Bid to save the Canadian GP fails

Monday 17th November 2008

Montreal's hopes of hosting the Canadian GP next season appear to be at an end after government officials failed to reach an agreement with Bernie Ecclestone.

Local officials blamed the 'unreasonable demands' of F1's commercial rights controller for the failure to clinch a reprieve, which will leave North America without a grand prix for the first time in 50 years.

"Despite our endeavours and those of the business community, the unreasonable demands of Formula One exceeded the taxpayer's ability to pay," Montreal Mayor Gerald Tremblay said in a statement on the city's website (www.ville.montreal.qc.ca).

The statement also said that Ecclestone had made a final offer on October 28 demanding that an eventual race promoter should put up a government or bank guarantee of some $175 million over the next five years.

It added that no private promoter was willing to take on such a level of risk, considering the limited revenue the race generates in comparison.

Quebec economic development minister Raymond Bachand said officials had worked hard in recent weeks to save the race "while staying fiscally responsible.

"We cannot meet Mr Ecclestone's unworkable demands," he added. "Unless he eases his requirements and adopts a different approach, there will be no Grand Prix in Montreal in 2009.

Public works minister Christian Paradis said the race was a loss for all Canadians but Ecclestone had made 'unrealistic demands'.

"As I recently said; 'yes to a Grand Prix, but not at any price,'" he added.

The race, held at the city's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, was axed from the 2009 calendar without warning early in October after Ecclestone claimed race organisers owed him money for hosting rights.

Organisers denied that they had defaulted on payments, but recognised a 'commercial disagreement' over the 2008 race.

After a meeting with Ecclestone last month, Tremblay said he was hopeful a deal could be done.

But with those hopes now seemingly dashed, the absence of a grand prix on the North American continent - the United States Grand Prix last being staged in 2007 - is sure to dismay manufacturers keen to promote themselves in a prime market.

Your Comments

hollanders

"His interst is only GREED.Where is Flavio & his talk of the FANS.What race gets better fan support? Bernie, please don't let the door hit you on the way out. And by the way take your friend Max with you! You do F1 no favors & what goes around comes around. [See the world financial condition] & how long can your extortion go on?"

des316

"I wonder if the Canadian Officials could sue Bernie for unethical / unfair business practice in much the same way that Microsoft aka Bill Gates got sued."