Dream of London F1 Grand Prix gathers speed

  • London
Lewis Hamilton performs a donut in his McLaren F1 car during the 2008 Race of Champions at Wembley Stadium. Credit: PA

The dream of a motor racing Grand Prix on the streets of London was gathering speed today after the government appeared to back the idea.

Ministers launched a six-week public consultation, saying the plan could generate millions of pounds for local communities.

Watch this report from Simon Harris:

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone admitted a race would be expensive to stage but welcomed the proposal.

Former F1 driver Mark Blundell told ITV News the home of motorsport deserved a race to rival Monaco and Singapore.

London mayor Boris Johnson gave his support to a race but called for detailed plans.

But enviromentalists gave the proposal a firm thumbs down.

Spanish bank Santander released an F1 driver's point of view CGI film back in 2012 of an imagined 5.156-kilometre circuit around London.

The route takes in some of the Capital’s most famous landmarks and was produced after a detailed feasibility study for such a race was carried out.

Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets last time London was visited by the Formula One travelling circus back in July 2004.

During the event former F1 World Champion Nigel Mansell threw his support behind the idea of a London race, saying that if it were to become a reality "it would be one of the best street circuit races in the world":