Deal With the Devil Done, Silverstone Saved
The British Grand Prix has been saved following a new deal agreed between Silverstone chiefs and Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone - the “Devil” - or as he’s known around these parts The Gnome.
The news was confirmed on Monday by Silverstone Circuits Limited, with the contract to run for the next 17 years.
It ensures the oldest race on the F1 calendar retains its place in motor sport history, with Silverstone able to step into the breach following Donington Park’s failure to meet its obligations.
Silverstone managing director Richard Phillips said: “We’ve always had five-year deals and never been able to get the investment we needed to redevelop.
“But 17 years gives us the ability to invest and move forward.
“We’ve always had the belief the British Grand Prix was an important cornerstone of Formula One but, with Bernie, you’re never quite sure.
“At the end of the day, though, you have to have a British Grand Prix.
“We’ve now got to sell a lot of tickets, to get out there and do similar sorts of numbers as we did this year when we had 230,000 people there over the three days, and promote the event.”
Phillips described the deal as “peace in our time” between the circuit’s owners, the British Racing Drivers Club, and Ecclestone.
“The relationship with Formula One Management has been improving,” added Phillips.
“There’s a good working relationship with him now and we don’t have any issues.”
The will-they-won’t-they saga surrounding the future of the Grand Prix has been going on since what feels like the dawn of time. Silverstone lost it, Donington won it, and then Donington lost all its money. If it ever had any – the financial arrangements were complex, to say the least, and depended on projections dreamt up well before the credit had crunched.
Once the collapse of Donington’s escapade had been confirmed, all that stood between Britain and a Grand Prix were the negotiations between the British Racing Drivers’ Club and Bernie Ecclestone.
Normally having The Gnome between you and your goal is on par with finding a Starbucks coffee under a buck, it just ain’t gonna happen.
Fortunately it did happen this time.
And the F1 circus and its many fans are presumably saved from yet another Tilke designed track that may have taken its place.
Related articles:
- British Grand Prix To Stay At Silverstone
- F1 British GP to stay at Silverstone for 17 years
- British Grand Prix, F1 reach 17-year London deal
- Silverstone will stage British GP
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“We’ve now got to sell a lot of tickets, to get out there and do similar sorts of numbers as we did this year when we had 230,000 people there over the three days, and promote the event.”
Really?? Just assume that every year, for the next 17, you will have that level of interest, where a Brit(Lewis) was the reigning WC & another Brit(Button) was on his way to a WC.
Has Silverstone learnt nothing!!
I disagree Peter, as long as there are Brit drivers on the grid to cheer on, whether reigning WC’s or not, the fans will come.
I loved Bernie’s quote, “I could have got more money elsewhere.”
And had any personal property fire bombed, no doubt. Ultimately it was an act of self preservation. And I’m sure he’ll still profit wildly.
Silverstones crowd figures have swung high & low over the years. Sure there is a core audience of diehards, but not enough to pull 230k each year.