The Belgian Grand Prix is in jeopardy, ...

Published on 07 December 1997 by Verstappen Info Page

The Belgian Grand Prix is in jeopardy, even for next year. The Belgian parliament took on a strict anti-tobacco law this week, even before the European Union did so too this week but then with an 8 year exemption period. Bernie said this to Andre Maes, race director. Maes said that Ecclestone had threatened to cancel all motorsport events in Belgium if they weren't able to show that they did everything to stop this law.

Andre Maes has asked for a delay of a couple of days to show the FIA on December 12 what they have done to escape this legislation. On December 12 the FIA settles the race calendar for 1998 in Paris. Bernie Ecclestone has even proposed to homologate the circuit of Zandvoort again so that the Dutch Grand Prix could be reinstated. The Netherlands is less strict on the issue of tobacco advertising than Belgium because Holland sticks to the EU-legislation on this issue.