SEPTEMBER 25, 2003

Where Formula 1 is not going...

The list of signatories of the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control continues to grow with 10 countries signing in the last week. These include Malaysia. The others do not have Grands Prix but we can write off the hopes of races in Ireland, Jamaica, Lithuania. Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Venezuela. The inclusion of Mali could have a dramatic effect on the running of the Paris-Dakar Rally but otherwise none of the new signatories will make much of an impact in motor racing although the future of the Malaysian GP must be called into question by that country's decision to join the anti-smoking forces.

Things will not be helped by the impending retirement of the man behind the race, Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.