Local government announces Spa upgrades

The move follows the cancellation of this year's Belgian Grand Prix, originally scheduled for September 17th, following bankruptcy rows and demands by the sport's commercial rights holder that the circuit's facilities and infrastructure be upgraded.

According to sources close to Walloon's public work's ministry, the €18.85m (EUR) contract has been awarded to the Wust-Bodarwe-Besix-Greisch construction consortium.

The changes encompass extensive reprofiling of the La Source hairpin - including moving the hairpin 100 metres beyond its present location, in order to facilitate major pit and paddock extensions, and run-off and kerbing upgrades at Pouhon.

The work is expected to be completed in time for next year's race with only minor disruptions to the circuit's national racing schedule. Spa's 24-hour endurance race is not thought to be affected.

An announcement of Spa's return to the Grand Prix trail in 2007 was expected this weekend in France following negotiations between Walloon's Minister Harcourt and F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, but autosport.com understands that this has been postponed to 'early next week'.

During the Spanish Grand Prix weekend, Ecclestone admitted to being hopeful of securing a deal to promote the Belgian round, saying at the time: "They'll have to hurry up, we can't negotiate forever, unless they want the race in 2008, then we can spend another year."