British Grand Prix gets go ahead

The race was listed in the provisional calendar for next season pending the outcome of an enquiry into the traffic issues of 2000 and 2001 by Britain's governing body, the Motor Sports Association.

The track's management, Octagon Motorsports, has lodged a 3.4 million pound performance bond with the FIA to guarantee that traffic flow improvements will be completed prior to the race on July 7. Octagon will forfeit the sum if there is no improvement in traffic flow during this year's event.

The MSA and Octagon have promised the following:

The new access road to the circuit will be completed.

To supply a satisfactory park-and-ride scheme to and from the circuit.

That all work will be complete before the first day of practice of the Grand Prix. "We are obviously delighted with the result which endorses the MSA's positive report on their findings during our inaugural 2001 event," said Octagon Motorsports chief executive Rob Bain. "The FIA are in total support of our revised 2002 plans in addressing traffic and access at Silverstone."

The British Government has also given an assurance that it will monitor the planning application and construction of new roads round the circuit, which will need to be in place before the event next year to seriously improve Silverstone's access problems.

Sports Minister Richard Caborn said: "I'm delighted that the race will go ahead. It is very important that we have the event in this country."

A joint statement from the MSA's vice president Ray Wiltshire and chief executive Colin Hilton said: "This was the right decision. The FIA World Council has recognised Octagon and the BRDC are striving to make major improvements for the Grand Prix's future. The MSA fully shares with our Government, the BRDC and Octagon Motorsports the objective of keeping the UK at the forefront of international motor racing."