Legault gets exclusive rights to Montreal

Montreal mayor Gerald Tremblay announced on Friday the renewal of a five-year lease to Legault, the man who saved the Canadian Grand Prix after it was almost excluded from the calendar due to financial difficulties in 2004.

"Over the last 27 years, Normand Legault has shown that we can put our confidence in him," Tremblay said.

Apart from giving Legault exclusive rights, the new lease means he will also be responsible for the maintenance of the track. Legault will also pay the city $356,000 annually over the next five years.

"We are strongly enthusiastic about the prospect of continuing to contribute to the promotion of our city around the world and, through our actions, the generation of major economic benefits," Legault said in a statement.

The news puts the Champ Car race held at the circuit in jeopardy, with Legault having expressed interest in taking a NASCAR Busch Series event to Montreal. The Champ Car event is promoted by Alan Labrosse.