Italy government boosts Imola's F1 hopes
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-09-21 09:06 The Italian government boosted
Imola's efforts to stay on the Formula One calendar on Wednesday when it
confirmed work will start next month on modernising the circuit.
The Prime Minister's office said in a statement that construction work at the
San Marino Grand Prix venue would start on Oct 4.
Formula One teams, manufacturers and the governing International Automobile
Federation offered Ferrari's home track a lifeline this week when they agreed to
expand the 2007 calendar from 17 to 18 races.
Imola, the circuit where Brazilian Ayrton Senna died in 1994, had been left
off an earlier calendar which limited both Italy and Germany to just one race
each.
While Hockenheim and the Nuerburgring are expected to alternate hosting
Germany's race, Imola organisers and Ferrari have been lobbying for the San
Marino Grand Prix to be reinstated.
"All participants repeated their willingness to work together so that the
grand prix can be held on April 29, 2007 and in following years," Wednesday's
statement said after a meeting in Rome.
"The government confirms that the works to modernise and improve the safety
of the circuit facilities will start on October 4," it added.
No race is currently scheduled for April 29, with a gap between the third
round of the season in Bahrain on April 15 and Spain on May 13.
Sports Minister Giovanna Melandri attended the meeting with the president of
the Emilia Romagna region Vasco Errani, Imola mayor Massimo Marchignoli,
Automobile Club president Franco Lucchesi and civil protection agency head Guido
Bertolaso.
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