Silverstone fights Foulston's 'impractical' plans

The circuit's chief executive Denys Rohan slammed Brands Hatch boss Nicola Foulston and dismissed her plans to redevelop the Kent venue as 'impractical'.

Foulston originally planned to secure the Grand Prix by buying Silverstone, but this was met with hostility by the British Racing Drivers Club which owns the circuit.

Rohan believes Foulston would still prefer to acquire Silverstone and hold the race there.

'Ecclestone has given Foulston a conditional contract to run the race. It has put the pressure on us to sell the circuit to keep the GP at Silverstone but the BRDC is united against any sale of Silverstone,' he maintained.

'Foulston will be pushed into a corner to develop Brands.'

A BRDC spokesman agreed, 'The driving factor behind this deal is Nicola's desire to get her hands on Silverstone. She wants it very much and is getting desperate.'

The club's official statement suggested Foulston might find herself with too much to do to bring Brands up to F1 standard.

It read, 'Silverstone is the only circuit currently capable of staging the Grand Prix in Britain. The BRDC is aware of several significant difficulties facing any potential rival.

'These difficulties include the cost of a competitive contract, the expense and extent of the reconstruction and investment that would have to be committed by a new entrant, and the complications inherent in gaining the planning approval vital to building a circuit capable of replacing Silverstone.'