Ecclestone rattles sabre

Bernie Ecclestone and Max Mosley have delivered a twin shot across the bows of the world's major car manufacturers over their plans for an independent formula one world championship.

Ecclestone, who holds the commercial rights to formula one, called off a meeting today in Stuttgart with the manufacturers and bankers representing the bankrupt Kirch media group which was intended to thrash out a deal that would see the car makers take a stake in the formula one business.

GPWC, a company formed by Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Ford, Renault and Honda, had signalled its intention to start a separate series in 2008 unless there was a more equitable distribution of revenue.

Ecclestone and the bankers handling the affairs of Kirch share 53% of all commercial revenues from the grand prix business. The teams share 47% and get nothing from circuit advertising or ticket sales.

Ecclestone decided to shelve the meeting when it became clear that the manufacturers were considering running a new series outside the jurisdiction of the sport's present governing body, the FIA.

The move was followed up by Mosley, the FIA president, who has written to all formula one team principals warning of the problems a breakaway world championship could impose, namely uncertainty with sponsors and an absence of an administrative body.

In a leaked memo Mosley warned: "In the unlikely circumstances that GPWC succeeded in this unilateral approach it would inflict serious damage to the sport as a whole. It would undermine motor sport safety by creating a precedent for a proliferation of other series running at less than internationally agreed standards. Governments could legitimately claim that the sport was irresponsible and insufficiently regulated."

Some believe that Ecclestone is attempting to improve his negotiating position with the car makers and the banks who are concerned about the possible dwindling value of their investment in formula one against a backdrop of poor TV viewing figures and processional racing.

The Bentley sports car team, meanwhile, have offered Eddie Irvine a drive in next year's Le Mans 24-hour race. The Ulsterman is still waiting to see if there is a chance of securing the remaining Jordan-Ford formula one drive alongside Giancarlo Fisichella.