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Silverstone chiefs summoned before FIA

Thursday 04 May 2000 00:00 BST
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Organisers of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone last month have been summoned to appear before International Automobile Federation chiefs following a number of blunders during last month's race.

The British race organisers risk being penalised and excluded from next year's World Championship series after a number of serious faults were reported by the FIA representative during the fourth of the 17-race championship in April.

FIA said today that Silverstone organisers would appear before the world motor sport council at its next meeting in the Polish capital Warsaw on June 21.

The FIA observer at Silverstone criticised errors made during the qualifying round on the Saturday prior to the race and during the Grand Prix itself on the Sunday.

These included flag errors involving the yellow flag - indicating danger and the need to slow down - and the blue flag, indicating that a faster competitor is behind and the driver should yield.

They are also accused of letting cars onto the circuit before it was officially opened by the race director.

And the FIA is also believed to be unhappy with the manner in which spectators were treated when organisers refused to open the gates early on Sunday morning although there were 11km of traffic jams on the road leading to the circuit.

The bad weather during practice also caused problems and questions being asked about the safety of driving in such conditions.

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