Rome mayor calls off F1 race bid

(GMM) Rome mayor Gianni Alemanno on Friday called off the Italian capital's bid for a formula one race. This week, the mayor said Rome was "taking a step back" with its plans for a street race in the EUR district, after Bernie Ecclestone said there was not room on the F1 calendar.

"Now I can formally and definitively renounce the project of the grand prix of Rome," said Alemanno in a press conference, according to Italian press sources.

He said surveys had shown that the idea of a F1 race Rome was unpopular, adding that the historic city should instead focus on securing the 2020 Olympics.