Bernie
Ecclestone trademarks 'Mediterranean Grand Prix' name as talk of a race in
Greece resurfaces. Despite the country's much publicised financial problems,
there has been talk of a race for some years.
Previously, in 2005 in the wake of the
Olympic Games, there were suggestions the old Athens airport could be
transformed into a motor racing venue, however those plans were soon scrapped.
Other locations were suggested, including the Viotia region, about 100km north
of Athens, though nothing came of that either.
In 2007 the Greek Automobile Club (ELPA)
announced the signing of a decree by Greek President Karlos Papoulias,
specifying minimum circuit requirements. "This decree enables investors to
build something and subsequently apply for funding," ELPA chairman
Vassilis Despotopoulos told AFP at the time, yet again nothing more was heard
of the project.
Arguments for the 2011 project claimed that
it would create 500 new jobs, and attract more tourists to the country - the
tourism industry accounting for about 15% of its GPD. However foreign
politicians slated the idea as 'irresponsible' given that fellow Eurozone
members had just handed Greece a 110 billion euro bailout, the country's
economy collapsing during the global economic crisis.
According to CNN, Bernie Ecclestone's
Formula One Licensing division has now trademarked the 'Formula 1 Mediterranean
Grand Prix' with the sport's supremo admitting that progress, in terms of race
in Greece, is being made.
"The Greeks are keen," he told
CNN. "They want me to go and see the Prime Minister or the mayor... we
will have to find out if they have got any money."
The proposed track is located in the
Keratsini-Drapetsona municipality, six miles to the west of Athens, the
brainchld of architect Thanasis Papatheodorou who first presented his proposals
for the circuit to the FIA and Ecclestone back in August 2012.
After his proposal was warmly received by
Ecclestone and Jean Todt, the Mayor of Keratsini-Drapetsona, Loukas Tzanis,
told Espresso: "We are very optimistic and hopeful that all will end well.
Building a F1 race track in our region is the best thing that could happen,
since it would become a means of development for all of the country."
Like
Valencia (ugh!), Piraeus, site of the proposed circuit, is a port city, with a
history dating back to ancient Greece. It is the largest passenger port in
Europe and the third largest in the world. In both 1896 and 2004 it hosted
events as part of the Summer Olympics.
"Greece has experienced, and still is
in the middle of, a massive crisis, but is now on the verge of stabilization
and turning things around very slowly," journalist Dimitris Papadopoulos
told CNN. "Priorities must be set on where government funding will go and
I'm pretty sure that an F1 race is not on the priority list on that level.
"We should, however, point out that
private initiatives are looking at the possibility of funding the construction
of a street circuit in the area of Drapetsona and the hosting of a race. The
plans have been laid, financial studies have been completed, and the project
has been presented to interested parties for financing. The Greek Prime
Minister Antonis Samaras sent a letter to the mayor of Drapetsona, by which he
provided his full support to this attempt and that is based on private
funding."
"The Prime Minister himself has
supported fully the initiative for organizing F1 races and is looking forward
to the instruction from the relevant international federations to realize the
Dielpis Formula 1 project," said achitect Papatheodorou.
"The greatest benefit for our country
would be giving to the world the opportunity to see the most historical port of
the Mediterranean sea," he added. "And our experience at organizing
big events, such as the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, is a big credential for
us." Meanwhile, the wise man in Prince's Gate eagerly anticipates the
arrival of Greeks bearing gifts.
(Πηγή: pitpass.com)
