A new contract to "secure the future of the historic Italian grand prix at Monza" is now "close" to being signed. That was the claim on Friday of Italian Automobile Club (ACI) President Angelo Sticchi Damiani. A recent legislative tweak means the ACI can "now take on the bulk of the responsibility" for funding the fee payable to F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone, which had "earlier endangered the future of the race at the fabled Autodromo" (GRAND PRIX, 1/9). ... World Corporate Golf Challenge announced that the 2016 WCGC World Final, for the second year running, will be held in Cascais, Portugal, from June 21-26. The WCGC is one of the biggest corporate golf tournaments in the world. Since its inception in '93 WCGC has grown to the extent that more than 1 million golfers have taken part in more than 50 countries (WGCG). ... A Bolivian spectator was killed at the Dakar Rally on Saturday when he was "hit by a Mitsubishi driven by Frenchman Lionel Baud during the seventh stage from Bolivia to Argentina, organizers said." The organizers said in a statement, "The organization's medical service could only confirm, unfortunately, the death of the person involved (in the accident)." Reports said the 63-year-old man was hit at the 82km mark of the stage (REUTERS, 1/9).
