08 August,2009 08:45 AM IST | | PA Sport
Organisers of the European Grand Prix are confident Fernando Alonso will be racing in Valencia in a fortnight's time.
Alonso's Renault team were handed a one-race suspension following the Hungarian Grand Prix 12 days ago after compromising safety regulations, resulting in the Spaniard losing a tyre off his car.
Renault now face an International Court of Appeal hearing at the FIA headquarters in Paris on August 17 as they seek to overturn the ban.
Race promoters in Valencia were outraged at the time as they feared losing a considerable amount of revenue without Alonso on track.
However, company operations director Carlos Moreno-Figueroa is convinced the ban will be lifted.
"I call on all those who are doubting whether or not to buy a ticket depending on the presence of Alonso to do so," said Moreno-Figueroa in the Costa Levante News. "We are being told from every side that he will be in Valencia."
Ticket sales, though, have been significantly boosted by Michael Schumacher's return, with the seven-times world champion due to deputise for Ferrari in the absence of the injured Felipe Massa.
A spokesman for organisers, Valmor Sport, said: "The participation of Schumacher has enabled us to sell 10,000 tickets in just one week."
