Teams force cancellation of GP support race.

The British Touring Car Championship's much-heralded return to the support bill of the Formula One grand prix at Silverstone appears to be in tatters, after several of the leading teams decided against competing in the non-championship event.

Such was the scale of the about-turn that the blue riband event - which was to have featured overseas teams as well as those regularly competing in the UK - has had to be cancelled.

"We announced last July that, after a seven-year absence, we had regained our slot on British Grand Prix race day for 2004 but, despite it being announced some ten months ago, and enthusiastically welcomed at the time, those teams who belong to BETA have now decided that they are unable to take advantage of the highest-profile event in our calendar for their own financial reasons," said frustrated BTCC series director Alan Gow, "Very regrettably, I therefore have no alternative but to cancel it."

BETA is a teams' organisation headed up by the bigger participants in the series, but Gow was quick to point out that not every team was against the idea of competing in front of the series' biggest crowd of the season.

"In order to clarify, the decision not to race was taken by all members of BETA with the exception of Computeach Racing with Halfords," he said, "Conversely, all the teams that don't belong to that organisation - ie SEAT Sport UK, Synchro Motorsport, Edenbridge Racing, Kartworld, Mardi Gras Motorsport and Team Quest/Varta - were committed to competing.

"We were also set to announce that several of the European Touring Car Championship's leading teams and drivers would be coming to England to compete in the race. This would have made an absolutely tremendous spectacle, and an incredible showcase for our cars, manufacturers, teams, drivers and sponsors in front of the biggest audience of the year.

"Unfortunately, I fear that the negative decision taken by BETA means that it is a great opportunity squandered - and one that will undoubtedly be regretted for many years to come. Naturally, I am particularly disappointed, as must our loyal fans be, but I must reinforce the fact that it was entirely BETA's decision that it did not wish to compete."

The withdrawal of the BTCC from the GP supporting cast leaves a gaping hole in the Silverstone schedule, with just the FIA F3000 and Porsche Supercup races left to back up the annual F1 event. The British F3 Championship has provided entertainment over the past couple of seasons, but was ousted from the programme for 2004 by the return of the BTCC.