UK: MOTOR RACING - FORMULA ONE BOSS BERNIE ECCLESTONE TALKS ABOUT PROSPECTS FOR THE 2000 SEASON

Record ID: 646308

  • Title: UK: MOTOR RACING - FORMULA ONE BOSS BERNIE ECCLESTONE TALKS ABOUT PROSPECTS FOR THE 2000 SEASON
  • Date: 21st January 2000
  • Summary: HEATHROW AIRPORT, NEAR LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM (JANUARY 20, 2000) 1. BERNIE ECCLESTONE, WITH WOMEN WEARING NEW FASHIONS FOR THE MELBOURNE GRAND PRIX, STANDING NEAR ENTRY DOOR OF QANTAS AIRLINER WITH FORMULA ONE CAR PAINTED ON THE SIDE 2. WIDE VIEW OF AIRLINER WITH FORMULA ONE CAR PAINTED ON IT 3. ECCLESTONE WALKING DOWN STEPS FROM AIRLINER 4. (SOUNDBITE)(ENGLISH) ECCLESTONE ANSWERING QUESTIONS FROM REPORTERS says it will be difficult to follow the 1999 season but something sensational will come up, there will be more competitive teams this year. He welcomes more car makers coming into Formula One, they are needed to keep the teams in the formula competitive, and can step in when tobacco sponsorship ends in "20 or 30 years." He says there's no danger of the car makers suddenly pulling out and putting the sport in jeopardy. Ecclestone says he is looking forward to the warm weather in Melbourne, and is non-committal about Jenson Button, who may be in the Williams team this year. Ecclestone says any increase in overtaking is up to the drivers, but he got really upset at all this talk about there being no overtaking in Formula One. Soccer matches sometimes have no goals in them. If he wanted to see lots of goals he would go to an American football game instead. 5. ECCLESTONE WITH WOMEN IN MELBOURNE GRAND PRIX CLOTHES 6. (SOUNDBITE)(ENGLISH) ECCLESTONE IS ASKED, IF HE WERE A BETTING MAN, WHO HE WOULD BACK FOR THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. HE SAYS SCHUMACHER. REPORTER ASKS "WHICH ONE?" ECCLESTONE REPLIES "THAT'S WHY I'M NOT A BETTING MAN, PROBABLY MICHAEL." 7. VIEW OF QANTAS AIRCRAFT WITH FORMULA ONE PAINING 8. SIR STIRLING MOSS AND BERNIE ECCLESTONE AND MELBOURNE GRAND PRIX ORGANISERS BEING FILMED Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 5th February 2000 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: HEATHROW AIRPORT, NEAR LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVAEKD5KAHIMZJ56871A0ZKNPV7B
  • Story Text: Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has been talking
    about the prospects for the 2000 season, and says he thinks a
    Schumacher is the best bet as world champion..."probably
    Michael."
    Ecclestone was at Heathrow Airport on Thursday
    (January 20) to inspect a Qantas jumbo jet sporting a formula
    one car on its side.

    The painting, looking suspiciously like a Ferrari, is
    publicising the Australian Grand Prix, first race of the 2000
    season, to be held in Melbourne on March 12.

    Ecclestone ran through his thoughts on the new season with
    reporters, touching on a number of subjects.He said it would
    be difficult to top the exciting 1999 season but said he was
    sure something sensational would come up.He refused to be
    drawn into speculation about 20-year old Jenson Button, the
    British driver who may join the Williams team after a strong
    test drive last week in Jerez.He dismissed calls for more
    overtaking in formula one, saying it was up to the drivers to
    overtake more.He welcomed car makers like Jaguar and Honda
    joining the sport and dismissed fears the sport might be upset
    if such manufacturers decided to end their involvement at
    short notice.

    In a reference to tobacco sponsorship, Ecclestone spoke
    about such sponsorship "eventually ending in 20 or 30 years."
    The European Union will impose a ban on tobacco sponsorship,
    which will include formula one, in 2006.

    Asked who he thought would become world champion,
    Ecclestone said "Schumacher" but was more cagey when asked
    which of the two brothers, Ralf or Michael, he meant.He
    finally said "probably Michael.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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