China, Malaysia set to host Grand Prix events

   Copyright c 1998 Nando Media
   Copyright c 1998 Agence France-Presse

PARIS (Oct 15, 1998 - 13:20 EDT) - China and Malaysia are both set to host
Formula One Grand Prix races in 1999, according to a provisional calendar
released Thursday by the FIA, motor sport's international governing body.

China is set to host the second race of the season at Zhuhai on March 21
while a Malaysian Grand Prix has been pencilled in for October 17.

The Kuala Lumpur race would be the penultimate race of the season, ahead of
the season-ending Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka.

The moves come as Formula One begins to move away from its traditional
European heartland as governments in European nations stamp down on the
tobacco-funded advertising that provides crucial support to the Grand Prix
circus.

The San Marino and Hungarian Grand Prixs are included on the provisional
calendar subject to those races meeting FIA requirements.

The Hungarian race organisers have been fined one million US dollars for a
track invasion by spectators after the 1998 race, although 75 percent of
the sum has been suspended unless there is a similar invasion in 1999 or
2000.

The 17-race provisional calendar is:

March 7: Australia (Melbourne)
March 21: China (Zhuhai) +
April 11: Brazil (Sao Paulo)
May 2: San Marino (Imola)++
May 16: Monaco
May 30: Spain (Barcelona)
June 13: Canada (Montreal)
June 27: France (Magny-Cours)
July 11: Great Britain (Silverstone)
July 25: Austria (Spielberg)
August 1: Germany (Hockenheim)
August 15: Hungary (Budapest)+++
August 29: Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps)
September 12: Italy (Monza)
September 26: Europe (Nurburgring)
October 17: Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) +
October 31: Japan (Suzuka)
Reserve venue: Argentina (Buenos Aires)
+ - Provisional
++ - subject to clarification of Italian law relating to criminal
responsibility in dangerous sports
+++ - subject to the provision of a satisfactory safety plan being
submitted to the World Motor Sport Council in December.

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