London to host F1 race?

It could be manic on the streets of London if Bernie Ecclestone gets his way as news of a surprise F1 development emerges.

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The Formula One impresario has been making more noises about staging a London Grand Prix, which could see the likes of Hamilton and Vettel jostling for position past London’s big-ticket landmarks, including Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square.

Formula One’s billionaire chief has made no secret of his ambitions to hold a street race in the capital to rival the glitzy Monaco grand prix.

Actually, the capital has reverberated to the tune of screaming F1 cars before – a demonstration event on Regent Street in 2004 saw Nigel Mansell and Jenson Button flambé some tyres in front of a rapturous crowd – and it’s thought a fully-fledged 59 lap race  would attract huge interest – although it isn’t expected to replace the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

“Think what it would do for tourism. It would be fantastic, good for London, good for England – a lot better than the Olympics,” said the mop-haired octogenarian in typically modest style.

According to reports in The Times, Ecclestone is prepared to stump up £35m to bring the F1 show to London – which, it’s hoped, could bring in as much as £100m in revenue and attract more than 120,000 spectators.

Full plans, including details of the 3.2-mile route, which is believed to have been designed with input from McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, are set to be unveiled at the Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall this evening.

Come back later for more…