Still no place for Imola on revised F1 calendar
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-10-19 09:07
SAO PAULO, Oct 18 - Imola's hopes of hosting a San Marino Grand Prix next
year faded on Wednesday when Formula One's governing body approved an updated
calendar without mentioning the Italian circuit.
The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said its world motor sport
council had confirmed a 17-race calendar after meeting in Barcelona.
"It was noted that no agreement was in place for an 18th race and there will
continue to be 17 races in the 2007 calendar," it said in a footnote.
Imola, Ferrari's home circuit, had hoped to win a reprieve after teams agreed
unanimously last month to an 18th race and the Italian government confirmed that
work would start on modernising the circuit.
An FIA spokesman said there was still no commercial agreement in place
between the circuit and Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone to allow the race
to be scheduled.
The statement, issued before Sunday's season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix, did
not say the calendar was definitive however.
There remains a break between the Bahrain Grand Prix on April 15 and Spain on
May 13 that could accommodate Imola as the first round of the season in Europe
should an agreement be reached.
The FIA confirmed that the European Grand Prix would be dropped and Germany's
round shared by the Nuerburgring and Hockenheim in future, with the former
hosting next year's race on July 22.
It also switched around the Chinese and Japanese races, pending approval of
the national sporting bodies, with Japan now due to host a race at Fuji on Sept
30 before the penultimate round of the season in Shanghai on Oct 7.
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