Brundle Fears for British GP Future

The British Grand Prix could disappear from the Formula One calendar as early as next year, according to British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) chairman Martin Brundle.

"I think you have to question the British Grand Prix after this year," the former Grand Prix driver and television commentator was quoted as saying in weekly Motorsport News published today. "There's no short-term answer that is apparent yet."

The BRDC own Silverstone circuit and lease the former World War Two airfield to Grand Prix rights holders Octagon Motorsports, owned by the U.S. advertising giant Interpublic, under a 15-year deal agreed in 2000. Interpublic are looking into selling poorly-performing Octagon, who run Brands Hatch and other British circuits, and uncertainty surrounds the Grand Prix rights.

Brundle said that with seven of the 10 teams based in Britain it would be "simply bizarre" if there was a Turkish Grand Prix and not a British Grand Prix, for example.

"Of course that could happen, and if it did it would happen for a long time," he said.

The Belgian Grand Prix has been dropped from this season's calendar due to a row over tobacco advertising while Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone says this year will also be Austria's last appearance. Bahrain and China are due to make their debuts instead in 2004, with Turkey likely to follow them in.

The first Formula One race was at Silverstone in 1950 but the facilities are no match for the latest tracks, mostly funded by government money, such as Sepang which hosted Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix.

The BRDC is a not-for-profit organisation and said last week that it does not have the financial depth to operate an annual Formula One contract without government support under Ecclestone's current terms.