Officials: Five Percent Chance of Saving Canadian GP

Canada's chances of saving its axed Formula One Grand Prix look slim race officials said on Thursday, but they will still try to persuade Bernie Ecclestone to reprieve it all the same this weekend.

"I'd say it's maybe just a five percent chance but it's a five percent chance that is definitely worth pursuing," Montreal race promoter Normand Legault told reporters at the Hungarian Grand Prix on Thursday.

"I still think there is a chance that we might be on the 2004 calendar and that Bernie might find a way to do it. Some have talked about an 18th race, we all know how difficult that is because you need the teams' unanimity to do it.

"It might be dropping another race. I leave that to Bernie," he added.

Legault arrived in Budapest with Montreal mayor Gerald Tremblay and will meet Ecclestone and team bosses with Canadian Justice Minister Martin Cauchon.

The promoter said they would "try and see if we can find some sort of a way for Montreal to either retain or regain its place on the Formula One calendar."

Ecclestone's Formula One Management said this month it had cancelled the race because of the federal government's ban on tobacco-related sponsorship.

Formula One is heavily backed by tobacco companies, with three of the top four teams sponsored by them. Austria has already been wiped off the 2004 calendar for a similar reason while this year's Belgian race was also axed.

"The law is the law and in Canada we have already benefited from a seven year grace period for Formula One," said Legault. "That's why we want to see with Bernie if there's not a way where Formula One could still race in Canada even if it is without tobacco branding.

"We believe that as much as it is important for Formula One to develop new markets, it is also important for Formula One and some of its major stakeholders - the car manufacturers - to be present in their main markets."

Canada has had a Grand Prix since 1967 and Montreal has hosted the race since 1978 at the Gilles Villeneuve circuit. The event is one of the city's biggest tourist attractions.

"We like to think of the Canadian Grand Prix as a major contributor to the quality of the championship," said Legault. "It's not just a matter of aligning 16 or 17 dates and races."