BRDC Wants F1 Deal by End-October

Silverstone's owners gave a cautious welcome on Wednesday to the troubled British Grand Prix's inclusion on the 2005 Formula One calendar.

The British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) warned in a statement however that a deal still needed to be wrapped up by the end of the month for commercial reasons.

"The announcement by the FIA in Paris today that the 2005 British Grand Prix has been granted a provisional date on July 3 is progress," the BRDC said.

"We have received a draft promoters' contract from FOM (Bernie Ecclestone's Formula One Management) but, as yet, no deal has been concluded," it added.

"We are in discussions with FOM and any resulting contract will need to be finalised by the end of the month so that the organisation of the 2005 British Grand Prix is not commercially compromised.

"We are pleased with progress so far and will continue negotiations that we hope will conclude with a financially viable British Grand Prix which in turn will help create a platform for sustainable development of Silverstone."

The governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) published a calendar with an unprecedented 19 races on Wednesday but with asterisks against three - Britain, France and San Marino - pending the resolution of contract issues.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone controls the commercial rights for the British Grand Prix but has said he will not promote the race itself.

Last month the 73-year-old threatened to take the race off the calendar, for the first time since the Formula One Championship started in 1950, after the BRDC made an offer that fell short of his financial demands.

Since then the two sides have been negotiating, despite a bid by a little-known consortium backed by former champion Nigel Mansell, to resolve their differences.

British Sports Minister Richard Caborn said on Tuesday that he hoped a two-year deal would be finalised soon.