New bid to save British GP

Former world champion and British GP winner Nigel Mansell has joined forces with the company, whose directors include Kim Cockburn, a 46-year-old motor racing entrepreneur, former British Touring Car Champion Robb Gravett and David Phipps.

Cockburn, Brand Synergy's MD, has told Ecclestone that she is ready to sign the licence as soon as possible, and is believed to be willing to pay Silverstone's owners, the British Racing Drivers Club, £3 million a year in order to put on the race at the Northamptonshire circuit.

Brand Synergy claims it has been set-up to promote the British GP and to help the BRDC deliver the master plan that will ensure the success of the circuit and the businesses that are dependent on it.

"For drivers, Silverstone is one of the best circuits in the world," Mansell said, "but some of the facilities are not as good as those at new government-funded circuits like Shanghai. We are going to rectify this."

Cockburn added: "There is a deal on the boardroom table of the BRDC that is good for them, good for the fans and good for the long term future of motor sport in this country. I have agreed with Bernie to sign a seven-year licence and am confident that Silverstone will appear on the calendar for 2005 and for the foreseeable future."

Ecclestone said: "I have been talking to Kim Cockburn about this for a long time and am confident that Brand Synergy can get the job done."

It is understood that central to Brand Synergy's plans, however, is the desire to develop the Silverstone site with its partners, Quintain Estates and Development, and it is believed that the company has earmarked £200 million for the project. The plans would, however, need the approval of the BRDC membership. In the meantime, the BRDC's Alex Hooton is scheduled to meet with the developers tomorrow (Friday).

With a provisional 2005 F1 calendar due for release next week, it remains to be seen whether the British GP will feature on it. The firm calendar is not due to be released until December, which would allow sufficient time for an extraordinary meeting of the BRDC.