Ecclestones quits British GP talks

F1 impresario Bernie Ecclestone has withdrawn from negotiations with the BRDC over a proposed two-year deal for it to promote the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. The race was given a provisional slot on the official FIA 2005 Formula 1 World Championship calendar last week, but Ecclestone now appears to have lost patience over the issue. "We have to admit defeat and end the discussions," he said. "It looks certain there will not be a British GP in 2005."

Oct 20, 2004, 11:04 AM

"We have been unable to reach agreement on the length of the commitment or the financial terms," he added.

BRDC CE Alex Hooten believes however that the event may still take place. Speaking exclusively, Hooten told autosport.com: "We don't believe it is necessarily the end. One has to accept that at the moment, with Bernie going off to Brazil and making public the contents of the letter he had sent to us on Monday, that there does not seem to be any point of contact right now.

"Having said that, we have got a board meeting tomorrow and we are going to be considering the position and whether there are any avenues for re-opening negotiations. We know the government is doing the same and we also know that nothing particularly in F1 is over until it's over."