Russian Grand Prix organizers "are hopeful the new May date awarded to them" for the '16 Formula 1 calendar will be a long-term fixture, according to Rencken & Parkes of AUTOSPORT. This year's event will again take place in October, as was the case for the race's debut last season, "but following lengthy discussions" with F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone they have managed to negotiate April 29-May 1 on the 21-race '16 calendar. Promoter Sergey Vorobyev said, "This new date is much better for us. We had actually been discussing an option to have the May date for this year." Although the race is back-to-back with Bahrain, Vorobyev "does not feel there will be any logistical issues, particularly given what transpired last year when the race followed immediately after Japan." Vorobyev: "We had to do it last year with FOM [Formula One Management] and our partners when we were back-to-back with Japan. Then it was even more complicated because there was a delay in the freight leaving Japan due to the typhoon." For this season, ticket sales "are down in comparison to last year, but Vorobyev has no doubt there will again be a 55,000 full-house" (AUTOSPORT, 8/11).
