 London Mayor Asks Bernie for a Grand Prix Wednesday July 7th, 2004
"We are serious about this," mayor Ken Livingstone told reporters at Regent street yesterday. "I told Bernie [Ecclestone] that if he wants to put on a Grand Prix in the centre of London we could clear the way. We have discussed it with the Palace, with the Royal Parks Agency and the Police. Everyone recognises this is a huge plus for London. "You would most probably get two million people coming to see it - this means that every hotel bed will be filled, every restaurant. This is just what great cities do to sell themselves. New York is looking at doing the same thing. If you can do it in Monaco, you can do it in London. "The other big advantage of doing it in London is that so many more people can get to see it. There are literally hundreds of thousands of people who are never going to be able to afford to go to Silverstone, who can come along and watch the race in London." The British Grand Prix is out of contract for next season and while the BRDC, owners of the Silverstone track, expressed certainty of signing a new deal for 2005 and 2006, the FOM said yesterday in a statement that no deal has been signed and they are willing to enter into a commercial agreement with the BRDC "or another suitable promoter." Livingstone said London could well replace Silverstone, stating: "My job is to fight for London. The offer we put up to Bernie means this could be in addition to Silverstone or as a replacement. We can put it on. "Bernie is considering the offer we have made. It's his decision and we would be delighted if he comes down in favour of us. We would bust a gut to put on the best Formula One show you have ever seen." 1992 World Champion Nigel Mansell, who was among the current and former F1 stars to thrill the crowds yesterday at Regent Street, expressed enthusiastic support for the London Grand Prix idea. "It would be the best Grand Prix in the world," Mansell told the reporters. "Today has been wonderful - it has sent a message that the city is capable of hosting big events. It has the infrastructure here, the organisation. It would be absolutely sensational." Formula One currently runs on three non-permanent, city road tracks - Melbourne in Australia, Montreal in Canada and Monaco. All three events are considered big business and sporting success.
Published at 07:35:42 GMT
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A day after an estimated crowd of 350,000 racing fans packed the streets of central London to see a publicity event, the mayor of London says he has made a formal bid to host a Grand Prix in the English capital.
(03-11-2005): 
