Formula One set for Mexican return

MEXICO (AFP) - Mexico has been awarded a Formula One Grand Prix after a 12 year hiatus it was announced by Mexican authorities.
The inaugural Grand Prix will be held in 2006 in the eastern resort of Cancun with the contract running till 2010 according to the investors.
"We concluded our negotiations to organise a Grand prix in Cancun from 2006-2010 with the Formula One authorities on October 7," revealed Luis Silveira, a representative of the group backing the race.
"The likely date for the race will be in October," he added.
However Pasquale Lattuanedu, assistant to Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone, told AFP on Friday that he believed the Grand Prix would be in 2007 at the earliest.
"The Mexican Grand Prix will return to our country after a 12 year absence," beamed Artemio Santos, minister of tourism for Quintana Roo, the state where Cancun lies.
The last Mexican Grand Prix was won by British pilot Nigel Mansell on the Rodriguez brothers circuit at 2,600 metres altitude.

10/25/2004 - 18:44 GMT - AFP