London F1 race plans are 'no joke', insists Ecclestone.

The Formula One boss insists his proposal for a £35m race around the streets of London remains on track.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone at the British Grand Prix - a race he hints could be joined by a London event

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has reiterated his desire to see a grand prix in London - and insists: "It is no joke."

Plans for a race on a 5.1km circuit taking in sights including Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and Trafalgar Square were unveiled last month.

The event was seen by many as nothing more than a publicity stunt for sponsors Santander, but Ecclestone says he is pressing ahead with the idea of a London Grand Prix in some form.

"We are getting on with it," he said. "It is no joke, 100% completely no joke."

Ecclestone also suggested the sport could help to fund the race should it happen.

"With the way things are, maybe we would front it and put the money up for it," he told the Guardian.

"If we got the OK and everything was fine, I think we could do that."

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