Stewart: I can deliver

Ecclestone told Bloomberg news agency yesterday: "Jackie's a great ambassador, a good front guy, but I don't think he's got the time or the inclination to grub around and try to get things done. Ray would have got the job done."

But speaking to autosport.com, Stewart said: "I am totally confident that I can deliver what is necessary for the future prosperity of the club. In terms of time issues, I've been involved in meetings that have taken place in private and in public, involving Alex Hooton (BRDC CEO) and Ray himself. And sometimes we've shared our responsibilities with meetings.

"It was the same with Martin [Brundle] and myself - we shared the load to get everything accomplished."

He added: "There is no disagreement within the board or with Ray, in fact, on the way forward. I've been an ambassador for this club for many years, with my history in the sport as an important part of that, but equally my business experience. I've done pretty well in business over the last 30 years."

Stewart also reiterated his commitment to the five-year British GP deal recently struck between the BRDC and Ecclestone.

Bellm had suggested that Stewart had preferred a three-year arrangement but the Scot said: "I'm not about to try to renegotiate anything at all. That was never discussed. We have a five-year deal, that's a legal document and we're locked into that."