Last GP 1 in North America just dropped

[Zef]

Oct 07, 2008

PARIS–The Canadian Grand Prix was dropped from the 2009 Formula One calendar on Tuesday.

FIA, the governing body of auto racing, ratified its calendar for the coming season and omitted the Canadian race, which was first held in 1967. It's the first time since 1987 that the Canadian Grand Prix won't be on the F1 schedule.

The inaugural Abu Dhabi GP replaces the Canadian race for the 2009 season, which will feature 18 races, the same as this year.

Contractual problems between Circuit Gilles Villeneuve officials and commercial rights holder F1 management are believed to have contributed to the decision.

When asked for comment, a Canadian GP spokesman said in an e-mail that he was travelling and expected to meet with the media Wednesday in Montreal.

It's not the first time the Montreal race has fallen off the radar.

In 2003, Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone announced the race had been dropped from the 2004 calendar because of an impending federal ban on tobacco advertising. But extra money was put up and the race went ahead.

The Canadian race was left off the calendar 21 years ago due to a dispute between local organizers and F1 over sponsorship.

The move leaves North America without a Formula One race for the first time in 43 years. The U.S. GP was dropped from the F1 schedule last year.

The Montreal race was popular with drivers and teams and a huge success with spectators. The event would usually bring in over 300,000 fans for the three days of racing. It was the city's biggest week for tourism and estimated to produce more than $75 million (Canadian) in annual economic benefits for the local economy.

A problem in recent years has been the condition of the track, at an island park across from downtown Montreal. The asphalt has been pulled up by tires, making for slick, treacherous driving conditions.

At the Grand Prix in June, there was fear that drivers would refuse to race, but organizers repaired the track overnight and the event went off without any major incidents.

The Turkish GP, originally scheduled to be raced in August, takes Montreal's June 7 spot to leave teams with a four-week break between the Hungarian GP on July 26 and the European GP at Valencia, Spain, on Aug. 23.

At the World Council meeting held at FIA's Paris headquarters, FIA also gave president Max Mosley the power to negotiate directly with the Formula One Teams Association over proposed measures to cut F1 team costs in half by 2010.

Should negotiations with the 10 teams fail, then the FIA can ``enforce the necessary measures to achieve this goal."

Also, Marco Piccinini will leave his post as deputy president for the sporting side of the body a year early "to focus on other professional commitments." Piccinini, whose successor will be elected at the Nov. 7 general assembly, was serving out his second term.

[jyl]

F1 is really chasing the money. Very upsetting. I suppose, next they'll drop Monaco to make room for Mumbai.

[The Gaijin]

George Bush's fault!!

[legion]

They have a 3 dozen of venues chasing 18 slots. They require huge, expensive upgrades every couple of years, and then they drop venues like hotcakes over minor issues.

There are rumors there will be a US GP in 2010.

[MattKellett]

2010 there will be no British Gran Prix!!!! Because there's no way Donington can be ready by then. Bernie has made it quite clear that if the track isn't ready, there will be no British Grand Prix!!!

Nothing like having no Grand Prix in the country that most teams are based!


Matt

[Jim Richards]

Bernie and Max are trying to destroy F1 in their own special ways.

[Zef]

What a great man....!

[Porsche-O-Phile]

F1 follows the money. North America has no more money. The well has run dry and we'll be in a depression for the next thirty years. Ergo, no more F1.

[BGCarrera32]

I suspect the manufacturers will be none too pleased...

[scottmandue]

Well... we will always have NASCAR

[Seric]

I am betting after the complaints year after year of the track surface falling apart during the weekend didn't help alot. F1 will be back in North America soon enough, but sad to see that circuit go.

Talks of Indy coming back on the calendar in 2010 or 2011. Moto GP just did their maiden run at Indy this year and besides the remnants of Hurricane Ike(?) stopping the race, was rather successful and the riders loved it.

[David]

Crap and double crap!

Now I really wish I'd gone up to visit 'notfarnow' at the Canadian GP this year. I figured I'd wait til next year and plan a little better.

[strupgolf]

I wonder if Tony George (indianapolis) might push harder for the F1 to come back to Indy during the time off? Rumers have been around for awhile that he's trying. Lets just hope it happens.

[rfuerst911sc]

I think the only way Tony George is going to get the race back is if he finds a sponsor. F1 fees and other BS are too costly even for a rich man like Tony. Finding a corporate sponsor to foot the bill with todays economy in the U.S. will not be a easy sell. I for one would like to see F1 back in the U.S.

[DaveE]

The track coming apart is hardly a minor issue. Too bad though. I'd love to go there sometime.

[Zef]

Originally Posted by 125shifter

Crap and double crap!

Now I really wish I'd gone up to visit 'notfarnow' at the Canadian GP this year. I figured I'd wait til next year and plan a little better.

We'll probably have something else to replace that...with all the festivities related to....like PCA gathering on crescent street.

[jyl]

A sports car race (e.g. ALMS) on the Montreal track would be pretty darn awesome. People would go to see Porsches, Audis, Ferraris, Corvettes, etc go fender to fender.

[notfarnow]

Originally Posted by 125shifter

Crap and double crap!

Now I really wish I'd gone up to visit 'notfarnow' at the Canadian GP this year. I figured I'd wait til next year and plan a little better.

There's always the ballet!

[deanp]

There will still be two GP's in North America next year, both in the USA but instead of featuring four wheels, they'll feature two.

[Skytrooper]

Bring them back to Watkins Glen !!