Formula One news
Hill: British Grand Prix 'crucial' to F1
18 June 2009Damon Hill believes that the British Grand Prix, present on the Formula One calendar since the inauguration of the series fifty-nine years ago, is a vital part of the jigsaw which makes up the World Championship and, furthermore, that the lack of the event would be a huge loss to the sport. Hill, 1996 Champion, shared his opinions at Silverstone on Wednesday.
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Britain's last World Champion before Lewis Hamilton, British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) president Hill is sure that, with the future of the British Grand Prix in doubt, such a hole in the calendar would be a large hit to the sport. "The British Grand Prix is a crucial part of the mix of F1, the history of F1 and, no doubt, you can argue that no-one is indispensable," he said, "but the British Grand Prix is part of that and likewise Silverstone."
Believing that issues between the BRDC and F1 commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone exist as the former is a 'company', Hill is in total understanding of the British government's unwillingness to provide taxpayers' money in order to fund the event, scene of the first ever F1 race. He continued: "History is very important. Nostalgia is looking back wistfully but it is also the key ingredient which makes something more valuable in the future, because it has a history. Continuity of the sport is its value; I would never be against trying to export F1 or motorsport around the world but it's not good to have an event where there isn't a packed crowd of people who are knowledgeable about sport - that's why football is so strong in this country."
Still unsure of Donington Park's readiness to host the race next year, Hill explained Ecclestone's motives for dropping Silverstone from the calendar: "There has been enormous pressure to develop Silverstone to the standard that Bernie wants, and he wants the venue which represents - in his view - modernity and cutting-edge design and he wants Terminal 5 (as in Heathrow Airport's latest development). He wants something terrific and we're not saying we don't want that, but this is a business as well and it has to survive, but without significant government underwriting it can't take a risk that would be irresponsible."
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