F1 to say 'arriverderci' to Imola
ROME, Italy (Reuters) -- Imola, the Formula One circuit which has featured some of the sport's most exciting and tragic moments, will be axed next year, F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone said.
"This year is Imola's last. From 2005 it will vanish from the calendar and Italy will have only one race," Ecclestone told La Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview.
Imola's final grand prix will be April 25, just before the 10th anniversary of the death of Brazilian champion Ayrton Senna at the circuit on May 1.
Senna died in a high speed-crash during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, 24 hours after Austrian Roland Ratzenberger was killed in practice.
Imola's F1 history dates back to 1963 when it staged its first F1 event although the race did not count towards the world championship.
But in 1980, the Italian Grand Prix had to move to the Imola from Monza and was such a success that the track stayed on the calendar afterwards as the San Marino Grand Prix.
World champion Michael Schumacher, asked during a break from testing on Saturday if he would be disappointed to say 'arrivederci' to the race, told reporters: "In one sense, yes but I will still be an ambassador of San Marino."
Schumacher, who was given the position last year on the basis of his charity work, was quoted by Ansa as adding: "Ecclestone is always saying a lot of things. Let's wait and see what happens."
The news of Imola's imminent demise will only add to the impression that F1 is moving away from its European roots.
With new circuits in Bahrain and China making their debut, the July 4 race at Magny-Cours was under threat until just two weeks ago, when Ecclestone and team bosses chiefs agreed to expand the competition to a record 18 races.
Britain, considered a cradle of motor racing like Italy and France, has also seen the future of its Silverstone grand prix placed in jeopardy and Ecclestone voiced his doubts again on Saturday.
He added that Turkey would push its way onto the calendar in 2005, and there was already a deal with South Korea from 2009.
"Before that we will have a championship race in India. The only problem with more races in Asia is the time zone because of European television rights," he said.
The 2004 season includes more races than any other, but Ecclestone did not rule out going further.
"We could easily get to 20. All we'd need to do is reduce private practice days from 40 to 30 and that would create room for two more races."
