(ANSA) - The 10 million euros needs to revamp the Imola race track so it can continue hosting the San Marino Grand Prix are on the way, Transport and
Infrastructure Minister Pietro Lunardi promised here on Saturday.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Bologna Motor Show, Lunardi told the press that "we're in the final stretch in allocating the 10 million euros needed to redo the paddock and other infrastructure at the Imola track."
Looking back at his efforts to help keep Imola on the Grand Prix circuit, after F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone threatened to drop it, the minister recalled "I spoke constantly with Ecclestone for two years trying to calm him down. Had I not done so the Imola Grand Prix would already have been cancelled".
Last April Imola's contract to host the San Marino Grand Prix was renewed through 2009.
This after structural modifications were completed to the Enzo and Dino Ferrari race track earlier in the year to meet the demands imposed by the international racing federation FIA .
This year's Grand Prix was in doubt up until the end of last November, when a deal was struck with Ecclestone to stage races at least through 2009.
The track here outside Bologna has hosted the San Marino Grand Prix since 1981. It is the second Formula 1 race in Italy after the Italian Grand Prix in Monza.
The future of the San Marino Grand Prix was put into question early last year when Ecclestone told an Italian sports daily that the 2004 race at Imola would be the last.
At the time, Ecclestone said the same fate was in store for the Grand Prix in Britain and France.
He later backtracked after speaking with Italian government officials on both a local and national level and said that a final decision had not been made.
Aside from the track changes, Ecclestone was said to have also asked for more money from race organizers in order to stage the Grand Prix.
According to some sources, Ecclestone demanded some ten million euros from organizers to stage the race here last year.
The San Marino Grand Prix is organised by track operators Sagis, the company in which the Bologna chapter of the Italian Automobile Club (ACI) has a controlling interest.
Work on the track here was made possible thanks to funding in part guaranteed by Italy's Ministry for Infrastructure and Transport.
