Anti-Brands lobby hopes dashed.

Yesterday's council decision to give Brands Hatch the go-ahead to stage the British Grand Prix from 2002 will have disappointed a number of motorsport hard-hitters.

According to Britain's Motoring News, team bosses Frank Williams, Tom Walkinshaw and Craig Pollock all wrote to Sevenoaks district council to explain how giving Brands the green light would be detrimental to the country's motorsport industry. All three attempted to point out that the growth in popularity and professionalism undergone by the grand prix circus in recent years had now overtaken the circuit's ability to host the event, and a move would compromise the amount of hospitality and spectator traffic that could be catered for alongside the competing teams.

Criticism has also been directed at the amount of testing available at the circuit - which has already admitted that track days would be limited in a deal done with the council - and the safety provisions on both the existing and proposed layouts.

Sevenoaks council agreed on Monday night to back plans to revamp Brands Hatch in time for the 2002 event, although the decision still requires full ratification from John Prescott MP and the Department of the Environment.