Montreal will possibly have to do without Formula 1 in 2009 since the FIA has announced that the Canadian race had been removed from the calendar.
It is not the first time that the Canadian Grand Prix is put in the hot seat. Old facilities, disastrous track conditions and anti-tobacco laws have more than once threaten the life of this event in the past few years. However, as it was the case in 2004 where the race was saved at the last minute and was reinstated to the calendar.
So is there any hope? Is the FIA just bluffing? Tough to say at the moment. On one side the Canadian Grand Prix has a contract with the big boss of Formula One, Bernie Ecclestone, going to the 2011 season. On the other side, history has shown that a contract in the world of Formula One is always breakable. The most worrying fact for Canadian racing fans is that another Grand Prix has been awarded the date, June 7, in which the Grand Prix was supposed to be held in 2009.
The Canadian Grand Prix bring in revenues of about 75 millions dollars each year to the city of Montreal. It is therefore the most important yearly tourist event in Canada.
