Post by Taxigirl on Nov 19, 2003 10:30:06 GMT
The Canadian Grand Prix has been saved after a compensation package was struck with Formula One's ruling body over tobacco sponsorship.
The race was listed on F1's provisional calendar for 2004 on the condition that it made up the shortfall due to a local ban on cigarette advertising.
And race organisers - supported by the Canadian government - have now agreed a plan with F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone to compensate teams unable to run tobacco advertising in the race.
The federal and Quebec governments will each contribute £2.7m and the Labatt brewery will give £2.3m to sponsor the event, according to race promoter Normand Legault.
"We are happy to have reached such a conclusion when, in August, we estimated our chances to have Formula One with us again to be rather slim," said Legault.
"For the Canadian Grand Prix team, the bulk of work now remains to be done - to prepare and sell the event and to ensure in large part the compensation payment to the teams."
The Montreal race was originally scrapped in August because of a tobacco advertising ban that came into effect on 1 October.
Austria was wiped off the 2004 calendar for a similar reason while this year's Belgian race was also axed.
But the Canadian GP was pencilled in for 13 June when the FIA announced its revised 18-race schedule last month.
"We eagerly await this event, which is among the most treasured in the championship," Ecclestone said in a statement on Tuesday.
Canada has had a Grand Prix since 1967 and Montreal has hosted the race at the Gilles Villeneuve circuit since 1978.
Three of F1's top four teams - Ferrari, McLaren and Renault - are heavily dependent on tobacco sponsorship.
British American Racing is part-owned by British American Tobacco, while Jordan is also backed by a cigarette brand.
Tobacco sponsorship is due to be prohibited in the European Union from mid-2005.
New races added to F1 calendar
China and Bahrain will make their Formula One debuts in 2004 - and Belgium's Spa circuit is back in favour after a year's absence.
But Canada and Austria have been axed from a 17-race calendar, which was unveiled by the International Automobile Federation (FIA)'s World Motor Sport Council on Thursday.
Among other major changes, the Brazilian GP will replace Japan as the final race of the year on 24 October.
Bahrain will be the third race on the calendar, slotting in on 4 April after Australia and Malaysia and before the European Grand Prix at the Nuerburgring on 25 April.
F1 CALENDAR
7 March:
Australian GP, Melbourne
21 March:
Malaysian GP, Sepang
4 April:
Bahrain GP, Bahrain
25 April:
European GP, Nuerburgring, Germany
9 May:
Spanish GP, Barcelona
23 May:
Monaco GP, Monaco
6 June:
San Marino GP, Imola
20 June:
US GP, Indianapolis
4 July:
British GP, Silverstone
11 July:
French GP, Magny-Cours
25 July:
German GP, Hockenheim
15 August:
Hungarian GP, Budapest
29 August:
Belgian GP, Spa-Francorchamps
12 September:
Italian GP, Monza
26 September:
Chinese GP, Shanghai
10 October:
Japanese GP, Suzuka
24 October:
Brazilian GP, Sao Paulo
Belgium's Spa-Francorchamps circuit returns on 29 August after being dropped this year because of local legislation against tobacco advertising.
Three of the top four teams are heavily backed by cigarette brands while BAR are part-owned by British American Tobacco.
The FIA said Spa remained provisional subject to a new tobacco law being approved in Belgium.
Tobacco legislation was cited earlier in the year as the reason for dropping Canada and Austria's races.
China's Shanghai and the race in Bahrain remained subject to approval of their facilities, billed as the most advanced in Formula One and the work of renowned circuit designer Hermann Tilke.
Britain, whose future had been in doubt after critical comments by Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone, was confirmed at Silverstone on 4 July.
The French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours on 11 July was listed as provisional subject to the negotiation of a new contract.