From GMM
The mayor of Montreal has finally pencilled some dates onto rising speculation that the Canadian grand prix is set to return to the formula one calendar.
Gerald Tremblay said in an Associated Press report that it is looking "very good" that Circuit Gilles Villeneuve would host a race next June.
He also said he is confident an official announcement will be made prior to the publication of F1's first 2010 race calendar in September.
"There are still certain commitments which have been made that have to be refined," said Tremblay. "Right now, we're trying to finalise this agreement in the best interests of Montreal."
Also confident of a new deal is Francois Dumontier, the chief organiser of the Montreal race in recent years.
"I would say that I'm pretty optimistic about it. I think there are a lot of things to do yet, but it's okay to be optimistic about it, yes," he told the Montreal Gazette.
Dumontier suggested that an official announcement could be coming within two weeks, as he urged those involved to delay the news until after Montreal has hosted its NASCAR round at the end of August.
"I'd prefer that they wait a little bit before they announce anything because it's (less than) three weeks until our NASCAR race," he said. "I'd like all the attention to be on our event."
The mayor of Montreal has finally pencilled some dates onto rising speculation that the Canadian grand prix is set to return to the formula one calendar.
Gerald Tremblay said in an Associated Press report that it is looking "very good" that Circuit Gilles Villeneuve would host a race next June.
He also said he is confident an official announcement will be made prior to the publication of F1's first 2010 race calendar in September.
"There are still certain commitments which have been made that have to be refined," said Tremblay. "Right now, we're trying to finalise this agreement in the best interests of Montreal."
Also confident of a new deal is Francois Dumontier, the chief organiser of the Montreal race in recent years.
"I would say that I'm pretty optimistic about it. I think there are a lot of things to do yet, but it's okay to be optimistic about it, yes," he told the Montreal Gazette.
Dumontier suggested that an official announcement could be coming within two weeks, as he urged those involved to delay the news until after Montreal has hosted its NASCAR round at the end of August.
"I'd prefer that they wait a little bit before they announce anything because it's (less than) three weeks until our NASCAR race," he said. "I'd like all the attention to be on our event."