Montreal could be back on F1 calendar
He was responding to reports that the race could return to the calendar this year, as a substitute for the inaugural Abu Dhabi round, whose organizers have reportedly fallen behind schedule amid the global financial crisis.
"We have been talking with Bernie Ecclestone about it coming back in 2011 and 2010," Tremblay confirmed to the Montreal Gazette.
However, he stated that he would be reluctant simply to offer Montreal as a one-off substitute for Abu Dhabi.
"We don't want to have it just in 2009. We want a long term agreement that respects our ability to pay," said Tremblay.
He insists, however, that Montreal organizers would be able to arrange an event this year, with the Melbourne rumors hinting at an October date.
"We have a lot of good people who have organized the races for many years," he said.
Promoters of the traditional Canadian round at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve fell out with F1 chief executive Ecclestone last year over a dispute about race fees.
An earlier dispute also saw the other North American round, the United States grand prix at Indianapolis, stage its last race in 2007.
03/28/09 The Canadian Grand Prix could be back on the Formula One schedule by 2011, according to a published report. Former race promoter Normand Legault said in Saturday's edition of Montreal La Presse that he's optimistic the race will be back in the city even though the economic downturn may negatively effect F1 auto racing. He adds Montreal successfully hosted the race for some 30 years and the city already has the infrastructure in place. Legault says the city also falls in a time zone convenient for broadcasting the race in Europe. TSN.ca