Rival Formula 1 threat

Car makers are threatening to set up own F1 circuit

DaimlerChrysler board member Juergen Hubbert has again warned that car makers are willing to set up a rival Formula 1 circuit if their interests are not met by the present organisers.

Car makers also want a stake in the company that holds the commercial rights to Formula 1, SLEC, after the German media company KirchGruppe acquired a majority holding earlier this year, Mr Hubbert said in an interview with the German newspaper Handelsblatt.

Car makers are worried that Kirch may move the broadcast of F1 from free-to-air terrestrial television channels to pay-per-view.

This would deprive them of the publicity and exposure that they and the other sponsors of the teams receive.

Kirch has said they have no intention of restricting the free-to-air broadcasts.

"F1 is merely a circus"

"Without the manufacturers taking part, Formula 1 is merely a circus," said Mr Hubbert.

Hubbert: "Without... manufacturers... Formula 1 is merely a circus"

"We (the carmakers) are in agreement and have the will to create something ourselves in the case of no sensible solution being found. We have the power and would be ready to channel this strength in another direction."

In February, Mr Hubbert said, "If Kirch has 75% then that is the end of Formula 1."

The other car makers thought to be interested in a separate F1 are Ford via Jaguar, Renault via Benetton, and Fiat via Ferrari. They invest hundreds of millions of dollars a year in the sporting event.

Kirch in the race

On Friday, Kirch was reported to have joined its partner EM.TV in talks with the car makers to try and end a deadlock over the future of F1 racing.

The financially troubled German broadcaster EM.TV and its rescuer, Kirch, have tried to take control of Formula 1, one of the world's biggest broadcast events.

Kirch and EM.TV jointly own 75% of SLEC while Bernie Ecclestone holds the other quarter.