JUNE 25, 2003

The FIA World Council is today

The FIA World Motor Sport Council meets today in Paris but there is not expected to be much excitement from the meeting with our spies suggesting that the only point of note will be a restating of the FIA's position on tobacco advertising in Europe. There are some hopes that there might be a draft Formula 1 calendar but we hear that this is not currently at a stage at which it can be published with dates simply being blocked and venues still being decided.

There are 18 races fighting for places in the schedule which is limited to 17 events. The current 15 races will lose the Austrian GP, the contract having been cancelled, and with new races coming in Bahrain and China the total will rise to 17. However Spa-Francorchamps is also keen to get back on the schedule. The most likely victim of the reshuffle is thought to be the San Marino Grand Prix.