Doubts remain as 2017 Canadian Grand Prix given asterix on schedule

MONTREAL — The Canadian Grand Prix, in doubt because of delays in promised track improvements, has an asterix beside its name on a provisional 2017 Formula One race schedule released Wednesday.

The schedule still has 21 races listed, but the stops in Canada, Germany and Brazil are still to be approved by the sports governing body FIA.

“We aren’t worried at all,” said Sandrine Garneau-Le Bel, spokesman for race promoter Groupe Octane. “It’s business as usual for us.”

It is the first time the race has been put in doubt since former promoter Normand Legault pulled out in 2008. The 2009 event was cancelled, but returned in 2010 under promoter Francois Dumontier.

Garneau-Le Bel said the arrival of a new Formula E electric car race in Montreal next summer had no bearing on the Formula One event’s future.

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The Canadian Grand Prix is scheduled for June 11 at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, but doubts about its future arose last June when F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone questioned whether organizers could fulfil their promise to upgrade the circuit’s pit and paddock areas, grandstands and medical centre by 2017. No work had been on at the track at the time.

A few days later mayor Denis Coderre said he had met with Ecclestone and the head of the city’s executive committee Pierre Desrochers to iron out details establish a new time frame for the work to be done.

A deal signed in 2014 to keep the race in Montreal until 2024, to which three levels of government pledged $187 million, included a promise to make $32.6 million in improvements by 2017.

Coderre said the race will go on even if the work is not completed on time.

The German and Brazilian races are dealing with financial problems.

The F1 season is to begin March 26 with the Australian Grand Prix.

Alexandre Geoffrion-McInnis, The Canadian Press