British F1 Grand Prix in doubt

Next year's British Grand Prix could be scrubbed off the official 2002 Formula One calendar at a meeting in Monaco next week.

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) world motor sports council will meet on December 14 to decide the fate of a historic race that opened the inaugural Formula One season at Silverstone in 1950.

FIA spokesman Francesco Longanesi confirmed on Wednesday that the July 7 race was on the agenda: "The matter will be discussed," he added.

But he could not confirm or deny that a proposal, which must be voted on at the meeting, had been made to axe it.

Silverstone, a home circuit for most of the 12 teams, was included on a provisional calendar issued by the FIA in October but with an asterisk denoting that it was subject to the outcome of an enquiry into traffic conditions.

Former world champion Jackie Stewart, president of the British Racing Drivers' Club, told BBC radio that FIA president Max Mosley had warned him previously that the race could be replaced by a non-championship event.

Stewart said organisers had already committed some 12.6 million pounds on improving public roads and accused the FIA of "casting a blind eye" on what had been done.

"Britain is the capital of motorsport. For Britain not to have a grand prix would be ridiculous," he said.

"Cancelling this grand prix, if it were to happen and I really don't think it will happen ... would obviously dissolve any of the negotiations we're having with the government and would seriously affect motorsport in this country."

SPECULATION

A spokeswoman for promoters Octagon Motorsports, who have the rights to host the race for 15 years, said any suggestion that the race would be struck off the calendar remained "mere speculation."

"No official document has been issued. The world council meets on December 14 when a decision will be made. No decision can be taken ahead of that meeting," said Maria Bellanca.

"It's a democratic process and it would be incorrect to interfere with that."

She said Octagon was confident that the reports commissioned into Silverstone's problems would be favourable to the circuit and that improvements had been made this year.

The former airfield in central England hosted the opening race of the inaugural 1950 season and was won by Italian Giuseppe Farina in an Alfa Romeo on May 13.

The British Grand Prix has been the subject of media speculation this year, with Autosport magazine reporting that it was in danger unless a satisfactory explanation was given for traffic problems.

The magazine's website quoted a source close to the FIA on Wednesday as saying that Silverstone was quite a serious matter and was not just a case of "a slap on the wrist."

The circuit, in central England, has long suffered from severe congestion on the approaches down country roads to limited entry points.

In 2000, the race -- held in April -- was plagued by steady rain and swamp-like conditions that forced organisers to close public car parks on the qualifying Saturday.

Formula One races have been held in the past as non-championship events, but one team source said teams would be unlikely to take part unless financial guarantees were in place.

UNDER FIRE

Octagon have also been under fire in Britain for increasing the price of British Grand Prix tickets for 2002, making the event one of the most costly in British sport.

Three other races have yet to be confirmed on the provisional calendar.

The two in Italy are subject to contract renegotiations and the season-opening Australian round is waiting for the green light following an enquiry currently under way in Melbourne into the death of a race marshal this year.