NOVEMBER 1, 1999

The final 2000 calendar

THE FIA has issued the definitive World Championship calendar for 2000 with the dramatic news that the British Grand Prix will take place at Silverstone on Easter Day - April 23.

THE FIA has issued the definitive World Championship calendar for 2000 with the dramatic news that the British Grand Prix will take place at Silverstone on Easter Day - April 23. This is not good news for the circuit as the weather is unlikely to be very good and Grand Prix racing is likely to leave the Northamptonshire facility muddier than it was when it arrived. The date is the result of the ongoing battle between F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone and the British Racing Drivers Club which seems intent on annoying Ecclestone rather than finding a compromise with him. The appointment of Ken Tyrrell as the new BRDC chairman - albeit a temporary measure - will do nothing to improve the situation. The likely replacement of Tyrrell by JackieÊStewart early next year is unlikely to improve the situation.

All the other dates are much as expected with Austria taking the traditional British GP date in mid-July and the EuropeanÊGrandÊPrix at the Nurburgring slotting into May.

The full list of dates is as follows:

Australia (March 12)

BrazilÊ(MarchÊ26)

San Marino (April 9)

Britain (April 23)

Spain (May 7)

Europe (May 21)

Monaco (June 4)

Canada (June 18)

France (July 2)

Austria (July 16)

Germany (July 30)

Hungary (August 13)

Belgium (August 27)

Italy (September 10)

United States (September 24)

Japan (October 8)

Malaysia (October 22)