Silverstone unfazed by World Cup clash

The draw for the World Cup took place in Germany last weekend and England's first match of the tournament, against Paraguay on June 10, will clash with qualifying day at Silverstone. The match is due to kick off immediately after the one-hour qualifying session itself.

The date clash prompted wild reports at the weekend that Silverstone was lobbying Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone to change the date, though the circuit made it clear on Monday that it was actually embracing the timing of the England game.

"What an unbelievable weekend of sport", said Richard Phillips, Managing Director of Silverstone Circuits Limited. "The British Grand Prix is one of the biggest and most spectacular events on the UK sporting calendar, so with England's opening game of the football World Cup scheduled to take place on the Saturday, sports fans are in for a real treat.

"If last year's F1 season is anything to go by we'll have a fantastic British Grand Prix on the 11 June, in front of another sell out crowd. The main thing is we've avoided the later rounds of the World Cup, when England will hopefully be through to the knock-out stages.

"Let's just hope we have a British winner here at Silverstone, and that England go on to win the World Cup. It'll certainly be a month for sports fans to remember!"

Phillips believes that there is every chance next year's British Grand Prix will be a sell-out, especially judging by swift early ticket sales.

"We are delighted with the rate that tickets have been selling," he added. "Tickets hadn't gone on sale this time last year, so we're benefiting from the opportunity for fans to buy Grand Prix tickets as Christmas presents."