Belgian Grand Prix cancelled

This year's Belgian Grand Prix has been cancelled, the FIA confirmed yesterday.

The Formula One rights holder Bernie Ecclestone had demanded that the circuit at Spa-Francorchamps be redeveloped. That would have meant the cancellation of other races at the venue before the grand prix in September.

The FIA confirmed that the Belgian authorities had requested the cancellation of this year's race, saying: "The withdrawal has been made in order to allow the completion of extensive improvement work to facilities at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. The FIA hopes that the event will be included in the Formula One calendar from 2007."