Belgian GP to Return to F1 Calendar in 2004

The Belgian Grand Prix will return to the 2004 Formula One calendar in its traditional place after organisers agreed a seven-year deal with the sport's commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone to run the race.

The event, which takes place at the famous Spa-Francorchamps circuit, was dropped at the start of this season because of the introduction of a ban on tobacco advertising.

But the government have now relaxed the laws and the economic minister for the Wallon region Serge Kubla said: "Bernie Ecclestone will put the calendar proposal before the FIA tomorrow Tuesday. The weekend of August 28 and 29, 2004 is reserved for the Belgian Grand Prix, so we're regaining our place in the calendar on the date which was ours in the past."

The news comes just days after the Canadian Grand Prix was dropped from next year's calendar because of a similar new tobacco ban that their government are refusing to drop.

Spa, whose contract includes a get-out clause if a tobacco ban is re-introduced, will join newcomers Bahrain and China on next year's calendar with Canada and Austria making way and the number of races likely to rise to 17.