GP withdrawn from 2006 calendar

By Karl King
February 8 2006

The circuit where Pansonic Toyota Racing were so close yet so far to winning their first GP ever in 2005 has been written of the 2006 calendar. The sport's governing body, the FIA, today released a statement confirming the Belgian GP has been taken off the calendar.

The race, held at the historic Spa-Francorchamps, had been in financial trouble recently and the race had been in doubt for some time.

The statement said the GP may return to the calendar in 2007.

The statement read, "The Belgian National Sporting Authority, the RACB, has written to notify the FIA of the withdrawal of the 2006 Belgian Grand Prix from the FIA Formula One World Championship. The withdrawal has been made in order to allow the completion of extensive improvement work to facilities at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit."

The race was originally schedueled for the 17th September.