AUGUST 11, 2005

Ecclestone Applies For GP1 trademark

Formula One Promotions and Administration has applied for the pan-European trademark rights to the name GP1 covering 16 categories including organising and staging sports events, broadcasting, sportswear and timing equipment. This is a predictable move and no doubt part of the plan for Ecclestone to keep control of the business that he has built up around Formula 1.

FOPA is believed to be a company that was privately owned by Ecclestone and which sold its businesses to Formula One Management some years ago. Thus it seems that Ecclestone is intending to try to go it alone with a new series outside the control of the banks.

There is no reason why any of the F1 teams would want to go down this path but it may be that Ecclestone thinks that he can repeat the success of the past with an upgraded version of the GP2 series, presumably featuring cars built by a single supplier.

Ecclestone is believed to be involved in the ownership of the GP2 series with Renault F1 boss Flavio Briatore.