Racing towards oblivion

Tomorrow, the World Council of the FIA, motor racing's governing body, will meet in Monaco and up for debate is a motion to remove the British Grand Prix's status as a round of next year's title chase.

A principal concern is the handling of the traffic problems that seem to have bedevilled Silverstone since the former wartime airfield first hosted a Grand Prix in 1948.

There will be those who empathise with the FIA's threat to abandon one of the world's most famous races.

For instance, the spectators whose cars sunk axle-deep in mud in what passed for car parks last year when - on the orders of the FIA - the race was moved from its traditional July date to a rain-sodden Easter weekend.

Or those enthusiasts who now face a minimum charge of £199 to watch next year's race - assuming it goes ahead.

It could be argued that organisers who conclude that the answer to traffic chaos is to slash race-day capacity from 90,000 to 60,000 and then reclaim lost revenue at the turnstiles by exploiting supporters hardly deserve the prestige of a world championship event. But that is to ignore the bigger picture.

Former Formula One star Jackie Stewart said: "Britain is the capital of the motor sport world. For Britain not to have a Grand Prix would be ridiculous." Stewart's views are important because he has been a leading figure in the quest for backing, from Government and private concerns, to transform Silverstone's tired acres into the world's foremost Grand Prix facility.

The Scot is president of the British Racing Drivers' Club, Silverstone's landlords, and it was the BRDC who, last December, signed a contract to lease the site for 15 years to the Octagon sports management and promotions company.

Octagon, which also owns Brands Hatch, plans to plough £45million into a complete revamp of Silverstone. To match that investment, Stewart has been to Downing Street seeking £45m in Government funding.

After the embarrassment caused by the donation to Labour Party funds made by Formula One overlord Bernie Ecclestone, Stewart might have expected that door to be slammed in his face.

But he reported: "You only have to bounce the ball once with Tony Blair. He is very perceptive. He knew the direction in which we were travelling, one which is not just hard-core motor racing."

Indeed, it is a lot more than that. Stewart claimed that motor racing and support services are worth 150,000 jobs and £5 billion to the British economy.

Seven of the 11 teams entered in the 2002 World Championship are based in Britain, as are major racing car manufacturers such as Reynard and Lola.

Yet it is possible to detect the first signs of a new trend which could dilute Britain's hold on the lucrative motor racing business. Japanese firm Toyota, which is entering Formula One for the first time next year, has decided to operate its new team from Germany. There are whispers, too, that Renault, which has taken over Benetton, may relocate to France.

The loss of the British Grand Prix would further undermine the industry here, and it is suspected that there are those of influence on the World Council who might privately rejoice at such misfortune.

Isn't such a conspiracy theory a little far-fetched? Maybe not, when the World Council's perceived obsession with traffic overheating in the Northamptonshire countryside is compared with their relative dismissal of far more alarming incidents at other circuits.

For example, one month before last year's mudbath debacle at Silverstone, qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos had to be red-flagged three times because an advertising hoarding collapsed onto the tarmac.

The third time it fell apart, debris hit the Prost of Jean Alesi just as the Frenchman was approaching a corner at 170mph. Had Alesi lost control, the consequences could have been disastrous. Yet the race organisers were hit with a comparatively modest fine of $100,000 (£71,000).

The conspiracy theorists also point out that the publicity surrounding the future of Silverstone as a Grand Prix venue is deflecting serious examination of more pressing issues.

With international companies tightening their corporate belts as recession bites, so the tens of millions of pounds it takes to fuel and crew Grand Prix cars is becoming harder to find. Earlier this month the Prost team went into receivership, and other mid-grid contenders are thought to be struggling.

Then there is the threat of a breakaway championship backed by leading engine suppliers - including Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Renault and Fiat, parent company of Schumacher's Ferrari team - who are unhappy with broadcasting contracts that could see Formula One television rights sold off to subscription sports channels which offer unattractive viewing figures.

Minardi team owner Paul Stoddart said: "Let's not just think that this talk is making only sponsors a bit nervous.

"You could see television networks using these problems to cut their coverage or pull out altogether.

"I just hope that sanity prevails." So far as tomorrow's meeting in Monaco is concerned, Silverstone would say "Amen" to that.

Silverstone's journey to muddy standstill