Organisers of the British grand prix have rejected Bernie Ecclestone’s proposal to annually alternate a single formula one race between Silverstone and French venue Magny Cours.
British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC) chairman Stuart Rolt told the Guardian newspaper that accepting the proposal, which would have commenced in 2008 for six years, would be ‘wrong’.
Newspaper The Times said the deal would have spanned ten years.
“We examined Bernie’s proposal in detail but decided that it would be sending the wrong message to the sport and the local community about the race’s future,” Rolt said.
Ecclestone told Bloomberg this week that French organisers were happy to proceed with the plan. The Guardian, meanwhile, reported that Silverstone’s rejection means that the Northamptonshire venue must now proceed with a $57 million upgrade in order to retain the annual grand prix post 2009.
Rolt admitted to The Times: “To me there is a danger that we cannot find a way to fund the improvements or there may be a point where the amount of money we have to pay for hosting the grand prix becomes untenable.”
GMMF1
DailyF1News.com
