Ecclestone Confirms Canadian GP Axe in Prank Call

Formula One's commercial rights owner, Bernie Ecclestone, confirmed last night that the Canadian Grand Prix will not be included in the 2004 calendar, when he fell victim to a prank call made by a Montreal radio station.

A radio DJ contacted Ecclestone, leading the F1 supremo to believe he was talking to Canada's Prime Minister, Jean Chretien. The prank conversation was aired on the CKOI radio station, as the debate over the future of the Canadian Grand Prix continued to rumble on following the organiser's announcement that the race would be dropped in 2004.

Ecclestone denied the story last week and said next year's calendar was yet to be decided. But in yesterday's radio call, Ecclestone left little doubt that next year's calendar will not include Montreal, unless a solution was found to allow Formula One cars to run with tobacco advertising. Legislation banning any form of tobacco advertising, including logos on F1 cars, will come into effect in Canada on October 1st 2003.

"We had a beautiful relationship with [Canada] over the years, and I was hoping...we were going to continue with that exemption," said Ecclestone. "When I was informed it stopped, then that put us in a very difficult position, obviously.

"We're not trying to blackmail you...believe you me. We have enough people that want races there, it's not that. We love Canada, we love Montreal - everybody's happy. [But] We always try to honour whatever we agreed to."

Ecclestone said the best solution for the problem was "to carry on the way we were" - allowing cars to run with tobacco livery - so that "certain teams could compete without losing a large amount of money."

Meanwhile, the real Jean Chretien told reporters today his government would not change the law but added that Ottawa would join a task force aiming at finding ways to keep the Grand Prix alive.

The prank call also featured the false Chretien asking Ecclestone if there was any chance of him getting a job in Formula One Management after he retires from political life early next year.

"Maybe in North America or something, because we're not strong in North America," Ecclestone answered.