Demand ‘death to grand prix’

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33095, 9 December 1972, Page 46

Demand ‘death to grand prix’

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON. Grand-prix motor-racing teams have been told to “think again” about their demands for 1972 purses to be increased more than 100 per cent, or there will be no world championship in 1973.

Circuit-owners in 15 countries, in an ultimatum issued by their association, Grand Prix International, have set December 14 as the deadline for coming to terms. Mr Henri Treu, the French director of G.P.1., described the demands as "unrealistic” and a "death knell” to grandprix racing. He told a press conference in London that the rising costs of staging the world grand prix series were already alarming and that if the latest team demands were met, Formula I races would price themselves out of existence. ALTERNATIVE SERIES G.P.I. has offered the Formula I team association 475,000 Swiss francs (about $100,000) for 1973, a 12$ per cent increase on last year. Association members want 950,000 Swiss francs. But in a letter to G.P.I. the

car firms have backed up their demands with a threat to take over promotion of the world championship if increased purse money is not forthcoming. They may even go outside Formula I. Mr Treu said that the races had already been awarded to the various national clubs and circuits by the Federation Internationale de L’Automobile — the governing body of motor-sport The circuits had been forced to fix a deadline to get some financial stability into motor-racing, he said, and until the present impasse was resolved the whole future of grand prix racing was in the balance. As part of the "new deal” proposals to the teams, G.P.I. is offering improved promotional services, affecting drivers, circuits and the sport generally. “It is up to the teams now,” said Mr Treu. “We have got to be realistic and this is our final offer.”