03/02/2005
NEWS STORY
It has been reported elsewhere that Bernie Ecclestone's hopes of killing off the Grand Prix World Championship (GPWC), or at least hindering it, have been given a massive boost as a result of a campaign urging circuit owners to rally together and support the F1 supremo.
It's reported that Ecclestone's good friend, and Australian Grand Prix boss, Ron walker, has written to circuit owners and race promoters urging them to ignore any approaches from representatives of the GPWC.
In reality this isn't necessary, and this is something that Pitpass has been saying for some time.
Ecclestone has already done long-range deals with all manner of tracks, those currently hosting races and those that hope to. It is part of the contract between FOM and the relevant circuit that no races that might be perceived as a threat to F1 are hosted, indeed we understand that if a circuit wishes to host any type of single-seater racing over a certain engine capacity - believed to be 1000 cc - Ecclestone's permission has to be given, which is hardly likely in the case of a rival series.
Therefore, whatever happens with the GPWC, or any other breakaway series, Bernie has more than enough circuits tied up.