Motor Racing: Car speed to be reduced: Rules 'will change'

BERNIE ECCLESTONE, the president of the Formula One Constructors' Association, promised yesterday that the speed of grand prix racing cars would be reduced as a result of the deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger at the San Marino Grand Prix meeting in Imola last weekend, writes Patrick Miles.

Ecclestone, who is also a vice-president of FIA, the sport's ruling body, said after Senna's funeral in Sao Paulo: 'I will not let him die for nothing. The rules will be changed in 1995 to reduce the speed of the cars, but we would like to bring this change forward.'

Ecclestone said the cause of Senna's accident would not be known for some time.

The impresario of Formula One also said he was bearing the brunt of the resentment felt by Brazilians following Senna's death. He was asked by Senna's brother, Leonardo, not to attend the funeral of the three- times world champion.

The doctors who tended to Senna in hospital in Bologna on Sunday yesterday denied allegations being made in Brazil that Senna had died on the circuit, which would have resulted in the race being called off and commercial penalties suffered as a consequence.