BRDC hits back at Bernie's criticism

In a joint statement issued by Silverstone's owners the BRDC today, Brundle and Stewart put their side of the story after Ecclestone alleged that they had squandered a cash injection into the circuit's facilities and "spent £14m on a car park" rather than building a new pits complex.

"The attack by Bernie Ecclestone on the efforts we and Octagon [Brands Hatch Circuits] are carrying out to improve Silverstone is totally unwarranted," they said. "In close consultation and approval with the FIA, Allsport and FOM [Formula One Management], we abandoned the original scheme for a pit complex in response to pressure from the FIA to get road access right and car parking vastly improved from the grand prix in 2002, which we achieved with considerable positive public and customer reaction.

"We don't hear such attacks on other circuits around the world, some of which Mr Ecclestone has an interest in. It is unfair in what Mr Ecclestone should regard as his home British Grand Prix at Silverstone that we face this predictable annual criticism. Mr Ecclestone received every piece of paperwork and information that was related to the money already spent out of the $60m contributed by BRDC/FOM/Octagon.

"He had every opportunity to comment or suggest other priorities - he chose not to. The money spent out of the $60m has not, contrary to Mr Ecclestone's statement, been to benefit of the Club and its members."

"The BRDC is determined to do all that it can, with private sector support, and hopefully public funding to turn Silverstone into a centre of excellence and one of the finest circuits for drivers and customers in the world, and to do that in constructive co-operation with the FIA, Allsport and FOM and not in public bickering."