Silverstone Stays; Changes to Next Year's Calendar

The World Motor Sport Council said on Wednesday that the British Grand Prix would be included in the 2001 calendar, but would take place in July rather than May as provisionally planned.

Previously, the British venue of Silverstone was warned by the Federation International de l'Automobile's (FIA) World Motor Sport Council that it might be dropped from the calendar after chaotic scenes following heavy rain at the 2000 race last April.

At a World Motor Sport Council meeting in Seville on Wednesday, Silverstone earned a reprieve after they produced detailed proposals for better organisation.

The British Grand Prix will now return to its traditional - and usually drier - July date, after swapping places with the Austrian Grand Prix, which will now take place on May 13th, at the A1-Ring in Spielberg.

The 2001 British Grand Prix will be the last at Silverstone, after Brands Hatch bought the rights to host the event from 2002.

The future of the event is, however, in doubt as Brands Hatch is awaiting a public inquiry into a 30 million pound ($43.68 million) development plan to get the circuit up to current Formula One standards.

Click here to view the full 2001 Calendar