The FIA has confirmed Silverstone’s place on next year F1’s calendar and on Thursday, the coroner investigating the death of a marshal at this year’s Australian Grand Prix said he would not stand in the way of 2002’s opening event at Melbourne.

The FIA has confirmed Silverstone’s place on next year F1’s calendar and on Thursday, the coroner investigating the death of a marshal at this year’s Australian Grand Prix said he would not stand in the way of 2002’s opening event at Melbourne.

Victoria state coroner Graeme Johnstone has effectively given the green light for the event's organisers to press ahead with its plans. The Albert Park race was provisionally on the FIA's 2002 F1 world championship calendar pending the outcome of the inquiry into the death of Graham Beveridge.

Beveridge died of a ruptured heart when a wheel from Jacques Villeneuve's BAR flew through an access gap in the trackside safety fencing and struck him in the chest, following an accident between the Canadian and Ralf Schumacher's Williams-BMW.

In his final submission, Ross Ray, counsel for the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, said the corporation had shown a high level of responsibility and had made changes to the safety fences. Ross said it would be helpful if coroner could indicate that there was no reason why the 2002 event should not proceed.

In response, Johnstone told the inquiry: "I don't think any recommendations I would make would overburden your client." Johnstone added that he hoped his comments gave "some comfort" to Australian Grand Prix organisers in regard to the March 3 event.

The 2002 Australian Grand Prix had been the last race on the FIA calendar that required confirmation by the World Motor Sport Council of Formula One’s governing body. The council at the weekend confirmed that the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola would go ahead as planned. It also ruled that next year’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone could take place provided that detailed undertakings, given by the British National Sporting Authority (MSA) and race promoters Octagon, were carried out.

After weeks of speculation regarding Silverstone's future, with sources revealing that there was a strong possibility that the famous venue would indeed be scratched from the calendar, MSA and Octagon representatives signed various agreements to ensure its continued participation in the world championship.

The two parties promised the World Motor Sport Council that a new access road to the circuit would be completed and further undertook to provide (within seven days) a R60 million performance bond which guarantees that work would be finished before the first practice day of the Grand Prix.

Original article from Car