APRIL 10, 2003

Huge viewing figures for Brazil

The Brazilian Grand Prix was the highest rating Grand Prix in three years for Britain's ITV channel, and the third highest rating show since ITV took over the F1 rights in 1997. The audience peaked at 13.4m of which 45% were ABC1 men (the main target audience for many of the F1 sponsors). The race rated higher than the Real Madrid versus Manchester United soccer game, which attracted a maximum of 11.1m viewers.

ITV's figures last year were considerably lower with the French Grand Prix, the race where Michael Schumacher clinched his fifth world title, netting only 3.2m viewers and several other races rating similar figures.