Mar.6 (GMM) The government's role in British motor sport will on Thursday be debated in the House of Lords.

Kevin Eason, the sports business correspondent for the Times newspaper, revealed in his column that the UK government will face questions by Lord Astor of Hever, who "wants to know how ministers will help Britain's ($2.5bn) motor sport industry to retain its world leadership".

The British government's minimal role in motor sport has come under the spotlight recently, as it becomes clear that the annual race at Silverstone is perhaps the only event on the F1 calendar that is not directly helped financially by the state.


British grand prix promoters, the Silverstone-owning BRDC, have also been warned by Bernie Ecclestone that its race fees will no longer be subsidised beyond 2009, while also under pressure to move ahead with plans to update the ageing former World War II airfield.