Canada is not worried about their future on the F1 calendar despite the fact two new North American rounds are heading to the F1 calendar. Next year, Montreal’s current status as the only North American round will end when Austin, Texas, hosts its inaugural US Grand Prix. In addition to the Texas race, in 2013, a street race amidst the Manhattan skyline will debut in New Jersey.
Both new events have long-term contracts, while the Canadian grand prix is presently scheduled only to host three more races until 2014.
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve promoter Francois Dumontier, however, insists he is not worried.
“I don’t think another grand prix (New York), six hours from Montreal, threatens our event,” he is quoted on Thursday by Postmedia News. On the contrary, our role is to optimise the two races that will take place within a week of one another in June.”
And Austin is then slated for a late-season race slot.
“Contrary to what people think, it (the addition of more American races) can have a positive effect,” Dumontier is quoted in French by rds.ca. “The more we talk about F1 in America, the better it is for the visibility of the grand prix. Geographically, Montreal and New York are close.
“We will see if we can work together to optimise the two events.”
Source:GMM
