APRIL 13, 2006
Ecclestone steps back into BRDC fight
Bernie Ecclestone has stepped back into the political fight currently raging within the British Racing Drivers' Club.
Bernie Ecclestone has stepped back into the political fight currently raging within the British Racing Drivers' Club.
According to a story leaked to Autosport magazine, Ecclestone has offered the BRDC a 50-50 deal to secure the future of the British Grand Prix.
The man behind this is Harry Stiller, best known formerly as a successful Formula Three driver in the Sixties and as the man whose financial support helped Alan Jones to make his F1 grand prix debut with a Hesketh 308 in the Spanish Grand Prix in 1975. Now a property developer, Stiller has led the vocal opposition within the club to outgoing president Sir Jackie Stewart's plan to redevelop the venue via a 150-year lease with property development company St Modwen, and for its subsidiary Northern Racing to run the British Grand Prix.
Stiller has called for a vote of no confidence in the BRDC's board of directors.
Ecclestone, a long-time acquaintance of Stiller and no fan of Stewart, told Autosport: "Harry's trying to put something together to retain the British Grand Prix. I said I'd be only too pleased to help. There are various ideas under discussion. He asked me if maybe I could be the promoter. Everything is possible."
Control of the British Grand Prix is one thing Ecclestone has wanted for a long time. The BRDC's current contract to run the race expires in 2009, and Stiller's plan includes basic agreement with Ecclestone to be an equal partner in a 50-50 joint venture between Formula One Management and the BRDC on a long-term - 10 to 15-year - basis.
Stiller's proposal also includes new pit garages and media centre, luxury grandstands, a technology park, an oval track and a possible ÔFormulaOnederland' theme park.