Bernie, A1GP, to join forces for ‘GP3’?

(GMM) After initially confusing the MotoGP world by turning up in Turkey recently, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has now set tongues wagging with a visit to the 'A1GP' paddock.

It is understood that the diminutive Briton attended the Brands Hatch circuit at the weekend to meet with a boss of the World Cup-style open wheeler series.

The exact nature of his meeting with Tony Teixeira is not known, but the newspaper Daily Express speculated that 76-year-old Ecclestone wants to "kill off" or "torpedo" the rival category because it would clash with his plans for an Asian winter version of GP2; F1's feeder series.

Indeed, Teixeira hinted at Brands Hatch's A1GP season finale that, instead of competing against one another during the winter months, A1 and Ecclestone could work together.

He said: "If (Bernie) came up against us, that would be unfortunate for everyone. Why not cater for 35 countries between us?"

Ecclestone, who has never been a supporter of the A1 concept, added: "Maybe there is room for a GP3 series which would also provide another road to F1.

"I hope things go well for Tony," Bernie explained. "An awful lot will depend on if we get another series running in Asia. Then it would be difficult for them."