GP of Rome 'fantastic idea'

Flavio Briatore

Renault chief Flavio Briatore has voiced his opinions on a Grand Prix around the streets of Rome, claiming that the concept would be a 'fantastic idea'. Formula One already hosts street races in Melbourne, Monte-Carlo, Valencia and Singapore with a part-street circuit in Montreal and the new venue of Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi due to host this season's finale. The idea of a Rome Grand Prix is fantastic," Briatore exclaimed to the country's ANSA agency. "From the television standpoint, it would be really spectacular. But it would mean sacrificing the race at Monza. If it does happen, I think it should only be a one-off." Italy had traditionally held two races since the eighties until the Imola event, titled the San Marino Grand Prix, was dropped from the calendar after 2006.

"If it were up to me, I'd vote for two Grands Prix in Italy," Briatore continued, "But two races here would be very difficult to support." Although the proposal remains speculation, Rome city mayor Gianni Alemanno has admitted that he is discussing the matter: "The negotiations are complicated, almost as complicated as organizing an Olympic Games."

FG, an Italian group of investors and racing enthusiasts, has been formally set up with a hope to bringing F1 to their city by 2012, and has already has meetings with world-famous track designer Hermann Tilke, considered the best by F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone who, in turn, has discussed the possibility of an event in the Italian capital with FIA president Max Mosley.