Telegraph Sport understands that around 10 senior figures have lost
their jobs, including Phillips, the legal director David Thomson and the
financial director Ed Brookes. The marketing manager and head of the
Silverstone experience centre have also gone.
As one of only two privately run circuits on the Formula One calendar,
Silverstone faces a major challenge to remain in profit, despite the
revamped facilities and ‘Wing’ paddock opened in 2011. It faces an annual
fee thought to be around £11.5 million to Bernie Ecclestone’s Formula One
Management, which rises every year.
Amid this backdrop, Allen has spoken optimistically of dramatically reducing
the price for entry. “What I would like to do is see ticket prices
falling for the British Grand Prix,” Allen told the BBC. “In my
mind I have the benchmark of a £99 admission ticket. I think that’s what
customers deserve. I would much rather see better ticket offers and once
people are here, do more for them.
“If you want to get more people here every year, you don’t do that by
putting the ticket prices up. We are desperately trying to bring the ticket
price down.”
With the race-day crowd already at 120,000, Silverstone’s infrastructure –
which succumbed to heavy rain in 2012 – will be pushed even further if they
are to sell more tickets at a lower cost.
Upon confirming the change in management this month, the BRDC also announced
ticket sales were up 16 per cent on this time last year. But with a British
reigning champion in Lewis Hamilton, not to mention Jenson Button’s
retention of his McLaren drive, the climate is perfect for a bumper crowd on
July 5. It is when Hamilton is not on top of the world that Silverstone and
its new management will face a far bigger test.
Meanwhile, Formula One’s bosses are considering changing the engine rules amid
complaints from McLaren’s new engine partner Honda that the regulations are
unfair.
After being trounced by Mercedes last year, Renault and Ferrari have found a
loophole which will allow them to develop their underpowered engines in the
middle of the 2015 season. However, the FIA, motorsport’s governing body,
initially said this did not extend to Honda.
The Japanese company’s senior management had a meeting with Charlie Whiting,
the race director, on Monday, and discussions are continuing. “The
meeting went well and that we are currently discussing matters that arose,”
an FIA spokesman said.