Montreal Reportedly Only Weeks Away From Finalizing F1 Return

Governments Reportedly Will Invest More Than C$16.5M To Bring F1 Back To Montreal

French-language newspaper La Presse Thursday reported that Montreal Mayor Gerald Tremblay is "only weeks away from announcing the city has been added to the 2010 Formula One schedule," and that "only a few details and additional funding remain to be sorted out before the deal is done," according to Dave Stubbs of the Montreal GAZETTE. The paper reported the federal, provincial and civic governments "will invest more than [C$16.5M] a year to secure the race for Montreal, in partnership with" F1 Management Chair Bernie Ecclestone. Former Canadian Grand Prix GM Francois Dumontier said he is "pretty optimistic about it." Dumontier: "I think there are a lot of things to do yet, but it's okay to be optimistic about it." Dumontier, who "almost certainly would play a major role in the organization of future F1 races in Montreal," added that he is "happy the FIA has not yet announced a provisional schedule for the 2010 F1 season." Stubbs notes a Montreal date "inserted in that calendar would have stolen attention from" the August 30 NASCAR Nationwide Series NAPA Auto Parts 200 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, which Dumontier is promoting. The Montreal F1 race was "cancelled this season after organizers and F1 couldn't agree on financial details" (Montreal GAZETTE, 8/14). Tremblay said that the "actual date of the Canadian Grand Prix and other details still have to be hammered out." Tremblay: "There are still certain commitments which have been made that have to be refined." Tremblay: "Right now, we're trying to finalize this agreement in the best interests of Montreal." Tremblay's comments come after Ecclestone recently told a Swiss motorsports publication that "cars will be whizzing around the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal in 2010" (CP, 8/13).