Auto giants seek share of Bernie's pie.

Bernie Ecclestone's plan to carve off another portion of his grand prix business is expected to attract attention from major manufacturers.

According to Britain's Daily Telegraph, Ford, Toyota and DaimlerChrysler are all interested in acquiring a share of Ecclestone's SLEC holding company, as well as possibly buying back a stake from EMTV, to whom Ecclestone sold 50 per cent of SLEC in March. The newspaper quotes industry sources as valuing SLEC at around ?4billion [$6billion].

It is believed that greater involvement by the manufacturers would strengthen Formula One's future, as any rival series would find it difficult to set in the face of opposition from the companies which would be the primary suppliers of engines and parts.

''A deal like this would tie the elephants and clowns down, so that they can't leave the circus,'' was how one unnamed industry observer apparently described the deal.

The sell-off continues Ecclestone alternative plan after his proposed share issue was dragged down by the European Commission's anti-competition enquiry. The EU was opposed to what it saw as the FIA's monopoly on the control and promotion of the major motorsport championships, although a deal with Prodrive boss David Richards to offload the rights to the world rally championship, via his company International Sportsworld Communicators, is understood to have eased the deadlock between the two parties.