MONTREAL -- Montreal's mayor and federal and provincial cabinet ministers were traveling to London on Wednesday to make a case for saving the Canadian Grand Prix.
Mayor Gerald Tremblay will be accompanied by federal International Trade Minister Michael Fortier and Quebec Economic Development Minister Raymond Bachand at Thursday's meeting with Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone.
Bachand said on Tuesday he has spent the last week looking at the economic benefits of the event.
"We'll be meeting Mr. Ecclestone on Thursday to see how much he wants this grand prix to be held," he said. "If the conditions are financially responsible, we'll save this event. If they're totally unreasonable, we're in trouble."
Fortier and Tremblay have also previously said they are willing to support the event but only if it guarantees economic benefits.
The F1 chief says Montreal has not paid its debts to his organization for the last three years. Tremblay, Fortier and Bachand say the amounts for 2006 and 2007 have been addressed, while there is still a dispute over what is owed for 2008.
The Canadian GP, which draws an estimated $80 million per year in revenues and economic spinoffs to Montreal, was dropped from F1's 2009 calendar this month and replaced by a race in Abu Dhabi.
The Turkish GP was moved into Montreal's June 5-7 dates.
The Canadian delegation says there is support in the Formula One community for a race in Montreal, saying it is the only North American showcase for such manufacturers as Toyota, Honda, BMW, Ferrari and Mercedes.
