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Canadian Grand Prix given reprieve
LONDON, England -- The Canadian Grand Prix is back on the 2004 Formula One calendar following a meeting of the governing body's World Motor Sport Council. The International Automobile Federation (FIA) issued a revised calendar with Montreal included as an additional 18th race, to be held on June 13 before the U.S. Grand Prix at Indianapolis on June 20. The date is provisional, subject to a satisfactory financial agreement with competing teams for running without tobacco sponsorship. Three of the top four teams -- Ferrari, McLaren and Renault -- rely heavily on tobacco sponsorship, which is due to be banned in the European Union from mid 2005. And the reinstatement of Canada as an extra race was a surprise, with some team chiefs saying in Japan last weekend that Canada's only hope was as a replacement for another non-tobacco grand prix such as France. Bernie Ecclestone, the Formula One supremo, had announced in August that the Canadian Grand Prix would be dropped in response to a government crackdown on tobacco sponsorship. Local promoters argued that the absence of the event could have a devastating effect on the local economy claiming that 300,000 fans are attracted to the race while over 50 million euros are generated. Meanwhile, the French Grand Prix on July 11 remains on the calendar subject to a contract being agreed with Ecclestone, and the pressure will be on Magny-Cours to do a deal to ensure the race's future. Teams have long resisted extending the calendar to more than 17 races. There were only 16 this year. Other changes involve switching the European Grand Prix at the Nuerburgring, which had been pencilled in to open the European season on April 25, to a more familiar May 30 date. San Marino's Grand Prix at Imola, in recent years the first race in Europe, has reverted to the April date while the rest of the calendar is as expected with the Belgian Grand Prix returning after a one-year absence. The season starts in Australia on March 7 and ends in Brazil on October 24 -- with Bahrain and China making their debuts on April 4 and September 26 respectively.
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