Former Montreal promoter sued

According to a report on Speedtv.com, the organisation filed a lawsuit against Legault's companies Evenements Sport Auto de Montreal and GPF1, Inc. yesterday and is seeking the payment of $325,000 in sanctioning fees.

According to the suit, the Montreal promoter was required to pay the Champ Car World Series $1.5 million per year for the right to hold races at the circuit in 2005 and 2006, but this cost would be balanced by $325,000 per race from series title sponsors Ford and/or Bridgestone.

Should this sum not be forthcoming, Legault would be permitted to deduct that amount from the sanctioning fees that he owed.

Champ Car alleges that the requisite figure in sponsorship would have been paid to Legault's companies in 2005 but for procedural errors on the promoter's part, and that therefore Legault still owes the $325,000 in outstanding sanctioning fees for that year's race.

The relationship between Legault and Champ Car broke down after the 2005 event, when tumbling attendance figures, a noticeable lack of grandstands and a shortage of promotion led to suggestions that Legault was trying to end his relationship with the series so that the second Montreal race date could be given to a NASCAR Busch Series meeting.

Andrew Ranger's manager Alan Labrosse therefore took over the rights for the 2006 Montreal Champ Car event, which will almost certainly be the last held at the track.

A combined NASCAR and Grand-Am event is likely to replace Champ Car on Montreal's bill for 2007, and the series is already seeking alternative Quebec venues.