BRDC board facing vote of no confidence

A vote on whether the BRDC should appoint St Modwen and Northern Racing to revamp the circuit was delayed last month following dissent from club members and to allow them more time to get information about the intentions for Silverstone.

However, amid the backdrop of a growing number of members who are unhappy with the BRDC board's plans for Silverstone, there is now a push to call for an Emergency General Meeting to obtain a vote of no confidence in them.

In a statement issued by BRDC member Harry Stiller, who has made no secret of the fact that he is representing a large number of individuals who do not want the lease of Silverstone to be offered to St. Modwen for up to 150 years, solicitors have now been instructed to call for the EGM.

The statement said: "In light of press and media reports emanating from the President and Board of the BRDC based at Silverstone, a group of Life and Full members have today given instructions to the solicitors representing them, to call for an immediate Emergency General meeting with the primary objective of obtaining a vote of no confidence in the entire Board of the BRDC.

"Their raison d'etre is the clear indication by the Board to further pursue the Joint Venture with St Modwen and Northern Racing against the wishes of the membership which was made clear to them at the EGM held at Silverstone on Wed. 22 nd Feb. 2006.

"The membership has been given insufficient information and details of the proposed transaction as well as having given the President and Board an emphatic show of unity that they do not want any deal that means granting a 100 years plus lease to any individual or organization.

"It is the intention of the members, at all costs, to preserve Silverstone as the UK's home of British motor-sport, to uphold the aims and objectives of the Club's forefathers in maintaining the circuit as the only home of the British Grand Prix and... aiding and assisting young drivers. There are many other avenues to achieve this aim safely."

It is understood that the members proposing the vote of no confidence in the board do have an alternative solution for the track that would not involve the ownership of the track being given to another company or the loss of some of the track's famous corners to make way for housing.

The statement added: "The members are confident that they have a better alternative which will keep the circuit intact without housing estates being built or other major non-conducive development of the estate property.

"The Board has not listened to the members and seems to continue ignoring the prime objectives upon which the Club was founded. It is therefore time for radical change in the administration and policies of the BRDC."

BRDC president Jackie Stewart has warned that the circuit could lose the British Grand Prix if the redevelopment plans are not agreed, although there are suggestions that some board members are not too worried if the race is lost - because of the high fees that need to be paid to Bernie Ecclestone for the event.

Stewart told this week's Autosport: "We believe the British Grand Prix has to be retained in this country for the British motorsport industry... and for the development of young drivers and engineers.

"So this deal has the universal approval of the BRDC board. There are some people who say they do not care about the British Grand Prix. However, we do not think that is reflected in the majority of our membership."