AUGUST 1, 2007

Silverstone votes for Master Plan

The British Racing Drivers' Club has voted 80% in favour of its board's Master Plan for the future, thus rejecting the alternative ideas put forward. The club says that it is now in a position to negotiate with the Formula One group to extend the British Grand Prix contract beyond 2009. It remains to be seen whether Bernie Ecclestone is willing to negotiate with the BRDC as he is not happy that previous commitments made may not be kept. Having said that Ecclestone is under pressure from the teams for there to be a British Grand Prix and there is no alternative venue at the present time and, with Lewis Hamilton on the rise, it is not a moment to be turning one's back on Britain.

This does not mean that negotiations are going to be easy as the BRDC still needs to find the money to pay the fees being demanded.