The future of the British Grand Prix has already been under threat, but a letter by the BRDC chairman has cast more doubts over the GP.
Silverstone has a contract to host the British GP until 2026, but financial problems have forced the BRDC, who own the track, to consider triggering the break clause. If triggered before the British GP this year, the contract would end in 2019.
In a letter leaked to ITV, John Grant said a decision about whether the BRDC Board will exercise the break clause will be made by mid-year.
“Although, even in a good year, the BGP does not generate enough cash to cover its share of the site overheads, our major concern has always been the risk of a bad year,” Grant said in the letter to BRDC members. “We see the arrival of Liberty Media as having the potential to bring changes which could enhance F1 in a number of ways and, over time, could maybe lead to a more equitable balance for promoters such as ourselves. We expect the BRDC and Silverstone to play an active role in how this develops over the coming months.”
Grant went on to say that the board wants to keep the British GP at Silverstone but “only if it makes sense to do so.” The track has hosted the event permanently since 1987 and tight regulations limit alternative tracks for the event.
In his letter, Grant said the board will “consider fully all the implications” before they come to their conclusion. The money will definitely be part of the decision, though the board believes the track hosts enough other races, such as the World Endurance Championship and the British Touring Car Championship, to “absorb… even the loss of the British GP after 2019.”
The loss of the race could have consequences on the rest of the country, though, especially if an alternative location can’t be found.
“If you think of all the industries that were involved to support motorsport and Formula One at the highest level, then not to have a British Grand Prix would severely affect Britain in so many different ways,” Sir Jackie Stewart told ITV.
