Spa axed...official

**Stephen Green** · 28 Oct 2002, 14:58 (Ref:415473)

Once again, thanks to Reuters for the following...

LONDON, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Next year's Belgian Grand Prix at the Spa Francorchamps track has been deleted from the Formula One calendar in a row over restrictions on tobacco advertising, officials announced on Monday.
Formula One has agreed to phase out all sponsorship by tobacco companies in 2006 in line with a global embargo planned by the World Health Organisation.
Belgium has not followed the example of several European countries which have offered a special dispensation from domestic legislation limiting tobacco advertising to motor racing until 2006.
Five Formula One teams including world champions Ferrari have tobacco sponsorship. Spa has hosted 36 Belgian Grands Prix.

**Spudgun** · 28 Oct 2002, 15:06 (Ref:415483)

It is a travesty. We lose yet another 'driver' circuit.

**Stephen Green** · 28 Oct 2002, 15:08 (Ref:415487)

Agreed

AndyF · 28 Oct 2002, 15:10 (Ref:415490)

What a shame! Another nail in F1's coffin

**Stephen Green** · 28 Oct 2002, 15:12 (Ref:415492)

I was only saying to a few friends at the FFF that I wanted to try and marshal at Spa for next years GP. Fat chance now, I feel like a life ambition has been cruelly taken from me

**bella** · 28 Oct 2002, 15:17 (Ref:415499)

this was their chance to show that it's about the racing.
muppets.

kdr · 28 Oct 2002, 15:24 (Ref:415504)

i think i hear the fat lady..

DSM · 28 Oct 2002, 15:37 (Ref:415516)

Final proof, if needed, that wherever BE's interests lie, it's not with the sport.

kdr · 28 Oct 2002, 15:41 (Ref:415520)

its obviously with the interests of the neglected f1 fans of dubai and china

Hesketh · 28 Oct 2002, 15:48 (Ref:415531)

Shame on our sport! They also introduced some kinda of light championship points...which i completely dislike. This is not the cure for the sickness (switch back to slicks, limit aero package, ban traction control). For me it still makes sense to finish up in the first six 'cauze to get points must be a hard task and a special achievement. I know...I'm bloody nostalgic.
Spa R.I.P.

**Craig** · 28 Oct 2002, 16:05 (Ref:415553)

What a joke. PLEASE pick up this date CART - and really show F1 up for the farce that it currently is

R · 28 Oct 2002, 16:19 (Ref:415570)

This is ****ing madness. The greatest track on the calendar is axed because of these *******s only being able to see the $$$$ involved. To hell with history and what the fans want. Don't bother if it's the best track on the calendar. I had thought about going to Spa, maybe as soon as next year, maybe I will, but to watch the CART race in stead, if they pick it up (hope they do).

Now I'm really mad.

**Spudgun** · 28 Oct 2002, 16:20 (Ref:415573)

This whole thing was kicking around as a rumour when I went to the race this year. I'm now very glad that I went.

I just hope the FIA will be able to come to some agreement for 2004, or at least when the tobacco ban kicks in for everyone in 2006. I guess it depends if the FIA now has a grudge against Spa.

Glen · 28 Oct 2002, 16:34 (Ref:415586)

Quote:

Originally posted by Craig Antill
What a joke. PLEASE pick up this date CART - and really show F1 up for the farce that it currently is

Do they have CART races without tobacco sponsorship then? Because if they don't then CART won't be going there any more than F1 will.

**Craig** · 28 Oct 2002, 16:37 (Ref:415592)

The only tobacco sponsor in the series next year will be Players and they are said to be out of there at the end of next year so I'm sure they'd not be worried about upsetting them...

Red · 28 Oct 2002, 16:49 (Ref:415608)

Quote:

Originally posted by Craig Antill
The only tobacco sponsor in the series next year will be Players and they are said to be out of there at the end of next year so I'm sure they'd not be worried about upsetting them...

I don't follow cart, but I understand that the series doesn't do exactly well right now. Anyway I would be interested to know why Players will leave CART and why all the others have already left.

Sato san · 28 Oct 2002, 16:53 (Ref:415614)

this is a complete joke ! F1 should be ashamed of its self ....i hope Cart pick up this date and put it in their calender and pack out the circuit withh fans !.....and show Bernie and Co what its all about .

**Craig** · 28 Oct 2002, 16:55 (Ref:415616)

CART, like F1, has faced difficult times in recent years after the series was mismanaged for a while and run by committee meaning vital changes were not forced through in time. (F1 take note!!!) In CART's case this is largely down to a rival series springing up (the IRL) which has attracted many of CART's teams who see the grass as being greener.

Glen · 28 Oct 2002, 16:57 (Ref:415620)

Which is evidence that there's a lot more money in F1 than CART. I think this is a travesty - F1 should clean its act up. If it can't survive without the very dubious support of tobacco sponsors there is something seriously wrong in the world.

I have to add that I am very upset that Spa is going. Not only is it a truly great historic circuit, its also a truly great driver's circuit (possibly the greatest). The appeal in the romantic idea of an historic circuit is so great that any new circuit needs to be at least twice as good to compare - the exact same layout transposed to China, for example, just wouldn't be the same. What we might get is even worse than that though... shorter, more formulaic, tracks designed for TV rather than driving challenge. (Some new tracks are good though - Sepang is ok, but it ain't no Spa.)

**Craig** · 28 Oct 2002, 16:59 (Ref:415623)

Exactly - and that is exactly what is ruining F1.

A series made up of tracks such as Spa, Laguna Seca, Brands Hatch, Road America, etc. sound good to you ? Yep - me too. Looks like CART has found it's niche.

Glen · 28 Oct 2002, 17:06 (Ref:415630)

Laguna Seca - that, I'd like to see.

**Stephen Green** · 28 Oct 2002, 17:27 (Ref:415648)

Count me in too!!!

Sato san · 28 Oct 2002, 17:31 (Ref:415652)

Quote:

Originally posted by Craig Antill
A series made up of tracks such as Spa, Laguna Seca, Brands Hatch, Road America, etc. sound good to you ?

that is just what most of us are looking for .

Borzacchini · 28 Oct 2002, 17:39 (Ref:415664)

And it's not even replaced by another race !!! If they replaced Spa by a GP were tobacco would at least be allowed that would at least have made some sense. But by not replacing it, many sponsors will even get less exposure, since there is one race less ! Doesn't make sense, they just want to punish Spa for not obbeying the FIA.

EERO · 28 Oct 2002, 17:54 (Ref:415675)

4 Races.

4 Freakin' Races, 2003-2006.

The sum total of four races run without Tobacco sponsorship. For that, Spa, the last real driver's track left on the schedule is removed.

Its getting harder and harder not to be cynical about the future of F1, but I cannot get excited about either China or Bahrain.

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