Euro races keep dates

Imola will be on the calendar for at least one more year

Formula One's bosses have retained 17 Grands Prix on the 2002 calendar, despite claims that the schedule might have to be trimmed for next season.

F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone had intimated that he might have to drop a European race to prepare for the arrival of new events.

Among those he has mentioned as possibilities for the future are a Russian Grand Prix in Moscow, as well as several contenders in the Middle East, including Bahrain and Beirut.

However, the new draft calendar issued by the sport's governing body, the FIA, on Wednesday includes the same races as the 2001 list.

Silverstone still has to satisfy the FIA about its traffic arrangements

That means that the two events that were considered most at risk have kept their dates - they are the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola and the European event at the Nurburgring.

The calendar follows the same schedule as this season, although there is a little shuffling around July so as not to have any clashes with the football World Cup.

Most notably, the French GP moves from its traditional date at the end of June or the beginning of July to a place towards the end of July.

The British race will go ahead, subject to the outcome of an enquiry into traffic conditions last July.

The FIA's World Council approved the calendar with strings attached to four races.

Fatal accident

Apart from the British round at Silverstone, Australian and Italian organisers were also given conditions to be satisfied.

The Australian GP will be the season opener on 3 March subject to the outcome of a Victoria State coroner's enquiry into the accident that killed a marshal in 2001.

The FIA has already said it considers the death of marshal Graham Beveridge, who was struck by a wheel punching through a safety fence, to have been a freak accident.

Imola and Monza will host the San Marino and Italian Grands Prix on 14 April and 15 September respectively, subject to new commercial agreements being concluded with F1 bosses.

Draft calendar for the 2002 Formula One season issued by the FIA:

March 3 Australia, Melbourne
March 17 Malaysia, Sepang
March 31 Brazil, Interlagos
April 14 San Marino, Imola
April 28 Spain, Barcelona
May 12 Austria, A1-Ring
May 26 Monaco, Monte Carlo
June 9 Canada, Montreal
June 23 European, Nurburgring
July 7 Britain, Silverstone
July 21 France, Magny-Cours
July 28 Germany, Hockenheim
August 18 Hungary, Budapest
September 1 Belgium, Spa-Francorchamps
September 15 Italy, Monza,
September 29 USA, Indianapolis
October 13 Japan, Suzuka