Friction Blamed For Hesketh Departure.

Internal disagreements over restructuring proposals have been cited as the likely reason for Lord Hesketh's decision to quit as president of the British Racing Drivers' Club [BRDC].


Hesketh, formerly an eponymous team owner in the 1970s, took his decision to step down on Friday. The move led to speculation that wrangling with Brands Hatch Leisure [BHL] over the future of the British GP had taken its toll, but both Hesketh and BRDC secretary Roger Lane-Nott deny this is the case. Hesketh himself refused to make much comment on the situation, but Lane-Nott hinted that friction caused by the restructuring plan was merely a catalyst to his departure.


"He's fed up with being sniped at," Lane-Nott said, "and has other things to do."

The BRDC's strategy group has proposed an annual dividend for its members, taken from its estimated ?5million operating profits, whereas Hesketh was keen to have the club restructured as a company, with members becoming shareholders.


"Sadly, I cannot agree with the part of the proposed restructure which precludes share ownership to the members," he said in a statement, "I feel it is not in the interests of the club to have a disunited board."


Silverstone's chief executive - and a member of the BRDC's strategy group, Denys Rohan, insisted that Hesketh's departure would have no implication on the battle with Brands Hatch. The Kent circuit, meanwhile, having been involved in a war of words over the future of the grand prix, was quick to capitalise on the Lord's resignation, claiming that it was only right that he should go.


"Any director responsible for losing over two-thirds of the value of their business should resign," it said.