All tobacco advertising in motor racing will be banned from 2006, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) announced in Seville yesterday. The ban of advertising as well as sponsorship is in response to proposals by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and supported by the EU.

The FIA have chosen to delay the implementation of the ban for six years to give racing teams time to find alternative sources of sponsorship, as tobacco firms provide a large slice of financial support for the sport, the organisation said after the World Motor Sport Council meeting.

The European Court of Justice is due to rule on the legality of the EU directive on tobacco advertising and the WHO is to begin consultations on the control of tobacco.