GP Masters to take F1 Spa date

UPDATE In the wake of the announcement that the planned June 18 for Monza has been cancelled due to noise legislation, GPM CEO Scott Poulter exclusively confirmed to autosport.com that a complex deal to take the series for over 45-year-old former Grand Prix drivers to the classic circuit on September 17 was "close, subject only to agreement on a few points".

An announcement was expected to be made on Monday, he said.

GP Masters cars are old Champ Cars, so it will be interesting to see how they race at Spa even though they are down on HP.

04/27/06 Grand Prix Masters organizers are moving towards a deal to run a race at Spa on the same date the Belgian Grand Prix was due to be held, autosport.com reports.

The Belgian Grand Prix, originally scheduled for September 17, was dropped from the Formula One calendar in February after being in doubt for several weeks because of problems over who would promote it.

"While F1 is not at the circuit this year, it is very important we keep the spirit of Formula One alive in Belgium," Eric Van de Poele (Left, who was fastest in the first practice session Friday) told autosport.com. "We would have 50,000 to 60,000 people there definitely.

"I've got about two weeks to make this happen. But it's quite hard for us with political situation in Belgium. I dream about the circuit. It could happen this year.

"The series is convinced it is a good idea, but now we just have to find people to take the risk to have GP Masters in Spa and to find sponsors for the organization.

"When you have a race track where you have a very difficult moments in the past like Spa, with the politics, it is difficult to recover that directly, and people are careful as a result.

"But it would be a proper circuit with proper drivers. I've been doing everything I can since January to make this happen. It was my first goal and target to get Grand Prix Masters in Spa."