It's official: Canadian GP is toast
08-16-2003, 03:19 AM
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It's official: Canadian GP is toast
Read it and weep:
The Canadian Grand Prix has been struck from the 2004 F1 calendar – and that’s official.
Bernie Ecclestone finally confirmed on Thursday that the Montreal race would be axed following a dispute with the Canadian government over tobacco advertising.
Although Ecclestone appeared to be duped into revealing the race’s demise in a radio prank earlier this week, this is the first time the news has been officially confirmed.
Ecclestone said: "I can confirm though that a letter was written to the Canadian race promoter following a meeting I had with him when I informed him the Canadian round of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship would not be included in the 2004 calendar.
"The reason for this is that the Canadian government has brought into effect a total prohibition on tobacco-related sponsorship.
"There is a provision in our contract with the race promoter that should this become effective, we have the right not to include their event in the calendar for the relevant year."
Ecclestone admitted he remained a fan of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve but said the tobacco issue made it impossible for the race to continue.
He said: "Our problem is quite simple. The Formula 1 teams with tobacco-related sponsorship lose part of their revenue when a certain percentage of the events ban tobacco sponsorship. This was the reason the Belgium Grand Prix was not included in the 2003 calendar.
"One thing is for sure - everyone is sorry to lose the Canadian race as we all love Montreal and the warm support the city has always given Formula 1."
Canada’s demise, along with that of Austria earlier this year, means next year’s calendar is virtually certain to consist of 17 races with Belgium, China and Bahrain all joining the fray.
Just what I always wanted: to go to the Middle East and China for a race instead of Montreal!!!!!!!
The Canadian Grand Prix has been struck from the 2004 F1 calendar – and that’s official.
Bernie Ecclestone finally confirmed on Thursday that the Montreal race would be axed following a dispute with the Canadian government over tobacco advertising.
Although Ecclestone appeared to be duped into revealing the race’s demise in a radio prank earlier this week, this is the first time the news has been officially confirmed.
Ecclestone said: "I can confirm though that a letter was written to the Canadian race promoter following a meeting I had with him when I informed him the Canadian round of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship would not be included in the 2004 calendar.
"The reason for this is that the Canadian government has brought into effect a total prohibition on tobacco-related sponsorship.
"There is a provision in our contract with the race promoter that should this become effective, we have the right not to include their event in the calendar for the relevant year."
Ecclestone admitted he remained a fan of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve but said the tobacco issue made it impossible for the race to continue.
He said: "Our problem is quite simple. The Formula 1 teams with tobacco-related sponsorship lose part of their revenue when a certain percentage of the events ban tobacco sponsorship. This was the reason the Belgium Grand Prix was not included in the 2003 calendar.
"One thing is for sure - everyone is sorry to lose the Canadian race as we all love Montreal and the warm support the city has always given Formula 1."
Canada’s demise, along with that of Austria earlier this year, means next year’s calendar is virtually certain to consist of 17 races with Belgium, China and Bahrain all joining the fray.
Just what I always wanted: to go to the Middle East and China for a race instead of Montreal!!!!!!!
08-17-2003, 07:01 AM
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08-18-2003, 04:59 PM
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Soop, it's funny you mention this--my wife and I were just saying yesterday we should go for the same reason. I dead serious on this one, we went to Italy in 98 b/c we couldn't get our passports in order quick enough for Belgium.
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