Monza keeps Italian GP

Historic venue signs new four-year contract

Last updated: 18th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Monza keeps Italian GP

Monza: New deal

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Bernie Ecclestone has signed an agreement which will keep the Italian Grand Prix at Monza until at least 2016.

There had been fears that the historic circuit, which has hosted every Italian Grand Prix bar one since 1922, might lose its place on the Formula One calendar when its contract expired in 2012.

On Thursday, however, Ecclestone, who controls Formula One's commercial rights, put pen to paper on a four-year contract extension which will see the race continue at the track, which is located in a royal park on the outskirts of Milan.

Italy could also have another grand prix within three years, with organisers of a race planned to take place through the streets of Rome saying late last year that they had reached an agreement with Ecclestone.

Organisers hope the race will be on the calendar by 2012 but Ecclestone has indicated that 2013 is more likely.

The country hosted two races between 1981 and 2006, with Imola staging the San Marino Grand Prix and Monza the Italian Grand Prix.