F1 News

Imola looking to host an F1 race after Monza

22 April 2020 at 16:32
Last update 22 April 2020 at 20:29
  • GPblog.com

For the time being the start of the Formula 1 season still seems a long way off, but still there are chances for a possible restart. In Austria there's talk about a double race on the Red Bull Ring at the beginning of July and even in Italy some are already thinking about racing. Including the director of the circuit of Imola.

The circuit, where a Grand Prix was held for the last time in 2006, has been rebuilt in recent years and says to be ready to organise a Formula 1 race. Uberto Selvatico Estense, director of the circuit, already offered Imola as a replacement for the Chinese Grand Prix at the beginning of the year, but saw his idea fall into the water when the COVID-19 coronavirus broke out on a large scale in his own country.

Now that the situation in Italy is somewhat under control, he again calls on Formula 1 to come to his circuit free of charge in the autumn. His idea is to fill the F1 calendar with European races, so that the sport doesn't have to travel much and still has a full championship.

Imola immediately after Monza

"This situation gives us the opportunity to apply for a Grand Prix this season", says the director to Autosport.com. "We will of course make our circuit available free of charge. We can ask the region for help, but we are not in a position to pay entry fees".

To reduce costs, Estense proposes to organize the race directly one week after the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. This is currently scheduled for 6 September. However, it is also open for a date in October or November.