Spa-Francorchamps saved?

The Walloon government has almost reached a deal with Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone to save the Belgium Grand Prix. Michel Daerden, budget minister of the Walloon government said a deal was nearly done.

Michel Daerden, budget minister of the Walloon government "I am looking at the infrastructure dossier. It is practically finalised, without much else to say. I have here a near agreement."
The minister's spokesman confirmed that the parties trying to keep the grand prix in Belgium were "quite far" in their project.

The future of the race was thrown into jeopardy when the previous promoter went bankrupt due to poor ticket sales.

Ecclestone offered to take up the contract but this raised the ire of local politicians because of the price Belgium's poorest region with the highest rate of unemployment could end up paying Ecclestone. But now the parties have almost come to an agreement and the black clouds above the circuit of Spa-Francorchamps are starting to disappear.

Despite the difficulties, the race has been included on the 2006 calendar. The GP 'normally' will go on on September 17.