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Singapore Grand Prix back on track for September

SINGAPORE — After initial reports of an October date for the 2017 Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix, the race is now back in its usual September slot after the sport’s governing body, the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), approved the calendar in a meeting in Vienna yesterday.

The Singapore Grand Prix will now be held on Sept 17 next year. TODAY file photo

The Singapore Grand Prix will now be held on Sept 17 next year. TODAY file photo

SINGAPORE — After initial reports of an October date for the 2017 Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix, the race is now back in its usual September slot after the sport’s governing body, the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), approved the calendar in a meeting in Vienna yesterday.

While the provisional calendar for 2017 released in September had the Malaysia Grand Prix preceding the Singapore event — a reversal from this year when the Republic held its race two weeks before Malaysia — the Sepang race will now be held on Oct 1 after the Singapore Grand Prix (Sept 17).

The German Grand Prix has been axed for the 2017 season for financial reasons, which will mean that German fans will not be able to catch their newly-crowned world champion Nico Rosberg in action next year.

While that move will dismay Rosberg’s fans, there was a more welcome change in the renamed Azerbaijan Grand Prix being pushed back to June 25 to avoid a clash with the Le Mans 24 Hours sports car classic.

Races in Brazil and Canada, whose fate had also been left open on the draft calendar, were confirmed on the 20-round official version published by the FIA. There were a record 21 races this year.

Germany’s absence had been expected with the Nurburgring unwilling to pay hosting fees and Hockenheim, which drew a mere 57,000-strong crowd this year, reluctant to lose money in successive seasons.

Hockenheim, one of the best attended venues in seven-time champion Michael Schumacher’s time, does have a contract for 2018 when the race is expected to return.

Azerbaijan’s street race in Baku made its debut this year as the European Grand Prix, but organisers had wanted to avoid a repeat of the clash with Le Mans and to remove the logistical challenge of a back-to-back race with Canada.

The races in Austria and Britain are moved back a week to help fill the gap left by Germany, with those grands prix now taking place on July 9 and 16, respectively. Hungary switches to the July 30 slot that was earmarked for Germany.

Mexico’s race is again paired with the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, at the end of October rather than with Brazil, which stands on its own as the penultimate round in November. AGENCIES

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