Silverstone Managing Dir Richard Phillips "has been sidelined in a boardroom coup as the British Racing Drivers’ Club take back the running of Britain’s most famous motor racing circuit," according to Kevin Eason of the LONDON TIMES. Months of uncertainty "came to a climax when Phillips was suspended along with two other directors: Ed Brookes, finance director, and David Thompson, in charge of legal affairs." Drivers' club BRDC Chair John Grant and director and entrepreneur Lawrence Tomlinson "have taken over as acting chief executives of the holding company that runs the Silverstone circuit." Although the club was painting the suspensions as “coincidental to a restructuring” exercise, it is only months since the executive team attempted a management buyout of Silverstone Circuits Ltd. A statement said, “Having reviewed the Silverstone business, [the BRDC] have embarked on an exciting programme of restructuring to make the business more streamlined, concentrating on their core competencies as a circuit operator and the home of the British Grand Prix.” It is thought that the "crushing fees" charged by F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone for the British Grand Prix "have concentrated minds and led to the clear-out." Ecclestone is understood to have charged about £15M ($24M) to stage this year’s race and, "even with 120,000 fans attending on raceday, ticket sales only barely cover the fee" (LONDON TIMES, 10/21).
