Grapevine: Mayor: London Can Complement Silverstone

London Mayor Ken Livingstone still wants to hold a Formula One Grand Prix in the city but on Tuesday said the event could be in addition to, not instead of, the annual British race at Silverstone.

Livingstone hosted an exhibition race with Formula One cars on Regent Street in London in July and is keen for a Monaco-style Grand Prix to take place in the city, with the annual European Grand Prix in his sights.

"I'm still backing a Grand Prix for London 100 percent and I would welcome any approach from Formula One such as hosting a European Grand Prix," he told the Evening Standard newspaper. "However, I believe Silverstone makes an important contribution to the continuing success of the UK motorsport industry. I am keen for the British Grand Prix to remain there."

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has criticised the facilities at Silverstone, a World War Two airfield which hosted the first Formula One Grand Prix in 1950, and has hinted that he would like to see a race in London.

The British Racing Driver's Club (BRDC), who own the circuit, have been in talks with Ecclestone about better promotion of the event, improving facilities and securing its future. The European Grand Prix has been staged at the Nurburgring in Germany for the past six years in addition to the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim.

Italy has also hosted two Grands Prix, its own at Monza and the San Marino showpiece at Imola, although Ecclestone has said April's Grand Prix was the last time a race would be held at the track near Bologna.

Last weekend's inaugural Chinese Grand Prix was a huge success and Turkey is due to make its debut in 2005.