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December 8, 2009


Silverstone looking to earn rich rewards from big-race gamble

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/spo...cle6948059.ece



Great Britain’s latest Formula One champions, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, led a chorus of approval that reverberated around British motorsport yesterday after Silverstone confirmed that it has a deal in place to host the British Grand Prix for the next 17 years.

After months — if not years — of uncertainty about the future of the race and the role to be played by the classic track set on an old airfield in Northamptonshire, Richard Phillips, the circuit’s managing director, was finally able to look forward with confidence as he announced the deal struck with Bernie Ecclestone, the sport’s commercial rights-holder.

“We’ve always had five-year deals and never been able to get the investment we needed to redevelop, but 17 years gives us the ability to invest and move forward,” Phillips said. “We’ve always had the belief that the British Grand Prix was an important cornerstone of Formula One but, with Bernie, you’re never quite sure. Now we’ve got to sell a lot of tickets, and get out there and promote the event.”

Hamilton said he was delighted the race has retained a long-term home at Silverstone. “It’s great the race will be at Silverstone,” he said. “British fans are the greatest Formula One supporters and this must be the best Christmas present they could ever ask for. I can’t wait to come home to the British Grand Prix when both Jenson and I will be flying the flag for Britain and doing our best to win the race.”