|
Plans for F1 track in Malta
• Work could start as early as May
• Stand to cater for 35,000 spectators
• Track would be 3.936km long
by Franco Aloisio
Malta could have its own Formula 1 racing circuit very soon,
business sources have said, and the project has the blessing
of Bernie Ecclestone, the owner of the Formula 1 holding company.
The Malta Business Weekly is informed that Benghajsa, near Hal
Far, is earmarked for the 3.9 kilometre-long racing track.
These plans were confirmed by the Italian daily sports newspaper
La Gazzetta Dello Sport in Monday’s edition. The paper
reported that the cost of the project would be 30 billion Italian
lire (Lm6m).
The newspaper said the man behind the project is Italian investor
and racing manager Francesco Pileri. Mr Pileri is well known
in motor racing circles and he also successfully managed a motorcycling
team. Mr Pileri’s idea of having a Formula 1 racing circuit
in Malta was welcomed by several local entrepreneurs who have
expressed an interest in the project.
La Gazzetta Dello Sport said work on the racing track could
start as early as May. The track is being described as “technical
and spectacular”, and would be adaptable to both Formula
1 Grand Prix and motorcycling competitions.
The track would be 3.936 kilometres long, and 12 metres wide.
The circuit will be able to accommodate up to 35,000 spectators.
The total area of the project would occupy 738,000 square metres,
of which 26,000 square metres would be allocated to the paddock
area.
La Gazzetta Dello Sport said the design of the track has been
left in the hands of Italian architect firm Baldi & Associates,
based in Terni, in collaboration with local architect Edwin
Mintoff.
Sources close to the developers of the circuit told The Malta
Business Weekly that the Benghajsa circuit would be ideal for
testing of Formula 1 cars, especially in the winter months.
Several Formula 1 teams face numerous problems when testing
on European circuits due to adverse weather conditions. They
then end up having to move to racing tracks in South America.
Excellent weather conditions in Malta have made the possibility
of building a track here even more attractive and cost-effective
for the teams.
A track in Malta, however, could also be used to host a Formula
1 Grand Prix in the coming years.
This would also fall in line with FIA’s (the Formula 1
governing body) determination to identify new circuits to increase
the sport’s popularity.
Sources said the project has still to be approved by the Planning
Authority. Discussions are still underway with the Malta Development
Corporation regarding use of the land at Benghajsa, because
parts have already been earmarked for industrial use.
The possibility of Malta having its own racing circuit has been
raised several times. In 1998, the Planning Authority had rejected
plans for a similar track in Hal Far. In 1999, the feasibility
of building a racing track was also considered. British consultants
Russell Douglas and George Robinson from International Motor
Sports Ltd had visited Malta for this reason.
Last year the London Sunday Times reported that the gathering
momentum against tobacco advertising has led Formula 1’s
leading administrators to draw up a contingency plan that would
see the sport largely removed from western Europe and relocated
around the world, including Malta.
The plan involved replacing most of the Grand Prix races in
European Union (EU) countries. The British Grand Prix is one
of the races that could be axed under the plan. The French,
Spanish and Belgian Grand Prix would also be victims. In total,
the number of European races would be reduced from 12 to four
each year.
Sponsorship of Formula 1 teams by tobacco companies is valued
at more than £100m a year. Contracts between the sport’s
governing body, the FIA, and the circuits that host each grand
prix contain escape clauses which allow the FIA to remove races
from the calendar if legislation is passed forcing a change
in the appearance of cars racing at that circuit.
If Europe is left behind, the grand prix calendar would include
countries prepared to tolerate total cigarette sponsorship.
Malaysia, China, Korea and, possibly, India, would host races
in Asia. Three non-EU countries, thought to be Croatia, the
Czech Republic and Malta, and several Middle Eastern countries,
have expressed interest in staging grand prix.
|
