Monday January 31st, 2000

Formula One needs an African grand prix but the calendar must not be enlarged beyond 17 races, team owner Eddie Jordan said on Monday.

"We should have and must strive earnestly to have a race in Africa," he said after the launch of his new EJ10 car, when asked about the future of the sport outside its traditional European heartland.

The continent last hosted a race at Kyalami in South Africa in March 1993 and a return has been mooted. Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone also visited Egypt last October to discuss a possible race in that country.

Jordan suggested that Asia, the Far East and the sub-continent could also claim the right to host more races.

This season's calendar has 11 European venues, one in Australia, two in Asia (Japan and Malaysia) and three in the Americas (Canada, Brazil and United States).

"In India and China you have in excess of one billion people and those people have to be serviced because they are the people who are turning on to our sport," Jordan said.

"Those people have the right I believe to be able to touch it (Formula One). People in Europe have so many races and I'm not advocating a move from Europe but I'm just saying we need to address other areas which are important."

Jordan said the sponsorship effects of moving beyond Europe were huge, as this year's return to the United States at Indianapolis was likely to show, but the calendar must not be allowed to grow beyond the current 17 races.

"It is a big difference 17 from 16," he said. "I know it is just another number up but in many respects it is very demanding.

"I think 17 is absolutely pushing it right to the limits."