JUNE 23, 2006

A positive step for Montreal

The Grand Prix F1 du Canada, Inc. company has taken an important step to guarantee the future of the Canadian Grand Prix with a new five-year deal with the City of Montreal to continue to use the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in the Parc Jean-Drapeau. This means that the race can continue to be held in the same venue as it has been since 1978 if commercial deals can be agreed between the promoters and the Formula One group. These discussions will be based on money and as Formula One's Bernie Ecclestone has been making noises that there will be no concessions made for Indianapolis, there is no reason to suggest that concesssions will be made in Montreal. Having said that the facilities in Montreal are now outdated and there is need to improve both the access and the paddock and media facilities. The race has also had to pay more money in recent years because of the anti-tobacco laws. The promoters landed funding from the Canadian federal government, the Quebec regional government and from the Economic Development Agency of Canada back in 2003 but will probably need more of the same in the future.