The Rome GP could be the future European GP

The president of the Italian Automobile Club, Enrico Gelpi, fears that the Rome Grand Prix project could threaten the Monza race.

The deputy mayor of the Italian capital said earlier this week that the local government has reviewed a proposal for an urban race in the near future.

However, Gelpi has clearly stated that the Italian Grand Prix in Monza has nothing to worry about, and with good reason…

« I have read several reactions on this subject and a certain concern emerged from them. I would like to emphasize that the Italian GP at Monza remains a heritage not only for our country but also for motor racing worldwide, » he specified in the columns of the Gazzetta dello Sport.

« Maurizio Flammini, who is trying to organize the event, showed me his project last summer. Without the Automobile Club’s approval, the proposal cannot be submitted to the FIA. »

« Such an event would have a great impact, but Flammini himself emphasized that the GP in Rome must absolutely not interfere with that of Monza. »

These will be two completely different events. I think that currently there is a trend towards the spectacular that wasn’t there in 1984 (the year when the first proposal for the Roman Grand Prix was submitted).

Gelpi admits that no date has been discussed while the first race could take place in early 2011.

« Any interference with Monza, which takes place in September, must be avoided. A GP in Rome in the spring would therefore be plausible. »

Italian by blood, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo made sure to offer his opinion: « A new Italian GP would be unthinkable, as we already have many sub-circuits. But the solution would be for Rome to host the European Grand Prix. However, an urban circuit would have to be designed where overtaking would be easier, unlike in Valencia or Singapore. This race could then have a real interest. »