http://www.planetf1.com/story/0,18954,3213_4856049,00.html Rome considering GP bid Tuesday 27th January 2009 The Italian city of Rome is considering launching a bid to host an F1 Grand Prix. It's not the first time that the idea of hosting a race in Rome has been suggested, with Former Formula Two driver and world superbike promoter Maurizio Flammini first vaunting the idea in 1984. Twenty-five years later Flammini is again at the forefront of the efforts to bring a race to Rome. "It's an idea Flammini has proposed and mayor Gianni Alemanno has said it is possible," a city council spokesman told Reuters. Bernie Ecclestone has already made his intentions known to bring a race to South Korea in 2010, and India in 2011, whilst pressure is reportedly being placed on the F1 supremo to re-introduce a race in North America, meaning the Romans face a tough battle to get on the racing calendar. Spain is currently the only country that hosts two F1 races every year, whilst Germany and Japan rotate. Italy already play host to the Italian Grand Prix at Monza each year, which may prove a stumbling block to Flammini and co.'s plans. The proposed race would be a street race, following in the Monaco tradition, and more recently the footsteps of Abu Dhabi and Singapore, with London and Paris also pondering such races. Not everybody is a fan of the increase in street races though, with Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo voicing his dissatisfaction with the trend. "At least Monaco has its own history but to have three or four Monacos is too much," di Montezemolo said last year.
Just keep them out of the video games. I have a ***** of a time getting around monaco for a couple laps before I lose a wheel.
I don't like the sound of this, a street circuit near Rome to replace Monza ?? If its to run along with Monza then i have no real problem! But to say goodbye for some makeshift street track on the edge of a city, sounds like a another step towards de-facing the sport ! Monza is the last of the low aero and high speed tracks, and lets not forget the history!
There goes Monza. It could happen as early as 2011, which is the same year the GP of India in New Delhi comes online.
Lets hope not Andreas, lets hope not!! I really can't see the funds being available to set this event up, not when Italy has at least 3 other tracks with the ability of hosting F1..
You're quite correct: Follow the money. And that will lead the tourists right into the heart of Rome. As a touristic venue a GP of Rome is a lot more popular and attracts more folks overall than the GP of Monza or GP of San Marino. Plus setting up a road course doesn't require that much of investment. Grandstands and armco is temporary, just build the pit area and pave the road. I can't say whether this will happen, many city GPs have been proposed and then went nowhere (Moscow, London, Paris), but the chance is there. Personally I'd see it with mixed emotions: I'm no fan of the Monza layout and would use any excuse to visit Rome again (Roma!), but then again Monza is one of the remaining original tracks and therefore deserves a place in F1's calendar forever.
Been a few years since I have been in the Italian capital but I do remember the roads were rather crappy. It would be interesting to see the course around the coliseum and circus maximus. Image Unavailable, Please Login
+1, excting street race (oxymoron), unless its rains! I love Rome as a city it is one of the world's best, but F1 has enough boring parade street races already.
Well that would be a whole different story! The back drop of the coliseum and circus maximus would be stunning! If someone says Rome Gp, i think thats what most people will vision ! But i fear that it would be held in an area that could on the out skirts of any European city.
They said it will be in the neo fascist region that Mussolini erected outside of Rome. It is a monument to concrete. Traffic wouldn't be an issue, but forget the lovely backdrop of the Coliseum. I've been in that area (they got a neat history museum there). It ain't pretty.
Read an update on the story: It is looking good for a Rome GP in 2010 or 2011: Not only Bernie wants it, but also the mayor of Rome as well as the Italian President. Allegedly they already have 150 million Euro together to build the track and pay Bernie. They also assured that Monza would not have to be sacrificed for it.
Why on earth would he have an F1 race in India? Does it have more commercial pulling power than some other Western countries?
