China and South Africa have been nominated as reserve races for the 1998 World Championship calendar, a warning signal from the FIA, the sport's governing body, that it is prepared to take Formula One out of Europe if a tobacco sponsorship ban is implemented by the European Union.
These two countries in particular are regarded as areas of expansion for tobacco sales and more may hurriedly be introduced to replace the Belgian, Portuguese and French Grands Prix, all of which have question marks hanging over their future.
The Belgian race could be axed from next year owing to anti-tobacco legislation which is due to come into force there in 1999. The new Belgian law goes beyond plans by the 15 European Union nations to phase out tobacco advertisements over a 10-year period.
The Portuguese race will only take place if track improvements are finished and agreement can be reached with the promoters by December 31st. Last year's race there was abruptly cancelled and replaced by the European Grand Prix in Jerez.
The FIA world council, meeting in Paris, refused to reinstate the French Grand Prix to the calendar because of the government's failure to restrict the number of television companies permitted to cover the race at Magny-Cours. Bernie Ecclestone's Formula One Constructors' Association TV organisation wants to control the coverage, as it does at every other round of the championship.
In addition, the prospect of further races at Spain's Jerez circuit have been dashed following disruption of the podium ceremony at this year's European Grand Prix by the local mayor and various government officials.
"This disruption caused embarrassment and inconvenience to those presenting the trophies," stated the FIA. "Therefore, no further rounds will be held at the Jerez circuit."
The French Grand Prix is still expected to take place on June 28th, filling an untypical fiveweek gap in the provisional calendar published yesterday. It is thought the Portuguese race will eventually be replaced by a South African Grand Prix at Johannesburg's Kyalami track.
