According to a survey conducted by Partito Democratico (Democratic Party), it seems that 1750 out of 2138 people interviewed on the matter opinionated that there would be “more disadvantages than advantages” when the F1 cars will hit the streets of the Italian capital. Furthermore, 93 percent of residents believe the race will increase traffic and pollution and create excessive noise.
Needless to say, the promoter of the Rome GP project, Maurizio Flammini, fended off the survey results, insisting that the poll was conducted within a minority of the EUR district residents. He therefore added that the 80 percent opposition to the project does not reflect the true state of affairs in the aforementioned district.
“This referendum was designed to give voice to the opponents of the Grand Prix,” he charged against the poll results, later published in Italian publications including Autosprint and La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Earlier this month, the very team principal of Ferrari, Stefano Domenicali, hinted that the Maranello company would oppose a future Rome GP in 2012 or 2013, as he believes each country should have a single Grand Prix in F1.
The project faced some intense political opposition from the get go, with the Lega Nord (Northern League) attacking the officials in Rome for trying to steal the Italian Grand Prix from Monza. Feverish attacks continued in the media, but no final decision has been made. In case it does make it into F1, the Rome GP would be a one off event.
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