Stewart stays in driving seat

Published on Friday 13 May 2005 00:39

THE three-time world Formula 1 champion Sir Jackie Stewart has survived an attempt to depose him as president of the British Racing Drivers’ Club.

The Scot faced an extra- ordinary general meeting at Silverstone yesterday to discuss his position at the BRDC, which owns Silverstone and runs the British Grand Prix. He faced two separate votes, one to remove him as president and another to remove him as a board member.

Stewart, who was backed by high-profile BRDC figures such as the Duke of Kent, Sir Stirling Moss and Sir Frank Williams, was given the backing of the club in both votes, allowing him to stay on in the club’s top job.

The votes were the culmination of a concerted campaign against Stewart, who took over the presidency of the BRDC in 2000 after a death-bed plea from his former team boss Ken Tyrrell.

The case against Stewart was led by the former sportscar racer Ray Bellm, who was sacked as BRDC chairman earlier this year after signing a five-year extension to Silverstone’s British Grand Prix contract.

Stewart objected to Bellm signing that deal without consulting the BRDC and he was subsequently voted out of his position. Bellm did not take that lightly and has spent recent weeks mobilising supporters against Stewart. He succeeded in gaining enough votes to prompt the egm, but his "members’ revolution" ground to a halt yesterday.

Bellm has always insisted his campaign was not levelled personally at Stewart, claiming he wanted to modernise the BRDC to help the redevelopment of Silverstone.

But Stewart took the attacks personally and last night he said: "My integrity was attacked by a number of members of the club. I have defended it and I am pleased that I received support to continue as president and a director.

"We must now work to build a united club, working for the future good of Silverstone and British motorsport."