Spa threatened by Eastern races

With China and Bahrain understood to have signed preliminary agreements to stage grands prix in 2004 and the F1 calendar set to remain at 17 races, two European GPs will have to be dropped to make room. And with Belgium's proposed ban one tobacco advertising the Spa race has been put in the firing line.

The Belgian tobacco advertising ban comes into effect on August 1 2003 and its government has shown little interest in making an exemption for F1 despite pleas for it to fall in line with the rest of Europe, which has adopted the World Health Organisation's ban in 2006.

The race at Spa is currently sponsored by Marlboro and the race organisers, the Royal Automobile Club de Belgique are thought to be having problems is finding a replacement.

A source close to the FIA said: "If the Belgian race is dropped because the tobacco ban means that no sponsor can be found, then with countries like Bahrain and China lining up for races it will be very difficult for Spa to find a way back in."

Spa held its first GP during the inaugural season of the world championship in 1950 and has been part of the calendar ever year since 1985.

The full story appears in this week's AUTOSPORT, which is out now priced £2.80