Rome aims for an urban race in 2012

The Italian capital, Rome, aims to host a F1 2012 race. The event promoter claims that an agreement has already been undertaken with the Formula 1 chief, Bernie Ecclestone.

Maurizio Flammini, organizer of the potential Rome GP and head of the Superbike World Championship, launched the idea for this race last January. He admits that the first step towards an agreement has now been taken, but the official authorization is not expected before next summer.

« The first agreement has been signed, » said Flammini in the pages of the Gazzetta dello Sport. « The details cannot be disclosed, but it’s through a written confirmation that Bernie supports the Rome Grand Prix. We still need the approval of the province, the region, the ACI (Automobile Club Italiano) and the FIA. I think we need seven or eight more months. In any case, it’s a long administrative process. »

Flammini explains that the event has broad support, including that of Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo, and that a city circuit with current safety standards could be built in the proposed area. He is eyeing a race for August 2012.

Now, only a few people are against this project, he added to the Italian daily Republica. Even the president, di Montezemolo, has changed his mind after seeing the details of the project. We can have a wide track with large run-off areas, as well as permanent structures. In Rome, we will have an urban circuit with safety levels and a spectacle worthy of a real track.

« We know that the year 2012 is our goal, even though it could be moved forward if we build structures in record time. We are working to have a race in the spring or autumn, but a Grand Prix in August would have its advantages. Indeed, there is no traffic in Rome during this month and hotel availability is better. »

The mayor of Rome, Gianni Alemanno, stated that the event is not intended to replace Monza on the F1 calendar but simply hopes for a second race in Italy: “We believe that the Rome Grand Prix is very important and we are in favor of it. It is not an alternative to Monza, the two circuits will be complementary.”

However, the representatives of Monza criticize the Rome and Flammini project: “This is the last act of arrogance from a parasitic capital that lived during the 2000s thanks to the stolen oxygen from other cities,” objected the mayor of Monza, Marco Mariani.

The president of the province of Monza, Dario Allevi, added: “This would not be the first time that Flammini has lied for propaganda reasons.”

But Flammini responded to these criticisms by stating to the Gazzetta: « I don’t need this propaganda. My thirty years of work are a demonstration of my reliability. We are one of the four leading working groups in the world, and we built the Superbike championship from scratch. We have a great relationship with the Monza circuit, where the Superbike has been present for 20 years. »

The only F1 event that Rome has experienced in the past is a Renault roadshow in 2006.