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Bernie fires broadside to manufacturers

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has warned that car manufacturers' plans for a breakaway series is a serious threat to F1

Ecclestone says the uncertainty surrounding F1's major car manufacturers forming a rival championship in 2008 is creating an uneasy atmosphere now with those businesses that invest heavily in the sport.

"The sponsors are not happy," Ecclestone told The Sunday Times. "They want to reconsider. I have told them to wait and see what happens. They became involved because they liked the stability of F1 and knew that things were done properly. Once these companies leave it is very hard to get them back."

Just last week, Fiat's chief executive Paolo Cantarella announced that his company, which owns Ferrari, and four others had formed GPWC Holding BV - a company charged with running a Grand Prix-style series in 2008. However Ecclestone says this is against everyone's interests.

"The manufacturers came in because it was a shop window for them, so why do they want to destroy it?" he asked.

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