepared to give the circuit 12 more months to prepare.
He said: "If the work at Donington is not finished in time, we would be happy to skip a year."
And he again ruled out staging a race at Silverstone, which hosts what Ecclestone says will be its last British Grand Prix on June 21.
He said: "I don't want to lose the British Grand Prix — that's the last thing we want to do, but we aren't going to Silverstone for sure."
The landlords of Silverstone circuit insist they will prepare to host the British Grand Prix next year despite Bernie Ecclestone saying he would rather cancel the event for a year than hold it in Northamptonshire.
In his biggest snub of the circuit yet, Mr Ecclestone has said that if Silverstone's troubled rival, Donington Park, is not ready to take up the Formula 1 contract next year, he would still reserve a place in the F1 calendar for the event.
But rather than give the race back to Silverstone he would be prepared to give the Leicestershire circuit 12 more months to prepare, leaving Britain with no grand prix in 2010.
However, Silverstone said yesterday it would be keeping the circuit in prime condition and make appropriate preparations just in case Mr Ecclestone can be persuaded to change his mind.
A spokeswoman for Silverstone said: "It is up to Mr Ecclestone what he says but we are available and willing to take the grand prix if we are needed."
Mr Ecclestone's dissatisfaction with the circuit has led to a long-running dispute between himself and Silverstone's landlords, the British Racing Drivers' Club.
The Formula 1 commercial rights holder insists the track compares unfavourably with newer circuits such as those in Singapore and Abu Dhabi, despite Silverstone's planned multi-million pound pit and paddock scheme.
Government ministers still hope to talk Mr Ecclestone round if Donington fails to complete its own preparations, but he has repeatedly used public statements to close the door on the Northamptonshire track.
Yesterday, The Times quoted Mr Ecclestone as saying he had a "very good" meeting in London with Simon Gillett, the chief executive of Donington Park Ventures.
Mr Ecclestone said that if Donington was progressing well, he would be prepared to give the circuit 12 more months to prepare.
He said: "If the work at Donington is not finished in time, we would be happy to skip a year."
And he again ruled out staging a race at Silverstone, which hosts what Ecclestone says will be its last British Grand Prix on June 21.
He said: "I don't want to lose the British Grand Prix — that's the last thing we want to do, but we aren't going to Silverstone for sure."
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