By Ben Endley. The prospect of a Formula One race through the streets of central London took a huge step forward today when ministers entered a consultation over a radical overhaul of road safety and speed limit laws. A detailed 3. The route will take in some of the capital's most famous and iconic landmarks, including Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square.
The event could become the richest race in the road with around , fans filling the grandstands around the capital's most famous landmarks along a 3. Local authorities already have the power to close roads for sporting events but not to suspend traffic laws and the requirement for a vehicle to be road legal. The consultation launched today by Culture Secretary Maria Miller is over whether they should also be allowed to suspend the Road Traffic Act and, if successful, would pave the way for a London Grand Prix.
Mrs Miller said: 'The excitement and buzz of motor sports attracts a legion of dedicated fans and drives investment. If the proposal is successful Formula One bosses would still need to secure permission from Westminster City Council to stage the event. Tim Owen, the council's Events Commissioner, said: 'We are always keen for Westminster to set the stage for world-class events and attractions so will obviously be following the progress of this legislation very closely.
We would then explore the practicalities with our partners to see if and how F1 really could take to the streets of London. Mayor Boris Johnson has previously spoken in favour of the plan provided issues with pollution and noise impact are addressed. His spokesperson said today: 'The Mayor thinks F1 is a fantastic event that any city would feel privileged to host, and he is always interested in projects that attract jobs and bring growth.
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The Mayor added it was important to see if there was 'a really good economic case' for a London Grand Prix. Mr Clarke said: 'I am delighted that the Government has been able to propose the necessary legal changes to enable motor racing events to be held occasionally for various categories of racing in towns and cities in different parts of the country.
