British GP returns to July slot

The FIA World Council, world motorsport's decision-making body, confirmed next year's Silverstone race date as July 15 after studying submissions from the race organisers that this year's wet weather fiasco would not be repeated. The race swaps its date with the Austrian GP, which will now take place on May 13.

The 2000 British GP was held over April's Easter weekend, but suffered from chaotic parking and traffic problems brought on by an unusually wet spring. The 2001 race was initially given a May slot, but this remained provisional until the World Council received proof that the problems would not be repeated and that ticket-holders unable to get to Silverstone would be refunded.

A statement issued after the World Council's meeting in Seville today (Wednesday) said: "having studied detailed proposals and undertakings from Silverstone circuit and the Motor Sports Association (the organiser), the World Motor Sport Council decided to include the British Grand Prix in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship calendar for 2001.

"The World Motor Sport Council also agreed to a joint proposal from the MSA and OAMTC [Austria's governing body] that the dates of their respective events be exchanged."

Austria's A1-Ring agreed to the date swap with Silverstone in order to move away from the country's peak holiday period.

There are few surprises in the rest of the 2001 calendar: as expected, Malaysia moves to an early-season slot, restoring Japan to its traditional role of season-closer, while an August three-week 'summer holiday' has also been brought in (see separate story).



March 4 AUSTRALIA (Melbourne)
March 18 MALAYSIA (Sepang)
April 1 BRAZIL (Interlagos)
April 15 SAN MARINO (Imola)
April 29 SPAIN (Barcelona)
May 13 AUSTRIA (A1-Ring)
May 27 MONACO (Monte Carlo)
June 10 CANADA (Montreal)
June 24 EUROPE (Nurburgring)
July 1 FRANCE (Magny-Cours)
July 15 GREAT BRITAIN (Silverstone)
July 29 GERMANY (Hockenheim)
August 19 HUNGARY (Budapest)
September 2 BELGIUM (Spa-Francorchamps)
September 16 ITALY (Monza)
September 30 UNITED STATES (Indianapolis)
October 14 JAPAN (Suzuka)