Silverstone plans traffic changes for big weekend.

Following criticism by the FIA, and an ultimatum to produce a failsafe scheme to cope with the expected crowds, the Home of British Motorsport has already implemented the first stages of planning for next year's British Grand Prix.

The prospect of a 'Best of British' sporting weekend has been created by the governing body's decision to grant Silverstone a 13 May date for next year's grand prix, which will now fall just 24 hours after football's FA Cup Final but, with disgruntled spectators from this year's event already being allocated tickets for 2001, the circuit has had to anticipate further potential problems.

Required by the FIA to implement a major traffic management programme before the GP date is finalised, Silverstone organisers have announced radical plans to ease the traditional congestion in and around the circuit.

In recognition of the limits imposed by the network of narrow lanes that surround the venue, car sharing and 'park-and-ride' systems will be encouraged, with car park tickets limited to just 18,000 for each day of the three covered by the event. Only vehicles with new-style passes will be admitted, with the number of people per booking determining how these are distributed.

One pass will be issued to bookings of two to four people, two to bookings of five to eight and so on, in order to encourage spectators to club together when travelling to and from the circuit. Single ticket bookings will not qualify for a pass, with customers being referred to the proposed 'park-and-ride schemes. Motorcyclists, coach parties and spectators camping at the circuit will not require passes.

''People tend to use the car to travel to major sporting events by force of habit,'' explained Silverstone CEO Denys Rohan, ''The reality, however, is that this can actually spoil the experience as [much] time is spent in traffic queues entering and exiting car parks. Getting together with friends or family to travel to the grand prix will add an extra dimension to the visit, and help us to smooth the journey.''

In a separate statement, Rohan hit back at FIA president Max Mosley's criticism of Silverstone, in which he described it as 'one of the least impressive venues used in the world championship', before adding another barb regarding the transfer of the event to Brands Hatch from 2002.

''I am sure Mr Mosley believes what he says,'' Rohan said, ''but only the teams and drivers are really qualified to pass that kind of judgement on the circuit. There are certain areas where we can improve, but you can't put things of this sort together if you've only got the grand prix for another year. There may be complaints about the pit and paddock areas, but these were rebuilt in 1995.

''We are not in the same league as Sepang [in Malaysia], where the government spends millions of the taxpayers' money. I can state right now that I am not ashamed of this circuit.''

Silverstone has until October to convince the World Motor Sport Council that there will be no repeat of this year's problems.