31/05/2006
NEWS STORY
Paul Ricard President & CEO Philippe Gurdjian's comments at the Spanish Grand Prix, when he suggested that the French track was considering hosting a Grand Prix without spectators other than VIPs, caused a bit of a media stir, not least on Pitpass.
However, F1 supremo, Bernie Ecclestone, is keen to point out that the idea had never seriously been considered, and never will be.
"Mr Gudjian runs one of the best circuits and facilities in the world," Ecclestone told Pitpass on Tuesday, "however, he does not have a contract for a Formula One event."
As for the understandable claims - based on Mr Gurdjian's comments - that such an event would be a 'slap in the face for race fans and therefore a massive PR own goal, Ecclestone said: "I have never said that the public are not important to us. They buy the tickets that keep the promoters in business who in turn keep us in business."