Eccelstone Targeted by Radio Stunt

[SALEEN S7R]

Source:Autosport.com

Hoax phone call broadcast by Canadian station



Ecclestone was the target of the hoax call


Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone was the subject of a hoax phone call earlier this week by a pair of Canadian radio pranksters.

Ecclestone was told he was speaking to Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien on the phone. He discussed the situation concerning the Canadian Grand Prix, which is set to be removed from the 2004 Formula 1 calendar due to Canada's incoming ban on tobacco advertising, and the form of BAR-Honda driver Jacques Villeneuve.

'Media terrorists' Marc-Antoine Audette and Sebastien Trudel were behind the stunt, having previously targeted the likes of golfer Tiger Woods, singer Britney Spears and Microsoft founder Bill Gates. The phone call was broadcast on Canadian radio station CKOI.

During the hoax call, Ecclestone said: "The last thing I want to do is cause you problems."

Ecclestone appeared to suspect something was not right after just a couple of minutes, when he insisted that he would call the Canadian Prime Minister back at a later date for further talks.

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Looks as though BE was on the ball, and he needed to be too. Just goes to show that some people really dont have much to do with their time.

 

[SALEEN S7R]

Source: Autosport.com

F1 tsar confirms Montreal off calendar for 2004



No Canada: Ecclestone has confirmed that he's axed the country's GP


Bernie Ecclestone has finally confirmed that the Canadian Grand Prix has been axed from the Formula 1 schedule for 2004 because of new Canadian anti-tobacco legislation.

Race promoter Norman Legault announced last week that the Montreal-based race had been dropped from next year's calendar, although this was initially denied by F1 impresario Ecclestone. But a statement released by his company, Formula One Management, now confirms the fate of the race.

"I can confirm that a letter was written to the Canadian race promoter following a meeting I had with him when I informed him the Canadian round of the FIA Formula 1 Championship would not be included in the 2004 calender," read the statement.

"The reason for this is that the Canadian government has brought into effect a total prohibition on tobacco-related sponsorship. There is a provision in our contract with the race promoter that should this become effective, we have the right not to include their event in the calendar for the relevant year.

"Our problem is quite simple. The F1 teams with tobacco-related sponsorship lose part of their revenue when a certain percentage of the events ban tobacco sponsorship. This was the reason the Belgian Grand Prix was not included in the 2003 calendar.

"One thing is for sure – everyone is sorry to lose the Canadian race as we all love Montreal and the warm support the city has always given Formula 1."

Belgium has been reinstated on the F1 calendar for 2004 after the government agreed to pass an exemption on its tobacco advertising ban. The Canadian government recently gave its support to plans to save its race, although Prime Minister Jean Chretien insisted that it would not back down over its new anti-tobacco laws.

A coalition including Legault, representatives of local government and tourism officials met on Wednesday to launch a bid to convince F1 teams and manufacturers to support the Montreal race. Legault is due to fly to the Hungarian GP in a bid to garner the support of team bosses.

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So its finally been confirmed! This is a real shame, and a big blow to the F1 calender if u ask me. Still hopefully the Canadian GP will be back 1 day soon.

 

[Max West]

Hehe...that was a pretty funny phone call.
Pity about Montreal being dropped tho...always provided a good race. I doubt we will see it soon again tho, because there are new venues coming in, but anything can happen in F1 as they say. I would've dropped Imola instead...I just don't like that track, always boring races there.