The Scotsman

The world stage’

- By JAMES MACMILLAN

in the 400m hurdles and also the 4x400m relay, where she will be joined in the squad by 22-year-old Aberdonian Zoey Clark.

Clark has enjoyed a stunning breakthrou­gh year, winning the British title and looking forward to her first major individual outing in a British vest.

Themen’s1,500mhasan all-scottish line-up, with Chris O’hare, Josh Kerr and Wightman, as does the women’s 5,000m where Muir is joined by Steph Twell and Eilish Mccolgan.

Sir Mo Farah leads the home team in the great man’s last hurrah on the track as he aims for yet another 5,000m and 10,000m double. Fellow megastar Usain Bolt will also take his bow in the stadium 0 1 Guy Learmouth, 2, Andrew Butchart; 3, Callum Hawkins; 4, Josh Kerr; 5, Laura Muir; 6, Jack Wightman; 7, Zoey Clarke; 8, Steph Twell; 9, Eilish Mccolgan; 10, Beth Potter; 11 Eilidh Doyle; 12, Lynsey Sharp; 13, Chris

O’hare that created so many unforgetta­ble memories five years ago. Defending long jump champion Greg Rutherford, who was one third of the “Super Saturday” trio along with Farah and Jessica Ennis, has been selected despite growing doubts over his fitness.

The 30-year-old suffered an ankle injury last month which has left him struggling.

Dina Asher-smith has won her fitness battle after a broken foot to claim a place in the women’s individual 200m and 4x100m relay squad.

Adam Gemili has only made the team in the 4x100m relay squad with Zharnel Hughes preferred in the 200m after Gemili came sixth in the British trials.

“This feels bigger for us than Rio,” said British Athletics performanc­e director Neil Black.

“We’ve selected some incredibly talented athletes, and in many events there have been some close calls.

“It’s now up to them to grasp this opportunit­y and produce performanc­es that will make the whole nation proud.”

There remains a window until 25 July for exceptiona­l performanc­es and IAAF invites for other athletes to force their way on to the team. The British Grand Prix could be rubbed off the Formula One calendar after Silverston­e’s owners triggered a break clause in its contract yesterday.

The British Racing Drivers’ Club, which owns the Northampto­nshire circuit, gave notice of its intent to leave its current deal in 2019, after revealing losses of almost £8 million over the last two years.

Nearly 140,000 spectators watched triple world champion Lewis Hamilton claim his third consecutiv­e win at Silverston­e last year, and a near sell-out crowd is expected again this weekend as Hamilton bids to reduce rival Sebastian Vettel’s 20-point lead at the summit of the championsh­ip.

But the demands of Silverston­e’s hosting fee which goes up by 5 per cent every year – from £12m in 2010, the year in which the new long-term deal started, to £16m this season and £25m in 2026 – is crippling the circuit.

The BRDC and Silverston­e want to continue their relationsh­ip with Formula One, but will not do so at the cost of financial ruin. The Northampto­nshire circuit, unlike many other tracks on the F1 calendar, receives no government backing.

“This decision has been taken because it is not financiall­y viable for us to deliver the British Grand Prix under the terms of our current contract,’’ BRDC chairman John Grant, pictured, said. “We sustained losses of £2.8m in 2015 and £4.8m in 2016, and we expect to lose a similar amount this year.

“We have reached the tipping point where we can no longer let our passion for the sport rule our heads. It would not only risk the very future of Silverston­e and the BRDC, but also the British

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 ??  ?? 0 Joy for Lewis Hamilton after winning at Silverston­e last year.
0 Joy for Lewis Hamilton after winning at Silverston­e last year.
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