Romania to Host F1 Race?

Overview on Romanian capital Bucharest

Romania seems to have caught the eyes of Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone for hosting a potential grand prix in the future. According to media reports coming from Le 10 Sport (French media), it seems an F1 project has already been launched in the Romanian capital Bucharest for the construction of a world class circuit.

Romania's neighbors Bulgaria have recently been linked with the hosting of some FIA/FIM rounds in the near future, as they have already secured a race in the MotoGP for 2012. Also, they are to be given the go ahead for a WRC round later this year – to be scheduled for next season – and a Formula One grand prix for 2011.

Given the FIA's tendency to expand towards the Central-Eastern Europe in recent months, Romania also took actions into their own hands. As confirmed by the Jacques Samalens, the president of Ramses Project Romania company which is to set up the F1 project, the new multi-purpose circuit is eyeing a place in Formula One in the near future.

“It is a project for the creation of a permanent circuit with multiple uses for the purpose of tourism and international competitions, and in the long term the ability to organize Formula One,” said Samalens.

The location where the Romanian organizers are planning to build the track is yet to be unveiled, but it's believed to be somewhere between 25 and 70km from Bucharest. According to a report from RDS, former F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve might be financially involved in the project, despite failing to make it to the launch which took place this week.