Spa-Francorchamps fell more than 10,000 tickets short of its spectator target for the recent Belgian grand prix.

Only 52,500 spectators attended last Sunday’s race, after the organisers had targeted the figure of 65,000 in order to “achieve a balanced financial position”.

Crowds well above 100,000 were regularly recorded early last decade.

According to the AFP news agency in a French language report, the organisers are concerned about seeing the event’s local government funding reduced when the current contract expires in 2012.

“It is necessary to reduce the impact of this event on the finances of the Walloon region,” admitted local economy minister Jean-Claude Marcourt.

Added budget minister Andre Antoine: “It doesn’t mean we intend to end the contract. But at the time of negotiation, it (the finances) will be borne in mind.”

It was reported in August that Spa is under threat from potential rival hosts who can offer much higher annual promotional fees to formula one.

One solution known to be under consideration for Spa-Francorchamps is an annual race-alternating scheme with another European circuit.

“We are playing with the idea. That is the current situation, even if we are not quite at that stage,” Spa president Etienne Davignon told hln.be.

The actual financial figures for the 2010 event will only be known in October, and Spa official Andre Maes is not jumping to any conclusions.

“Obviously the horrible weather all weekend was little incentive for people to come,” he said.

Organisers of the historic Belgian grand prix are concerned about the future of F1′s popular Spa-Francorchamps round beyond 2012.

Whilst revealing this week that 40,000 tickets have been sold so far for the forthcoming August 29 event, the officials said Spa is under increasing pressure from international venues who have more money to spend.

“The ticket sales for this year are relatively good,” said spokesman Christian Lahaye.

“We hope to reach the figure of 2007, with 65,000 tickets sold, to allow us to achieve a balanced financial position,” he added.

According to the Flemish newspaper De Morgen, Spa’s F1 future could depend on the new Concorde Agreement post-2012 expanding the annual calendar to up to 25 races.

With the influx of new international races promising much higher annual promotion fees, the report said Spa-Francorchamps’ race organisers are worried.

“There is no shortage of candidates (for grands prix),” Spa-Francorchamps circuit boss Andre Maes is quoted by Belga news agency.

“Even France doesn’t have a grand prix,” he said.