Wednesday June 21st, 2000

The British Grand Prix has gained a reprieve from the FIA after vowing to overcome the problems that plagued this year's race at Silverstone. This, shortly after the FIA said the race could be dropped from next year's world championship calendar unless organisers can satisfy Formula One chiefs that the problems which dogged this year's race will not happen again.

British organisers the Motor Sports Association (MSA) were summoned before the FIA World Motorsport Council today, along with representatives from the Silverstone circuit.

Heavy rain at this year's event in April caused chaos as Silverstone's car parks were closed and fans had to walk long distances to watch the racing. The organisers and police urged fans to stay at home for the qualifying session and there were huge traffic problems over the race weekend.

The British Grand Prix has been provisionally included in the 2001 calendar for May 13th, after the FIA decided not to put it back to its former July date.

But the FIA said that if the race was to stay in the calendar organisers would have to prove by the next meeting of the world motorsport council on October 4th that changes in race control had been implemented.

The Motor Sports Association (MSA), organisers of the race, accepted the FIA World Motor Sport Council's conditions for improvement. The MSA said: "The Motor Sports Association, Silverstone Circuits and the British Racing Drivers' Club accept the conclusions from the hearing of the FIA World Motor Sports Council in Warsaw.

"The conditions attached to next year's British Grand Prix are indeed those which Silverstone itself would have carried out in any event.

"All the provisions will be complemented in good time for the next meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in October."

Silverstone will have to produce, among others, plans to show how traffic problems would be avoided and provide details of compensation for ticket-holders who were unable to reach the racetrack.