Silverstone boss wants better transport to circuit

Silverstone has a contract to host the British Grand Prix until 2034

The managing director of Silverstone said he was speaking to the government about how it could support the British Grand Prix, including improving transport to the circuit.

Stuart Pringle was at a No.10 Downing Street reception on Wednesday to mark 75 years of Formula 1, along with the Formula One Group CEO Stefano Domenicali.

He said the race at Silverstone was one of the few on the F1 calendar which does not receive any public funds, but backing for the event was "not just a case of doling out money".

At the event, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he wanted to hear "what more we as a government can do to support" Formula 1.

Stuart Pringle said he wanted to make the fans' journey to the circuit better

The Northamptonshire circuit has a contract to host the British Grand Prix until 2034.

It hosted the first ever Formula 1 World Championship race 75 years ago and has hosted the UK leg exclusively since 1987.

Mr Pringle told BBC Radio Northampton's Annabel Amos: "We've never received public money to help pay the fee [for hosting the Grand Prix] and that is where most countries use their public money, although some have it put into infrastructure.

"I think we're going to have a conversation with government [about support]".

But he said it was not just about money but rather boosting the motorsport industry and infrastructure around the circuit.

The Prime Minister hosted Formula 1 teams, drivers and those in charge of the sport

Mr Pringle said: "The government recognises that the motorsport industry, the high-performance motorsport engineering sector, is extremely important to the United Kingdom.

"The contribution to gross domestic product from motorsport is growing and growing.

"So the sort of things I want to talk about are connectivity, about how we can have better public transport to this part of the country. Rail would be good if we could bring people closer to Silverstone by rail."

He also said he want to look at how road journeys could be improved, which was also raised by the F1 CEO earlier in the week.

The prime minister said Formula 1 was "really important" to the UK.

He said at Wednesday's reception he wanted to "talk about the future and to invite [Formula 1] to work with us".