Russian Grand Prix

The Russian Grand Prix is a proposed Formula One race scheduled to take place at a circuit near Saint Petersburg, for which construction is scheduled. [ [http://www.f1news.ru/archive/id/19921/ Берни Экклстоун: "Я заинтересован в Гран При России" ] ] [ [http://www.auto-sport.ru/archive/2001/02/gran_pri_rus/ Гран При России: ] ] [ [http://www.rg.ru/Anons/arc_2002/0805/7.shtm Одна "Формула" на две столицы ] ] [http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/11/formula-onovich-russian-grand-prix-gears-up-again/ Formula Onovich: Russian Grand Prix gears up again - Autoblog] ]

History

Proposals of the Grand Prix have appeared as early as the 1980s. The first socialist country to host a Grand Prix could have been the USSR instead of Hungary (which hosted its first in 1986). [ [http://www.f1news.ru/Championship/2007/hungary/ Гран При Венгрии : Трасса и статистика ] ]

In 1982 Bernie Ecclestone came to the USSR for talks on holding the Grand Prix of the Soviet Union. In 1983 a round hosted by Moscow was included in the provisional World Championship calendar; however, Bureaucratic barriers prevented the Grand Prix from being held. [http://www.nevasport.ru/articles.php?id=15077 Формула нелюбви] ]

In 2001, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the construction of the "Pulkovskoe Ring" near the Pulkovo Airport. [ [http://www.vremya.ru/2001/100/8/10600.html Еще одна трасса для «Формулы-1»] ]

In 2003, the Government of Moscow approved a project to build a track in the Molzhaninovsky area in the Northern District of Moscow to host a Formula One race. [ [http://lenta.ru/sport/2003/10/21/f1/ Lenta.ru: Москва возвращается к проекту трассы "Формулы-1"] ]

In March 2008, negotiations were held between Bernie Ecclestone and Petersburg Governor Valentina Matviyenko to hold a Grand Prix in St. Petersburg.

On 30th September 2008 it was revealed that work was to begin on a Formula 1 track to be located at the town of Fedyukino, Volokolamsky District of the Moscow Province, approximately 77 kilometers (48 miles) away from Moscow, which has been designed by Hermann Tilke and will be named "Moscow Raceway". The track, which will be able to host both Formula 1 and Moto GP races, will begin construction in October 2008 and will be project mannaged by Hans Geist, who was the manager during the construction of both the A1-Ring and Bahrain International Circuit. [ [http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2008/09/30/moscow-to-start-construction-work-this-week/] ] [ [http://moscowraceway.ru/ Moscow Raceway] ]

Notes