BRDC exploring all avenues

The British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) met today to discuss how to find a way to secure the future of the British Grand Prix, and will appeal to the F1 teams and manufacturers for support. So far the BRDC and Bernie Ecclestone have failed to agree terms on the length of the contract to promote the race, and Ecclestone said this week that he was ending negotiations.

"We have been in intense negotiations for nine months and we met the bulk of the terms, including closing the gap on fees," said BRDC Chairman Ray Bellm. "We thought we were close to agreement."

"However the major stumbling block is over the length of contract. The only way forward for us is a 2-year contract which would give us time to plan and secure the long term future for the British Grand Prix.

"We have financial limits on what we can afford. We need a British Grand Prix to sustain the long term stability of the valuable British motorsport industry and for the sake of Silverstone. We have done our utmost to come to an agreement but the present terms are not financially viable."

Club President Jackie Stewart added: "In the Board Meeting today we agreed to explore all other avenues by talking to teams, manufacturers and sponsors."

"We hope there will be a positive support for the British Grand Prix as a result of the Formula 1 Team Principals meeting with Mr Bernie Ecclestone, to be held tomorrow (Friday) at Sao Paulo, Brazil, the venue for the final round of the F1 World Championship."

The BRDC has until the end of this month to find a solution, although Ecclestone believes that the Silverstone race is already lost. "It looks certain that there will not be a British Grand Prix in 2005," he said earlier this week.

To strain relations further, Ecclestone is reportedly to sue Stewart for libel in regard to comments the latter made in a radio interview with the BBC. Stewart claimed Ecclestone had reneged on a promise given to UK sport's minister Richard Caborn.