Ecclestone launches new Silverstone attack
Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has launched yet another scathing attack on Silverstone, accusing the circuit's owners, the British Racing Drivers' Club, of wasting over £40m of investment.
The comments by the F1 chief come at a time of uncertainty over the future of the event, with organiser Brands Hatch Circuits Limited parent company Octagon currently reviewing all of its motorsport assets.
"We [Brands Hatch Circuits, the BRDC and Ecclestone] put in £20m each," he said. "But the silly Octagon people let the BRDC manage the money and the BRDC spent two-thirds of it doing good things for them and their members and nothing for Octagon and us.
"Everybody is spending millions and it's embarrassing for me when someone says they want a new circuit and says 'We'll come and have a look at Silverstone' and I say 'Don't do that whatever you do. If you want a look at what we don't want, go to Silverstone.'"
Ecclestone said that he was disappointed the plans to develop Silverstone into one of F1's best circuits had fallen short of their original aims.
"When this thing started the idea was that we were going to build the Taj Mahal and that's why out money went in. I said 'You're never, ever going to do what you want for the amount of money you've got.'
"What have they done? Nothing. They've put some roads in, and spent £14m on a car park, spent £4.5m on architects' fees, to do what? To put in a car park.
"The pit wall is still the old pit wall, the press centre is still the same, there is no hospitality place for Octagon and no new pits."
Ecclestone once again warned that he cannot guarantee Britain a Grand Prix in the future. He said: "Why do we need it? I hope that it doesn't happen, but we don't have to have a race in Britain."
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