Analysis: British Grand Prix Faces the Axe

The British Grand Prix is set to be axed for the first time in Formula One history.

"At the moment it would seem that the calendar is not going to include the British Grand Prix for 2005," Sir Jackie Stewart, president of the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) that owns the Silverstone circuit, told BBC radio on Thursday.

"We feel that the Grand Prix is terribly important for the country," added Stewart. "I think it's a real disaster that this has happened."

Silverstone, a former World War Two airfield in central England, hosted the first Formula One Grand Prix in 1950 and only Britain and Italy have hosted a race every year since then.

Formula One sources said the French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours, which earned a late reprieve this year, could also be dropped to trim the provisional calendar from an unprecedented 19 races to 17.

China and Bahrain made their debuts this year and Turkey is due to be included for the first time in 2005.

Formula One's commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who draws up the calendar, told Reuters by email that the official list of races would be announced after the governing FIA's world motor sport council met on October 13.

Country Fair

Ecclestone, who has called Silverstone an old house and the race a 'country fair masquerading as a world event', had set Thursday as a deadline for offers to promote the event.

The non-profit making BRDC made an offer to Ecclestone's Formula One Management to promote the race for the next three years, despite the likelihood that they would lose money. Stewart pointed the finger at the British government on Thursday for failing to step in.

"We've been in contact with the government now for nearly four years and unlike almost every other government in every other country where Grands Prix are hosted... our government has made a decision they don't wish to (intervene)," he said.

China, with a new $325 million circuit, and Bahrain have no motor racing heritage but facilities unrivalled by any venues in the sport's European heartland.

"Mr Ecclestone is asking an amount of money which currently we cannot afford," added Stewart.

"Mr Ecclestone, we believe, has already been paid in full for this year's British Grand Prix and next year's by an arrangement that he had with the original promoters... but he does want an amount again from us that we simply cannot afford."

A majority of the 10 Formula One teams are based in Britain and are keen to retain the race.

"I hope he gets a great deal of flak from all the British-based teams if he decides to drop Silverstone," team boss Frank Williams said of Ecclestone at last weekend's inaugural Chinese Grand Prix.

"I know that Silverstone can't afford the current rate that some of the European races pay but we do care about Silverstone, it's a traditional venue. I would imagine there would be strong feelings".