APRIL 27, 2002
Shanghai is still out there...
The Chinese bid is believed to have backing from the government which wants to build a circuit at Anting, near Shanghai. Anting is the home of Shanghai Volkswagen but the Chinese want foreign car companies to invest in the area to turn it into the auto capital of China.
The Chinese were hoping to have the race track finished next year 2003 but the problem at the moment is that there are no spaces left on the F1 calendar. The next major gap in the calendar expected is in 2004 after the current Canadian GP contract runs out. There are believed to be negotiations under way for the Montreal contract to be extended and the race promoter Normand Legault was in the paddock in Barcelona. Montreal has been doing some work on the track in recent weeks with a new pitlane exit and extra run off at various places around the track.