Spa set to be confirmed next week

In the wake of the announcement that the planned June 18 for Monza has been cancelled due to noise legislation, GPM CEO Scott Poulter exclusively confirmed to autosport.com that a complex deal to take the series for over 45-year-old former Grand Prix drivers to the classic circuit on September 17 was "close, subject only to agreement on a few points".

An announcement was expected to be made on Monday, he said.

Under the terms of the contract, the race would be co-promoted with MediaGroup Van Dyck, promoters of Belcar, Belgium's successful GT and Touring Car Championship, who would lease a 'white' circuit from the Communes of Malmedy and Stavelot, co-owners of the Ardennes circuit.

Race administration and support services would be supplied by Zolder, Belgium's other former Grand Prix circuit, which had originally applied for a GPM date, but found itself unable to accommodate a race this year due to calendar clashes.

Belgian GPM driver Eric van de Poele, who finished third in last week's Grand Prix Masters of Qatar, confirmed he had played a mediatory role between the parties.

"Although nothing he has (yet) been agreed," he said, "there is a genuine desire to promote a race Grand Prix Masters race at Spa, and we are very positive it will happen."

The former Brabham driver is believed to have presented Van Dyck with a document signed in Qatar by all present GPM drivers calling for a race at Spa. 1972/4 World Champion Emerson Fittipaldi, who has competed in both GPM events staged to date, was vocal in his support of Spa when approached last week.

"I have never raced at Spa," said the Brazilian, "and I would really love to race there."

The Belgian Grand Prix alternated between Zolder and Nivelles during his career, which lasted from 1970 to 1980. Spa was removed from the Formula One calendar in 1968 after safety fears, and returned in 1983 following a wholesale overhaul, which saw the circuit shortened from 14,080 kilometres to 6,949 kms.