Ecclestone announces: the F1 GP of 2013 in Rome

Online, March 11, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Formula One Grand Prix in Rome since 2013. This was announced by F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone in an interview with Speedweek. "Rome will enter into the program from 2013 - says Ecclestone -. We will have 20 races. And the teams will be happy."

The announcement confirms that the intention of Ecclestone is to move increasingly into street circuits like Valencia and Singapore. In the mind of the head of Formula 1 there is also a GP in the United States in New York. But the real charm is Rome, the Capital of World. It is certain that the event will be of great help to the Rome hotels and for all the structures that live on the services associated with tourism.

The first step in the Rome Grand Prix was announced on 20 December last year when, after a year and a half of work, the first agreement was signed between the creator and organizer of the event, Maurizio Flammini, and Ecclestone.

The announcement had aroused much controversy, even on the political front. Protested the Greens and the subsequent days there were some event by committees of residents of the Eur district. Against the Grand Prix in the Capital including the Province and the Municipality of Monza, which felt "hijacked" the event. We only hope that is not put at risk the future of Monza GP. The ideal would be a coexistence of the two events. The vertices of the F1 Circus will make a decision, we hope that is the best. Having both tests would be wonderful: the Monza racing history, Rome to the charm of the Eternal City, world heritage, not just Italy.

The appreciation of foreigners to the town is on the other hand also testified by data on arrivals and presences in Rome hotels in 2009, when international tourism fell by -4.7% (source: WTO). Rome, however, compared to 2008 registered a modest decline in arrivals, 1, 1%, and even a 3% growth in Rome accommodations.