Stewart Critical of Ecclestone over Silverstone Threat

Former champion Jackie Stewart has accused Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone of backtracking on assurances that the British Grand Prix at Silverstone was safe to 2006.

"We are dismayed at Bernie Ecclestone's latest threat to the future of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone," the Scot said in a statement issued by the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC), of which he is the president, on Wednesday.

"We are surprised at Mr Ecclestone's backtracking on the FOA's assurances of the security of the 2005/2006 Grand Prix," it added.

Ecclestone's Formula One Administration (FOA) holds the right to promote the event.

Stewart said: "It is sad to see a dark cloud over the future of Silverstone this weekend when we should be celebrating the pre-eminence of our motorsport industry and hoping for a British winner on Sunday."

The British Grand Prix, 11th round of the Championship, is on Sunday. Silverstone hosted the first Formula One race in 1950 but has fallen behind newer tracks and been repeatedly criticised by Ecclestone in the past.

The BRDC owns the circuit and announced on Tuesday that it had reached agreement to take back the lease and running of the circuit from advertising giant Interpublic. It added that FOA had publicly guaranteed that the race was secure for 2005 and 2006.

The FOA later disputed that, saying it was prepared to enter into agreement with either the BRDC or a suitable promoter to stage the race on the same commercial terms in place for the two Grands Prix in Germany.

"As yet neither the BRDC nor any other person has stepped up to accept this offer," it said. "Such an agreement would need to be in place no later than 30 September 2004."

Stewart said the deadline had not been mentioned before.