Walkinshaw says teams will support Silverstone

Arrows boss Tom Walkinshaw says that despite the recent doubt over the British Grand Prix, the teams will not vote Silverstone off the calender. Talking to the UK's BBC Radio 5 Sunday Sport programme, Walkinshaw agreed that Silverstone has it's problems but no more so than any other circuit.

"Silverstone is bad for access, but it has always been bad," he said, "However, other circuits are also bad. There is a road system in Britain and, if we are to stage a race here, we will always have to cope with it. There is a new bypass going in, and this will have a positive effect. The traffic situation is not an FIA issue, though. If the fans were unhappy, they would vote with their feet. The track is not below standard - indeed, it is one of the best for safety and facilities - and I can't see why it would lose its status. There has been a lot of speculation, but I don't believe that the teams would vote to lose the race there."

Octagon Motorsport recently cut ticket numbers in an effort to curb the amount of visitors to the Grand Prix and thus reduce the traffic problems. But the flip side of the decision was that ticket prices have been raised to recoup the loss of numbers. This has outraged fans and sparked a possible investigation by the UK consumer affairs television programme Watchdog.

Walkinshaw is none too happy either: "I think the prices are ridiculous. The organisers obviously think they can get the people to pay them, but it is a shame that it has come to this."