FIA ANNOUNCE YEAR 2000 RACE DATES - BIG CHANGES

The administrators/organisers at Silverstone have been sent into a frenzy as the calendar for the 2000 season has been announced!

Press releases coming through from Formula One chiefs have confirmed that the British Grand Prix is to be switched from its usual summer date to Easter Sunday next year.

The 2000 schedule also includes a return of Formula One racing to the United States after a nine-year absence. I'm sure that Steve Dean will be happy about that!

Motor racing's governing body, the FIA, says the British switch - from mid-July to April 23 - has been made to reduce transportation costs. Holding it in July meant an expensive trek across the channel in between other Grands Prix on mainland Europe. Now, the French, Austrian, German, Hungarian, Belgian and Italian races will be held in successive fortnights from July 2 to September 10.

Silverstone will host the British GP on April 23 - two weeks after the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola and a fortnight before the race goes to Barcelona. The American Grand Prix will be held in Indianapolis on September 24.

The other major change is that Malaysia, which hosted a race for the first time this season, will stage next season's climax on October 22.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who has agreed to sell half his empire to Deutsche Bank's Morgan Grenfell in a $1.3 billion deal, is also reported to be in talks to take grand prix racing to Egypt and other Middle East destinations.

Dubai has been mooted as a future venue as Ecclestone tries to make the championship more global and also move away from Europe, where tobacco advertising is becoming increasingly difficult.

Comment

So what does the move mean for British fans? Well many will have already arranged next years holidays to fit in with work committments and will have paid out hard cash to purchase tickets (our editor included!). Hundreds if not thousands will now have to make new arrangements. Silverstone circuit themselves have thrown the panic button, it seems that there was little, if any, consultation about the change of date.

It is also hard to understand the reasons, transport costs are given as one reason, then why in the middle of the European races does the F1 circus travel to Canada, and then straight back to Europe?

The British weather is unpredictable at the best of times, and it can be bloody cold in April, it could even snow!

What do you our readers think about the new arrangements? Please email me with your comments - [email protected].

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