Canadians Still Hopeful of Keeping Race

The organisers of the Canadian Grand Prix are still hopeful the race will be included on next year's Formula One calendar.

The race had been originally dropped from the 2004 calendar as a result of local anti-tobacco legislation, but the FIA's World Motor Sport Council published a revised calendar listing the Montreal race as an additional round on June 13.

However, the event is still provisional and it is subject to a satisfactory financial agreement that would compensate the teams for running without tobacco sponsorship. They need to secure an estimated $20 million of funding required to save the race from extinction.

Brewery giant Molson and businessman George Gillet had been in negotiations over finding the suitable 'compensation package'. The organisers themselves had revealed last month that they had until the end of October to secure a deal that would guarantee the race's position.

Despite the deadline having expired a week ago no official announcement has yet been made, but the organisers are still confident of reaching a deal to keep the race on the calendar.

"At this point, nobody is out and negotiations are still on between our party and FOM (Formula One Management)," a race spokesman told Autosport magazine on Thursday. "It would be premature to take the Canadian GP off the provisional calendar."

Ecclestone told Montreal newspaper The Gazette last weekend that he believed a deal could still be constructed, although the best hope of success now seems to lie with the possible intervention of the Canadian government.

The government could act after a number of non-tobacco sponsors and car manufacturers voiced their concern about the event being dropped due to the importance of advertising exposure in North America.