Saturday April 22nd, 2000

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone said on Saturday that the rain-hit British Grand Prix should stay at Silverstone despite the flooded car parks which resulted in the public being turned away.

Ecclestone said the circuit organisers had shown they were not as dozy as they had been in the past.

He suggested that they discuss the long term future of the race with the rival Brands Hatch circuit which has won a five-year contract to stage the event from 2002.

"It should stay here," Ecclestone said. "They have made a big effort which they've not done much of in the past.

"A few years ago they were a bit dozy but they've got their act together since. I hope Brands and Silverstone can get together and sort it out.

"It is something they could do in five minutes if they wanted to," he said.

Ecclestone's comments came on the day Silverstone and the police were turning away ticket-holders because of the waterlogged parking areas.