Let's have London and Silverstone, says mayor.

London mayor Ken Livingstone is continuing to pursue the opportunity of staging a grand prix on the streets of 'his' city - but reckons that a London race can co-exist with the established British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Having staged the pre-cursor to this year's British round with an F1 demonstration on Regent Street, and then staked his claim to host a race on a course around the city, Livingstone appeared to have sparked a new war of words with Silverstone, to add to that ongoing between landlord the BRDC and F1 tsar Bernie Ecclestone. Ecclestone has long been critical of the facilities at Silverstone - likening it to 'an old house in need of repair' and an event 'masquerading as a country fair' - and the grand prix there remains in doubt following the withdrawal of promoter Octagon.

Although the BRDC has vowed to promote the event for the next two seasons, a move that it claims carries serious financial risk for the club, Ecclestone continues to cast doubt on the long term future of the venue. This was expected to provide extra momentum to Livingstone's bid, but the former Labour MP has since claimed that there is room for London and Silverstone to co-exist on the calendar.

"I'm still backing a grand prix for London, and I would welcome any approach from Formula One such as hosting the European Grand Prix," he told the capital's free newspaper Metro, "However, I believe that Silverstone makes an important contribution to the continuing success of the UK motorsport industry, and I am keen for the British Grand Prix to remain there."

Livingston's admission is in line with that of BRDC president Jackie Stewart, who has long made the case for the Britain - and Silverstone's - place on the calendar because of the importance of the UK motorsport industry, which continues to rank among the biggest and most successful, both in the industry and in the country itself.

The European Grand Prix used to fill an irregular spot on the schedule, often being used to fill gaps for cancelled events, and was rotated around various countries and circuits - including Britain's Donington Park - before settling at the Nurburgring in Germany as the Schumacher brothers rose to prominence. As a result, Germany now stages two races each season, despite Ecclestone, amongst others, questioning whether any country should have the right to stage more than one event when new venues are clamouring for inclusion. Next year's calendar is tipped to rise to 19 events with the addition of Turkey.