Carmakers Talks Still Ongoing, Says Ecclestone

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has said crucial talks with the rebelling Formula One car manufacturers have not grounded to a halt.

The manufacturers - Fiat, DaimlerChrysler, BMW, Ford and Renault - have threatened to develop a breakaway championship by 2008 if they are not given a greater slice of Formula One's financial pie.

They have been in discussions with Ecclestone in an attempt to secure an improved deal but he reportedly cancelled a meeting with them this week because the carmakers had not responded to his proposals. A new meeting was scheduled to be held today.

Ecclestone said that the problems can be solved "if common sense prevails" and suggested will meet with the manufacturers when they have responded to his proposal. When asked if talks had broken down, Ecclestone said: "No, we are just waiting. We were waiting for a response to the proposal from the SLEC shareholders."

The manufacturing giants are understood to have been told by the sport's governing body, the FIA, last weekend, that their planned series would not be given their full backing. But Ecclestone refused to deny their threat is serious and added: "So much could happen between now and 2008. It's early days."