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F1: Belgium's Spa-Francorchamps not ruling out circuit sale

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Khatir Soltani
From GMM

The local Walloon government is not ruling out selling Spa-Francorchamps in order to secure the fabled circuit's future in Formula 1.

Well-connected Belgian motor racing figure Bas Leinders this week suggested there is a serious buyer for the track, amid reports its race might have to annually alternate with a French venue in future.

Leinders referred to a "big investment company", and Belgian television RTBF suggested it might be Renault team owner Genii.

Spa-Francorchamps (Photo: Renault)

But the Luxembourg newspaper Wort said both Spa circuit boss Etienne Davignon and Genii have denied the rumours.

The Belga news agency also said Spa boss Pierre-Alain Thibaut played down the link with Genii's Gerard Lopez.

So too did Walloon government minister Jean-Claude Marcourt, but he admitted to La Libre newspaper that Spa-Francorchamps might be interested in linking up with a private investor.

He told La Derniere Heure: "I am open to any interesting initiatives, even though it is difficult to talk hypothetically.

"But I am interested so long as the private investor takes a substantial financial risk," he added.

Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
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