MAY 20, 1996

Portugal - on or off?

THERE were rumors at Monaco that the Portuguese GP - scheduled to take place at Estoril on September 22 - may be canceled because the track authorities have not carried out work which the FIA insisted had to be done before the race got an official go-ahead.

THERE were rumors at Monaco that the Portuguese GP - scheduled to take place at Estoril on September 22 - may be canceled because the track authorities have not carried out work which the FIA insisted had to be done before the race got an official go-ahead.

The stories suggested that instead of the Estoril race there would be an Iberian GP at Jerez de la Frontera.

Estoril's problems stem from the track's media center which has been hopelessly outdated for several years - a fact which has been ignored by the Estoril authorities, despite official requests.

Portuguese sources at Monaco say that all is well and that the work will be done. Planning permission for the changes has been granted and that work will start in 10 days with everything being completed by mid-August.