18 Oct 2008

Ecclestone rules out reinstating Canada

9:44 am on 18 October 2008

Formula One motor racing boss Bernie Ecclestone has ruled out reinstating the axed Canadian Grand Prix as a replacement for France on what will now be a 17 race calendar next year.

Canada was dropped from a revised version of the calendar but the possibility of a reprieve was mooted when the French Grand Prix was scrapped for economic reasons.

Ecclestone says there's no way back for the Montreal race next year and France would not be replaced in the schedule.

The absence of both Canada and France leaves North America without a race for the first time in 50 years and also strips the calendar of one of the sport's founding nations.

Only once since 1950 has France not been on the calendar.