Ecclestone 'sorry' to lose Canadian GP

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has expressed his sadness at the decision to drop the Canadian Grand Prix for 2004.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has expressed his sadness at the decision to drop the Canadian Grand Prix for 2004.

Ecclestone has confirmed the race will not take place because of a national ban on tobacco advertising which comes into force next year.

However, the Englishman insists he will be sorry to see the annual trip to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal stricken from his diary.

He said: "One thing is for sure: everyone is sorry to lose the Canadian race as we all love Montreal and the warm support the city has always given Formula One".

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Race organisers revealed last week they had received a letter from Ecclestone confirming the decision to drop the Montreal event due to a ban on tobacco advertising in Canada, which is due to come into force next season.

Ecclestone initially denied the claim, insisting the calendar for next year had not been decided.

But yesterday he issued a statement through his Formula One Management company confirming the race is to be axed.

Ecclestone insisted tobacco advertising was the sole reason for the decision, blaming a drop in revenue for teams with logos who are forced to comply with local bans.