NO CANADA // FORMULA ONE'S REVISED SCHEDULE

The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal has been cut of the 2009 Formula One calendar according to the World Motor Sport Council. No more Canadian Grand Prix means the introduction of a new circuit (or an old one) right? Wrong. How about simply re-scheduling the F1 calendar, moving the Turkish GP from August 9th to June 9th, and creating a four week gap between the Hungarian GP on July 26th and the European GP on August 23rd. This marks the first time since 1987 that the Canadian GP will not be on the F1 calendar.

First held in 1967, the Canadian Grand Prix had seen only one mishap since it’s inception (due to a dispute over sponsorship) and has been a popular destination for US based F1 fans (all 225 of them...). Being removed from next years calendar came as a bit of a shock, and according to the Associated Press, a disagreement between Circuit Gilles Villeneuve officials and commercial rights holder ‘F1 management,’ lead to the removal.

Now, with a lack o North American presence, a return to Indy may be in the very near future right? Wrong again. Formula One's big cheese, Bernie Eccelstone, commented that he (meaning F1) is more interested in emerging markets than returning to the states. A sad day for Canadians and certainly a sad day for North American F1 fans, all 225 of them...

Rescheduled 2009 Formula One Calendar as follows : :

29 March - Australia
5 April - Malaysia
19 April - Bahrain
10 May - Spain
24 May - Monaco
7 June - Turkey
21 June - Great Britain
28 June - France
12 July - Germany
26 July - Hungary
23 August - Europe (Valencia)
30 August - Belgium
13 September - Italy
27 September - Singapore
11 October - Japan
18 October - China
1 November - Brazil
15 November - Abu Dhabi

Information comes courtesy of Formula1.com // 10.08.2008