CART to Brands Hatch?

Brands Hatch, Spa Francorchamps and Estoril could all host rounds of the CART championship next season. Reports are circulating that CART organisers are attempting to take the series away from rivals IRL (Indy Racing League) by reverting to road courses.

Britain's Guardian newspaper has reported that CART's board of management was close to finalising a deal to run races at the three European circuits on successive weekends next May.

There was no immediate comment from CART organisers but a spokeswoman for Brands Hatch owners Octagon confirmed that there had been informal talks about the southern English circuit hosting a round.

"We've been having some informal discussions with CART in the last week or two," said Ruth Wicks, adding that Brands Hatch would be interested in the series "if it were to become possible and we could make it all add up."

Brands Hatch, once a regular Formula One venue, hosted a CART race in 1978. Octagon also represent CART for sales of worldwide television rights and marketing. Spa-Francorchamps, one of the great Formula One circuits, has been dropped from next year's grand prix calendar due to a row over tobacco advertising while Estoril has not been used for Formula One since 1996.

CART boss Chris Pook and Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone have been discussing closer alliances, with CART possibly acting as a feeder series for the grand prix championship.

Europe hosted just one round of the CART championship this season, at Rockingham's purpose-built oval in central England in September, after Germany's Lausitzring EuroSpeedway filed for insolvency in June. Rockingham chief executive Ashley Pover suggested this month that he was reluctant to continue hosting a race under the current terms.

Sources said Rockingham was paying in the region of $4.0 million to host the CART race while making less than half that from ticket sales.