Canadian GP Organisers Release FOM Letter

The organisers of the Canadian Grand Prix have released a letter which they claim proves they have been told the race will de dropped in 2004.

Canadian Grand Prix chief executive Normand Legault said on Thursday that he had received a letter from Bernie Ecclestone's company Formula One Management saying the Montreal event would not be part of the calendar in the 2004 season.

Ecclestone, however, denied the story on Friday, saying the 2004 calendar was still not decided.

"I've no idea where this story came from - the calendar for 2004 has not been put out yet or even considered," Ecclestone said.

But today, the Le Presse newspaper released the letter Legault claimed he had received from FOM, where Ecclestone said the race would be dropped next year.

"We write to advise you the Canadian Grand Prix will not be included on the 2004 FIA Formula One calendar pending the outcome of various issues," Le Presse quoted the letter from the legal department of Formula One Management as saying.

"In the event the Canadian Grand Prix is not included in next year's calendar for next year the provisions of Clause 26.2 of the promoters agreement will apply."