British Racing Drivers Club Deny Brands Take-Over
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Wednesday April 28th, 1999

Last Friday, British Racing Drivers Club (BRDC) members met and later voted against selling the Silverstone racing circuit altogether.

In January, rumours surfaced that Silverstone may lose the British Grand Prix to Brands Hatch if they sold the circuit to anyone other than Nicola Foulston of Brands Hatch Leisure as Foulston had the backing of Bernie Ecclestone. A clause in Silverstone's contract with FOA states that if ownership changes, the track must renegotiate rights to the Grand Prix.

The vote can be taken as a block against an aggressive bid by Brands Hatch. "There was solidarity that Silverstone is not to be sold," said BRDC President Lord Hesketh. BRDC members are now considering a plan by Lord Hesketh for the creation of a new company, Silverstone Circuits Group, to lease operations from the club in an effort to reorganize and build a better financial structure. Lord Hesketh stated further that the BRDC desires to retain the most important racing asset in England.

"Ultimately what is clear is that commercially they are not as good as us," stated Foulston. "We are far more financially successful. The general perception is that Silverstone is bigger but we are twice the size."


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