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Trial will be 'amusing' - Ecclestone

ESPN Staff
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Bernie Ecclestone testified in the case against Gerhard Gribkowsky in 2011 © Getty Images
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Bernie Ecclestone says a trial relating to the £27.3m ($44m) bribe he allegedly paid to Gerhard Gribkowsky is "going to be amusing".

Constantin Medien - a former part owner of Formula One - has brought the case alleging that Ecclestone and Gribkowsky conspired to undervalue the sport and steer the sale towards CVC in 2006. Ecclestone, however, dismissed the allegations and says he is prepared to testify in the trial, which will begin in October at London's High Court.

"I'm prepared to give evidence in court and there will be a few others [who do so] as well," Ecclestone told The Telegraph. "I wish they would bring it forward. It's going to be amusing."

Ecclestone also claims that the point of the case is to try and get money out of him having been approached with a settlement offer.

"All this is about finding a way to get money. It is as simple as that... (Constantin board member) Dieter Hahn had some intermediary, who is a friend of ours, to talk to me about 'you know you should settle, you don't want to go to court'. I'm not settling. The judge will settle the case."

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