Thursday June 29th, 2000
Formula One team chief Frank Williams on Thursday said he had joined other team bosses in fighting to prevent Brands Hatch obtaining planning permission which would enable it to host the British Grand Prix.
And the owner of the Williams team also admitted he is concerned, like other team owners, at reported plans for Bernie Ecclestone to extend his control over Formula One's television rights in a deal which would also give him control over the sport's technical regulations and administration.
Williams told a news conference at Magny-Cours, on the eve of opening practice for this weekend's French Grand Prix, that he had joined Tom Walkinshaw, owner of the Arrows team, and Craig Pollock, managing director of British American Racing, in lodging a protest with the local council.
He said he and several other teams had written to try to prevent Brands Hatch being granted planning permission to develop their circuit to host the British Grand Prix from 2002.
Williams said Silverstone was at the "heart of a cluster of seven (British) Grand Prix teams and at the core of British motor racing" and explained that it was important for the future well-being of those teams and British motor sport as a whole that Silverstone retained the British race.
Asked about proposals which would see Ecclestone's business interests, known as Formula One Administration, extend their television rights contract beyond 2010, possibly for 50 years, and gain control over the technical administration of the sport, Williams said: "Yes, I am aware of some proposals."
But, he said, he was not aware of any detail. "Nor do I expect to be offered any details, until a deal is done," he said, adding "so, we are chaff in the wind again..."
Ferrari team sporting director Jean Todt added he was aware of far-reaching discussions effecting Formula One and motor racing in general. "We are aware and informed," he said. "But it is not up to us to discuss them. That is up to the FIA and the owner of the rights."
Todt said he would certainly be speaking to the shareholders of Ferrari and the Fiat group, which owns Ferrari, about the issues involved.