Montreal loses F1 race due to anti-tobacco laws ( 2003-08-08 14:03) (Agencies)
The Canadian Grand Prix was dropped from the 2004 Formula One calendar
Thursday because of anti-tobacco legislation.
The decision leaves only one Formula One race in North America -- the
U.S. Grand Prix in Indianapolis.
Race organizer Normand Legault said he was notified in a letter from Formula
One officials.
The legislation was announced in 1997 and Legault told a news conference the
Montreal race received a seven-year grace period before tobacco sponsors had to
be dropped.
Legault said organizers made their decision based on Canada's and Quebec's
legislation.
"So basically what that means for next June's event is that Michael
Schumacher's Ferrari could not sport Marlboro's colors and Jacques Villeneuve's
car could not have Lucky Strike on it," he said.
The weekend event has drawn crowds of more than 300,000.
"There will be an important negative impact on Montreal's tourism," Legault
said.
In Belgium, Parliament recently voted to ease a ban on tobacco advertising in
an attempt to get the Belgian Grand Prix back on the Formula One calendar next
year. That race was dropped from the 2004 schedule by the sport's world
governing body.
