Canadians hit back at Ecclestone

Canadian Grand Prix organisers have hit back at Bernie Ecclestone after the Formula One supremo made claims they owe him money dating back three years.

Ecclestone stunned the F1 world earlier this month in announcing the race at Montreal had been axed from the F1 calendar due to debt issues.

However, the marketing vice-president of the race, Paul Wilson, has insisted Ecclestone received and accepted the terms of payment that were fully agreed to for the 2006 and 2007 events.

Wilson said: “It is totally untrue to suggest our organisation has defaulted on payments owed for the past three years.

“It is true that we have a commercial disagreement regarding our monetary obligations, but only for 2008.

“This is the result of an historical difference within the contractual understanding between the two parties.

“We were working hard to resolve the matter in order to meet our 2008 obligations when Mr Ecclestone, without notice, surprised everyone by unilaterally dropping the Canadian Grand Prix from the 2009 FIA schedule.

“We believe it is important to shed light on this matter, and to clarify any allegations that could tarnish the reputation of our organisation.

“We do not accept the integrity of the Grand Prix du Canada should be called into question when it is evident that the table is being set for new negotiations with different levels of the Canadian government.”