British Grand Prix Remains on 2002 Calendar

Next year's British Formula One Grand Prix was given the go-ahead on Friday after fears that it could be axed due to traffic problems at the Silverstone circuit.

International Automobile Federation (FIA) president Max Mosley said the world body had received "binding commitments" to ensure there would be no repeat of the congestion and chaos of past years. He also said that the FIA had been particularly reassured by the direct intervention of British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his government.

"After the broken promises of recent years from the organisers of the British Grand Prix, we have now received binding commitments from them that the chaos experienced by motor sports fans in recent years will be addressed properly in time for next year's Grand Prix," he said.

"I feel now that for the first time the FIA has received a comprehensive commitment necessary to deliver for the fans," added Mosley.

Rob Bain, chief executive of promoter Octagon Motorsports, had earlier confirmed at a meeting of the FIA's World Motor Sport Council in Monaco that the race was secure. Silverstone hosted the first Formula One race in 1950 but the venue has suffered from traffic gridlock for decades and FIA sources suggested recently that the world body's patience was running out.

The sources had suggested that the race could be replaced by a non-championship event or even dropped altogether.

Performance Bond

Friday's decision followed an offer by Octagon of a performance bond valued at $5 million, guaranteeing that promised work will be completed in time for the race.

"We (Octagon) offered the performance bond to them to show our complete confidence in finishing all the phase one work before the 2002 Grand Prix," said Bain. "Naturally I am delighted with the FIA decision to reinstate our Grand Prix for next year.

"Having met the minister of sport and local authorities we are confident we can get the job done and the required works will happen. The silver lining to this episode during the last week is that it has at least got support from the British Government down to the local councils all pulling together on the same team behind the British Grand Prix."

The lack of a British Grand Prix, unthinkable to many Formula One fans, would have been a major blow to the country's prestige and motor sports industry. Many of the Formula One teams are based near Silverstone.

Octagon announced on Monday that they would be spending 10.6 million pounds ($15.34 million) on road improvements prior to the 2002 race. Leading figures in Britain, including sports minister Richard Caborn and former world champion Jackie Stewart, expressed support for the venue.

"This is a good day for British motor sport," said Stewart after the announcement. "The FIA have taken the right decision, recognising the great progress that has been made by Octagon and the BRDC (British Racing Drivers' Club) in improving traffic conditions in and around Silverstone.

"We want to see Silverstone not just improved but raised right up to the top of the international league table," he added in a statement.

The race was originally listed in the provisional calendar for next season with an asterisk, its confirmation dependent on the outcome of an enquiry into the traffic problems by the British Motor Sports Association (MSA). The MSA made clear that it backed the promoters' efforts and said there were "material and noticeable improvements to the traffic flow in 2001."