Montreal, Aug 12: Formula one supremo Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed that next year's Canadian Grand Prix had fallen victim to tough new anti-tobacco laws.
"I spoke to him (Ecclestone) on the telephone today and we're still missing from the 2004 calendar," race promoter Normand Legault told the press yesterday.
Last Thursday Legault had received a letter from Ecclestone's office informing him that the race had been scrapped, but confusion arose when the GP boss subsequently announced he had still to decide on the matter.
The June event attracts crowds of 300,000 to Montreal which in turn generates around 40 million dollars for the city.
But a local government spokesman said last week the legislation banning tobacco advertising at sporting events would not be changed.



"We recognise that there will be an important impact on Montreal's economy but we also have an obligation to protect the health of Canadians," Farah Mohamed, a spokesman for Canadian health minister Anne Mclellan said. "We feel very strongly about our legislation."



However Legault still held out a little hope that the race could be rescued.



"I think there is still a small chance of getting the race back on the 2004 calendar.



"That would be if Bernie Ecclestone accepted that the cars would race without tobacco advertising in the race like they do in France and Great Britain.


Bureau Report