People of Northampton 'to blame' for loss of British Grand Prix
A racetrack owner from Northamptonshire has said the people of Northampton are to blame for Silverstone losing Formula 1.
Last week, Formula 1 owner Bernie Ecclestone announced a deal had been struck to hand the contract to hold the British Grand Prix to Donington, in Derbyshire, from 2010.
Financial experts in Northamptonshire have claimed the move will see 40m a year lost from the county's economy and thousands of jobs put at threat.
But Alfred Buller, the owner of the Rockingham race circuit near Corby said Silverstone's owners, the British Racing Drivers Club (BRDC), were not to blame, instead arguing Northampton's apathy had led to the loss of the race.
He said: "It's not the BRDC's fault, it's Northampton's.
"People should be in tears after losing this race, but they won't appreciate it until they've lost it."
Last week's British Grand Prix has been named one of the best in decades by racing pundits following Lewis Hamilton's dramatic win in the rain.
The success of the event, which was the first ever three-day sell-out at Silverstone, has led to speculation Mr Ecclestone may rethink his plan to move the race.
The billionaire has denied he could have a change of heart, but Mr Buller said he thought there was still a chance Silverstone could host Formula 1 in 2010.
He said: "The town has got to get behind Silverstone and celebrate the fact we've got Formula 1. We've got to make an effort to really get behind next year's race because I think there's still a chance we can save Formula 1 in Northamptonshire.
"The county certainly can't afford to lose it. The biggest asset Northamptonshire's got is its motorsport.
"The biggest problem at Silverstone has always been a lack of ownership from people in the county. So we've got to show Bernie Ecclestone it's important to us."
Rockingham and Silverstone are part of Northamptonshire's Motorsport Valley, which also includes Santa Pod, Whilton Mill kart circuit and the Northampton International Raceway.
If the Donington deal goes through, Silverstone will host its final Formula 1 race next year.
Email to a friend
Print this page- BREAKING NEWS: Tributes paid to Niamh Curry as brave five-year-old loses battle against cancer
- BREAKING NEWS: Pensioner dies after collision at Northampton shopping centre
- Man tied to tree and beaten on Northampton Racecourse
- BREAKING NEWS: Woman’s body found after ‘suicide’ in Northampton hotel room
- BREAKING NEWS: Seven-year-old boy dies following house fire in Northamptonshire
- Staff strike at Northampton school over academy plans forces closure
- Northampton binmen at ‘breaking point’
- Saints’ stadium plans get support as long as traffic issues solved
- Eastern European pupils helping school standards across Northampton
- Exclusive: PM David Cameron says Northamptonshire Police Commissioner role is “a big job for a big local figure”
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Northampton
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
