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British drivers support home circuit
Silverstone, July 15: British Formula One drivers have come to the defence of their home Grand Prix circuit in the wake of attacks from the sport`s supremos.
The circuit, which hosts Sunday's British Grand Prix,
has been regularly slated by Formula One boss Bernie
Ecclestone and world motorsport head Max Mosley. Ecclestone
last month branded it an embarrassment and the year before as
a country fair masquerading as a world event.
Mosley told BBC radio last week that Silverstone was
'fairly well down the list of circuits worldwide and probably
at the bottom of the list in Europe'.
Jackie Stewart, chairman of the British Racing Drivers'
Club that owns the circuit, has said Silverstone was better
than Brazil's Interlagos, Spa, Hungary and Imola in Italy.
With four British drivers in the field for Sunday - David Coulthard of McLaren Mercedes, Jenson Button of the BAR Honda team, Ralph Firman of Jordan Ford and Justin Wilson of European Minardi, there will be plenty of support from the home crowd. Coulthard, who finished fifth at the most recent race, in France and is seventh in the championship table, said: "I think it's absolutely crucial to have a Grand Prix in the UK. So many of the Grand Prix teams are based here, it's a very large industry that employs thousands of people through all motorsport, not only Formula One, but also the lower formulas that I came up through. So the thought of not having a British Grand Prix would devalue the Formula One world championship.
"Silverstone doesn't get enough credit really for the level of investment that they've put back into the circuit; not only to improve the actual track layout itself but also the facilities around and most recently there has been some major redevelopment of the roads around the track to help with getting all those people in and out."
The circuit was built on an old airfield site and Coulthard added: "It's that airfield that gives it that wide open space and that very fast challenging circuit and I think a Grand Prix car can really let loose on that type of track."
The thought of Silverstone and therefore Britain losing the chance to host a Grand Prix does not find any favour with Button, currently 11th in the table. He pointed out that the majority of the teams are based in Britain and the country deserved to host a race.
The two Formula One newcomers, Firman, who has won one championship point so far this season and Wilson, were hoping the support of the home crowd would give their chances of success a boost.
Bureau Report.
With four British drivers in the field for Sunday - David Coulthard of McLaren Mercedes, Jenson Button of the BAR Honda team, Ralph Firman of Jordan Ford and Justin Wilson of European Minardi, there will be plenty of support from the home crowd. Coulthard, who finished fifth at the most recent race, in France and is seventh in the championship table, said: "I think it's absolutely crucial to have a Grand Prix in the UK. So many of the Grand Prix teams are based here, it's a very large industry that employs thousands of people through all motorsport, not only Formula One, but also the lower formulas that I came up through. So the thought of not having a British Grand Prix would devalue the Formula One world championship.
"Silverstone doesn't get enough credit really for the level of investment that they've put back into the circuit; not only to improve the actual track layout itself but also the facilities around and most recently there has been some major redevelopment of the roads around the track to help with getting all those people in and out."
The circuit was built on an old airfield site and Coulthard added: "It's that airfield that gives it that wide open space and that very fast challenging circuit and I think a Grand Prix car can really let loose on that type of track."
The thought of Silverstone and therefore Britain losing the chance to host a Grand Prix does not find any favour with Button, currently 11th in the table. He pointed out that the majority of the teams are based in Britain and the country deserved to host a race.
The two Formula One newcomers, Firman, who has won one championship point so far this season and Wilson, were hoping the support of the home crowd would give their chances of success a boost.
Bureau Report.