Ecclestone proposes dropping Silverstone

The British Grand Prix has today been dropped from the Formula One calendar for the first time in the sport’s history.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone had given Silverstone owners the British Racing Drivers’ Club until close of business today to meet his financial demands.

The two parties are believed to be around £3m (€4.5m) apart on the annual cost of rights to the race and Ecclestone tonight pulled the plug.

He has omitted the race, which this year was a 100,000 sell-out, from his provisional 2005 calendar, which goes before the FIA’s world motor sport council on October 13.

Ecclestone has been a fierce critic of Silverstone over recent years, attacking facilities at first but moving on to demand the BRDC pay at a similar rate to races throughout Europe.

The BRDC have long argued they, as a non-profit organisation, cannot afford to run at a loss but Ecclestone, who receives most of his fees from national governments keen to cash in on Formula One, has lost patience.

He has drafted the 2005 calendar with no slot for the British Grand Prix, the first time that has happened since the world championship began at Silverstone in 1950.