Friday February 28th, 2003

Over six years of investigation, legal threats and several publishers withdrawing from the project has finally ended this month, when author Terry Lovell released his book, "Bernie's Game" - the behind-the-scenes, unofficial biography of Formula One's most powerful man. And, more surprisingly, he has finally managed to do it with the help of Bernie Ecclestone himself.

Briton Lovell was commissioned to write the tell-all book in 1997 by publishing house Little, Brown. However, after legal threats and allegations by Ecclestone against Lovell, claiming the writer was harrassing his family, Little, Brown cancelled the project, and Lovell had to begin a search for another publisher.

After seeing a couple more publishers sign him on and then regret it, once faced with high-cost legal bills, Lovell signed with John Blake Publishing - headed by former tabloid editor John Blake - who decided to send the manuscript of the book earlier this year to Ecclestone himself as well as to FIA president Max Mosley.

"John's experience was that people will often respond positively when given the chance to read the manuscript," Lovell told the Daily Telegraph. "I'd always opposed the idea because I believed Ecclestone might nobble the people who'd spoken so frankly to me."

But Blake was right - his strategy did the trick, and Ecclestone agreed to cooperate with Lovell.

"At no time has he attempted to persuade me to tone down the allegations or try to counter my personal comments and conclusions about him as a person and a businessman," Lovell told the newspaper. "Very much to his credit, I reckon.

"Ecclestone's style is to put on an aggressive front, but then quite frequently to come round to your point of view if it's put clearly and firmly. Like many successful businessmen he quickly detects signs of weaknesses or uncertainties in people he's dealing with. He thrives on that."

Ironically, at the same time Lovell's book is released, Ecclestone himself announced he has authorised Susan Watkins, the wife of Professor Sid Watkins, to write his official biography. The authorised book is expected to be published by Ebury Press in mid-2004.