Kirch Fall Could Speed up F1 Solution, Says Richards

The recent collapse of the Kirch media group could speed up a 'sensible solution' to Formula One's future, according to BAR boss David Richards.

Leading decision makers from the major European carmakers in Formula One will meet at Imola, on the day before Sunday's San Marino Grand Prix, to discuss plans for their own series from 2008.

Richards said the talks, at the first European race of the season, were likely to have been set up long before part of the German Kirch group - which controls the commercial side of Formula One - filed for insolvency.

But he agreed that the events of the past week were sure to be discussed.

"The (Kirch) situation may accelerate some of the discussions and come to a sensible solution sooner rather than later," the British American Racing principal told a news conference at the circuit.

"Hopefully (it will be) one that brings everybody together rather than separation in two different directions."

The breakaway threat became more concrete last year when the car makers body ACEA announced the formation of a company, GPWC, to oversee a new championship.

That decision followed the purchase by Kirch of a majority holding in SLEC, a holding company founded by Bernie Ecclestone that has a 100-year deal for the commercial rights to Formula One.

More Control

The carmakers want to enjoy the fruits of their own investment in Formula One and to control a Championship that they now dominate and which offers massive international exposure for their brands.

They also want to ensure that the races remain on terrestrial free television. German media group Kirch is big in pay-per-view.

Ferrari sporting director Jean Todt confirmed that Paolo Cantarella, head of GPWC and formerly of the ACEA, would be at Saturday's meeting with Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo.

FIAT own World Champions Ferrari.

"The Kirch situation may accelerate the process in one way or another," Todt said of the decisions facing the carmakers and Formula One teams.

Kirch hold almost 58 percent of SLEC, a 75 percent share if combined with that of German television rights company EM.TV. Ecclestone holds the rest.

The carmakers had talks with Kirch last year about buying into SLEC but then hardened their position, saying they did not need a shareholding since they planned to launch their own series.

They can do this from 2008 when the current 'Concorde Agreement' between teams, Ecclestone and the FIA expires.

International Automobile Federation (FIA) president Max Mosley is also scheduled to hold a news conference at Imola on Saturday morning.