Motor sport chiefs will tomorrow consider scrapping the sport's self-imposed ban on tobacco sponsorship in Formula One from 2006.
The possible turnaround comes after the European Union decided to impose tough new legislation across its member states from 2005.
Any change in its policy on tobacco sponsorship by FIA, the sport's world governing body, could have serious repercussions for grand prix in Europe, the traditional heartland of the sport.
"The issue of tobacco sponsorship in motorsport will be discussed at the World Council meeting in Monaco tomorrow," a FIA spokesman confirmed today.
The governing body had agreed a worldwide ban to come into effect on October 1st, 2006 to fall into line with a World Health Organisation target date.
But the EU recently rejected the date and decided to impose its own ban which will take effect over a year earlier, from July 2005.
That could lead to a change of approach from FIA and the possibility of scrapping its planned self-imposed ban altogether.
The outcome could be a continuation of the move away from European races to countries where tobacco sponsorship is not outlawed.
Belgium has already been booted off next season's calendar because of a row over plans to introduce a tobacco ban in the country in 2003.
The race at Spa-Francorchamps will struggle to return to the calendar from 2004 when new races in China and Bahrain enter the championship.
Ten of next season's 16 races will take place in Europe but several would inevitably come under threat from the likes of Turkey, hoping to join the calendar in 2005, and Russia should tobacco sponsorship be allowed to continue.
The irony is that the logos of the likes of Marlboro, Lucky Strike and Mild Seven will still be beamed into homes via television coverage from races that have replaced European venues.
Around half of the F1 grid - including Ferrari, Renault and McLaren - are still heavily reliant on tobacco advertising to the tune of hundreds of millions of pounds per season.
Given the current economic climate, those teams could now argue that even if FIA still agree to a self-imposed ban it could be delayed for several years to give them longer to find alternative backing.
PA