Monaco, May 31: Toyota team principal Ove Andersson said here yesterday that Grand Prix racing should never be run by the manufacturers which race in it.
The sport is facing a crucial period as negotiations over the commercial rights will reach a head in the coming months and Andersson is concerned about its future.
Five of the car manufacturers involved in the sport - Ford, Renault, Ferrari, Mercedes and BMW - have threatened to create a breakaway Grand Prix World Championship (GPWC) if they are not given a greater share of the revenue.
But Andersson believes the GPWC would not be acceptable and called for a solution which will still allow an independent body to run the competition.

"Toyota believes manufacturers should not run the competition and we have never been very interested in joining the GPWC," said Andersson.



"It has been offered and the offer is still there, but we believe there should be an independent organisation that runs the races and that you can go and race there if you want to."



The commercial rights are held by SLEC, which is 25 per cent owned by a trust belonging to Bernie Ecclestone and 75 per cent owned by banks who were given the shares after the collapse of previous owners Kirch Media.


Bureau Report