Motor Sport News: The troubled British Grand Prix was listed provisionally on a 2005 Formula One calendar yesterday along with an inaugural Turkish race which has been pencilled in for August.
The governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) published a draft calendar with more races than ever - an unprecedented 19 - after much speculation about the fate of the British round with Silverstone's owners yet to agree a deal with the sport's commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone.
France and the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola were also listed with an asterisk against them. The final calendar, due in December, could have fewer races with teams contractually committed to just 17.
"Britain and France have a date and it's simply a question of getting a contract but also there is this problem of the number of races," FIA president Max Mosley said after a meeting in Paris. "So there are one or two hurdles to jump but my personal view is that I'd be surprised if we don't have a French and a British Grand Prix."
The FIA also yesterday announced a firm calendar for the 2005 World Rally Championship.
FORMULA ONE 2005 DRAFT CALENDAR: Mar 6th - Australia; Mar 20th - Malaysia; Apr 3rd - Bahrain; Apr 17th - France*; Apr 24th - San Marino**; May 8th - Spain; May 22nd - Monaco; TBC - Europe; Jun 12th - Canada; TBC - United States; Jul 3rd - Great Britain*; Jul 17th - Germany; Jul 31st - Hungary; Aug 21st - Turkey; Sept 4th - Italy; Sept 11th - Belgium; Sept 25th Brazil; Oct 9th - Japan; TBC - China.
* Contract under discussion
** Subject to compliance with contract
WORLD RALLY C'SHIP 2005 CALENDAR: Jan 21st-23rd - Monte Carlo; Feb 11th-13th - Sweden; Mar 11th-13th - Mexico; Apr 8th-10th - New Zealand; Apr 29th-May 1st - Italy/Sardinia; May 13th-15th - Cyprus; May 27th-29th - Turkey; Jun 17th-19th - Greece; Jul 8th-10th - Argentina; Aug 5th-7th - Finland; Aug 26th-28th - Germany; Sept 16th-18th - Britain; Sept 30th-October 2nd - Japan; Oct 14th-16th - France/Corsica; Oct 28th-30th Catalunya/Spain; Nov 11th-13th - Australia November.
