Clear as mud

Television pictures have been reminding us all week of the muddy chaos motor-racing fans had to contend with at last year's British Grand Prix at Silverstone. What the pictures didn't show was that while the poor wretches were trying to rescue their cars they were fanned by the blades of the helicopters carrying off the organisers and VIPs to faraway comfort.

Looking down, they no doubt vowed to do something about it. Notwithstanding that the cause of the boggy conditions was that they had scheduled the race for an early Easter weekend, the ruling body have been threatening to take next year's British Grand Prix somewhere else – France was suggested.

On Friday, the FIA decided to give us another chance. At a meeting held, not at Silverstone, but in Monte Carlo where better judgements can be made on these matters, they agreed that the British Grand Prix will stay where it is, providing the organisers cough up £3.5m in case it rains again. As for punters who are probably still getting the mud out of their underwear, next year's entry fees have been raised to a scandalous level to help make up for the reduced attendance level that has been enforced.

I don't understand motor-racing but I understand those that run the sport even less.