TEAMS FORCE CANCELLATION OF GRAND PRIX RACE
Most teams competing in this year's Green Flag MSA British
Touring Car Championship have now decided not to compete in
the planned non-championship race at July's British Formula
One Grand Prix meeting at Silverstone.
This means that what would have been the British Touring
Cars' most prestigious race date of the season has now been
cancelled, due to a lack of enough committed participants.
BTCC Series Director Alan Gow said: "We announced last
July that, after a seven-year absence, we had regained our
slot on British Grand Prix race day for 2004. Despite it being
announced some ten months ago, and enthusiastically welcomed,
those teams who belong to BETA (a teams' organisation) have
now surprisingly decided that they are unable to take advantage
of the highest-profile event in our calendar, for their own
financial reasons. Very regrettably, I therefore have no alternative
but to cancel it.
"In order to clarify; the decision not to race was taken
by all members of BETA with the exception of Computeach Racing
with Halfords. Conversely, all the teams that don't belong
to that organisation (i.e. SEAT Sport UK, Synchro Motorsport,
Edenbridge Racing, Kartworld, Mardi Gras Motorsport and Team
Quest/Varta) were committed to competing.
"We were also set to announce that several of the European
Touring Car Championship's leading teams and drivers would
be coming to England to compete in the race. This would have
made an absolutely tremendous spectacle and an incredible
showcase for our cars, manufacturers, teams, drivers and sponsors
in front of the biggest audience of the year.
"Unfortunately, I fear that the negative decision taken
by BETA means that it is a great opportunity squandered and
one that undoubtedly will be regretted for many years to come.
Naturally I am particularly disappointed, as must our loyal
fans be, but I must reinforce the fact that it was entirely
BETA's decision that it did not wish to compete."
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