British GP could be dropped for 2002

The event, which has been given a provisional date on the 2002 calendar, is currently under investigation following the traffic debacle surrounding this year's race.

British GP organiser Octagon has to prove to motorsport's governing body the FIA that it did all that it promised for this year's race after the disaster of 2000 and guarantee that similar problems will not happen again.

However, the decision concerning the status of the race will be taken during next week's FIA world council meeting in Monaco next Friday. The race could be made non-championship, allowing teams to still compete.

"It's quite a serious matter," said a source close to the FIA. "This is not just a case of Silverstone getting a slap on the wrist. These days, there's such a demand for grands prix around the world that no country has a god given right to host a Formula 1 race. We can't put pressure on races like Brazil and then say that Britain is special case."

A possible alternative, as exclusively revealed in this week's AUTOSPORT magazine, is to host the British GP at the Paul Ricard circuit in France. The Silverstone race could then be given its championship status back in 2003, after carrying out necessary improvements next year.

Octagon announced in October that the number of tickets sold for next year's event would be reduced to 60,000 and a controversial hike in price will also be introduced, which is thought to have been met with disapproval by the FIA.

AUTOSPORT magazine goes on sale on Thursday.