Mosley backs British GP future

Two new races are likely to join the Grand Prix schedule for 2004. Given that most teams are against adding more races to the 17 currently run each year, established events could be dropped.

But FIA president Mosley told Reuters at Silverstone over the weekend that the British GP is unlikely to be axed in favour of a new event.

"I think the British GP is very much one of the traditional races and provided it is properly run and properly sited, then there's no realistic chance that it will be lost," he said.

On a TV interview before the race, Mosely described the new road network surrounding Silverstone as "sensational". After two years of threats and ultimatums to get the British GP right, his words will be encouraging to race promoter Octagon Motorsports and Silverstone owner the British Racing Drivers' Club.

Yet despite the improvements made to the organisation of this year's event, F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has still been critical. He told the British national press: "It's a country fair masquerading as a world event."

One of the new events that could be added to the F1 calendar is a race in Shanghai, China. It is claimed that an agreement has been reached to run GPs in the city from 2004 to 2010.