Formula One: Belgian GP to stay on calendar

The Belgian Grand Prix will stay on the calendar for at least another three seasons after race organisers agreed to a new deal with Formula One chiefs until 2015, according to Sky Sports.

The future of the hugely popular and historic race at Spa-Francorchamps had been in doubt owing to the costs of staging the annual event, prompting speculation that the race would have to alternate with a neighbouring country or drop off the calendar altogether.

The idea of alternating with France ‘was considered at the request of our French friends’, said Jean-Claude July Marcourt Walloon Minister of Economy. “Unfortunately or fortunately, the French did not give practical effect to the proposals, and so today we got our freedom and we decided to sign up for an additional period of three years.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 25^th, 2012.