 British GP Rumoured to be Dumped for 2002 Wednesday December 5th, 2001
Unsourced and unconfirmed reports, published in l'Equipe newspaper in Paris, claimed that next week's FIA summit will make the Silverstone race in July a non-Championship event. FIA spokesman Francesco Longanesi confirmed on Wednesday that the July 7 race was on the agenda: "The matter will be discussed," he said. But he could not confirm or deny that a proposal, which must be voted on at the meeting, had been made to axe it. Silverstone, a home circuit for most of the 12 teams, was included on a provisional calendar issued by the FIA in October but with an asterisk denoting that it was subject to the outcome of an enquiry into traffic conditions. Former world champion Jackie Stewart, president of the British Racing Drivers' Club, told BBC radio that FIA president Max Mosley had warned him previously that the race could be replaced by a non-championship event. Stewart said organisers had already committed some 12.6 million pounds on improving public roads and accused the FIA of "casting a blind eye" on what had been done. "Britain is the capital of motorsport. For Britain not to have a grand prix would be ridiculous," he said. "Cancelling this grand prix, if it were to happen and I really don't think it will happen ... would obviously dissolve any of the negotiations we're having with the government and would seriously affect motorsport in this country." But race promoters Octagon hit back on Wednesday night when they pointed out that no decision can be taken until the meeting of the World Council of motorsport's governing body, the FIA, is held in Monte Carlo on December 14th. "This is nothing but speculation and it is without a source," said Octagon spokeswomen Maria Bellanca. "It would be inappropriate to interfere with the democratic process of the sport. "It is important to note also that the World Council will be considering an in-depth report of the British Motorsport Association (MSA), which we are confident will demonstrate how much progress was made at this year's race at Silverstone." Rumours about Silverstone's place on the 2002 calendar have been circulating for some time and are believed to have been caused by tensions created before Octagon took over the race at the end 2000. If the FIA and its president Max Mosley do as the rumour mill has forecast, it may cause massive problems for the future of top-class motor racing in the UK. Formula One ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone is one of the big investors in the proposed re-vamp of the Northamptonshire track and could end up being embarrassed by this latest example of political chicanery in the sport. The MSA report into traffic problems at the Northamptonshire circuit this year will be submitted to the FIA at the World Council meeting in a bid to keep the Grand Prix on the calendar. But a source close to the FIA suggested that the current plans, although not set in stone, are to run the British Grand Prix as a non-championship race in 2002, before bringing it back in 2003 if improvements have been made to their satisfaction. If the British event is dropped, the calendar will be reduced to 16 Grands Prix and the July 7 date will be left open for the British Grand Prix to be held as a non-Championship race, with teams then left to decide whether they compete for no points. "We can't make any comment on the matter," FIA president Max Mosley said on Wednesday. "It will be discussed at the World Council meeting." But the quoted FIA source said: "The feeling is that they have screwed up and have not kept promises. They haven't got the job done of improving things. "The intention seems to be to leave it off the calendar and to hold it as a non-championship race and if they do do things, then put it back on the calendar in 2003. "The date isn't going to be blocked, but it is a serious threat. It is a sort of half-way house. The teams can decide if they want to compete in the non-championship race." The future of the Grand Prix was first put in doubt in April 2000 when wet weather problems prevented car parks from being opened, forcing spectators to walk miles into the circuit. And proposed park and ride plans as well as extra car parks failed to improve traffic problems around Silverstone at this year's event, prompting the MSA to investigate on behalf of the FIA. The British Grand Prix has been on the calendar since the first world championship race in 1950 - only Italy has also held an event every year -- and Silverstone has held the event 35 times.
Published at 17:39:15 GMT
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The British Grand Prix could be kicked out of the Formula One World Championship next year, according to rumours and speculation running riot in the sport on Wednesday.
(03-11-2005): 
