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Events and Attractions

F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone Reportedly Open To Holding Formula 1 Race In Madrid

F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone is in conversations with a group of Spanish businessmen who "have presented a proposed Spain Grand Prix in Madrid, with a route running through the urban center of the capital," according to Javier Rubio of EL CONFIDENCIAL. The initiative has "received the approval of Ecclestone to continue its development and has been seen as favorable for the tremendous potential of an urban race in a major European capital." Ecclestone "would like to bring to Madrid the same model used in a similar project developed for London, which was positively received initially by London authorities." Various problems, however, "arose later" and made Ecclestone unwilling to "pursue it further." F1 currently "does not present the same acoustic problems as in the past, which would make a race in an urban city center more viable." It is not the first time that Ecclestone has received a proposal from Madrid, "as he rejected something similar years ago." The budget for holding the race would be at least €50M ($63.2M) per year. Currently, the Spanish Grand Prix is scheduled to be celebrated in Barcelona through '16, when the contract will expire. If it "is not renewed, a project for an urban race in Madrid could gain ground." Ecclestone has "made it clear to promoters that there will only be one race per year in Spain." The next step for promoters of a Madrid race "will be to present the initiative to the local institutions, central administration and the various political and social forces" (EL CONFIDENCIAL, 10/21). In Madrid, Elena Sanz Bartolomé reported Circuit de Catalunya Dir General Salvador Servià said, "We have coexisted with Valencia for five years; we would not have a problem doing so with a Grand Prix in Meseta or wherever. Putting a name is very easy." He gave the idea of a Madrid grand prix "his approval, but what about Montmelo?" Servià added, "We do not know anything, no one has told us anything." Servià: "For several years I have read headlines saying that we would no longer host the grand prix, that we would alternate with Valencia. Our reality is that we have two more years under contract. We will not change. We are proud of our contracts and how we fulfill them. The objective is to celebrate next year the 25th consecutive F1 grand prix in Spain and after '16, to continue" (EL CONFIDENCIAL, 10/22).

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