Silverstone’s British GP future is in doubt
SILVERSTONE’S hosting of the British Grand Prix past 2019 has been put in doubt due to the rising costs in Formula One.
The Northamptonshire circuit’s executive director Stuart Pringle has raised issues with the costs involved in hosting the race weekend and is unsure whether Silverstone can continue after the current contract expires.
Pringle said: “I sincerely hope it won’t be the end of grand prix racing at Silverstone but we’ve made clear to the Formula One management we can’t live with the present contract beyond 2019.”
Triple world champion Lewis Hamilton’s success has attracted record crowds at Silverstone in recent years. But the demands of the hosting fee, which goes up by 5% every year – from £12million in 2010, to £17m this year and £26m in 2026 – has placed a heavy burden on the circuit’s owners.
New owners Liberty Media hope to put plans in place to attract more fans to the sport, but Pringle stressed this was not a current issue at Silverstone.
“We are pretty much a full house and we are charging pretty much a full price and we still can’t make the sums add up,” Pringle added.
“Liberty have got some great ideas and we support their plans for a better show and fan experience. But they will likely take years to produce a significant benefit to the circuits and we haven’t got the luxury of time.
“We need to deal in certainties and not possibilities.” COMMONWEALTH Games hopefuls Lynne Beattie and Mel Coutts (above) made a winning start to their European Beach Volleyball Tour event in Koropovo, Ukraine.
The Scots pair edged Iryna Chechelnytska and Eva Rylova from the host nation 21-17 18-21 17-15. Head Damsel and various Blobs, whilst fish are now getting caught in all areas of the loch.
Frank Jackson and Andy Anderson from Edinburgh kept 10 fish weighing 21lb 7oz and released a further 10, Archie and Arran Davidson (Stirling) 10 fish for 21lb and returned four.
On the club front, the Royal Perth Golfing Society AC retained four fish weighing 10lb and released 11, RAF Northern League AC 62 fish for 149lb and released 81 and Roslin Elite FC kept 22 fish weighing 45lb 12oz.