Rome almost set for 2012 street race

The Italian's are closer to hosting their second GP within a couple of years, Maurizio Flammini, the GP's organizer has revealed. As the plans for the Roman street race have been given a boost by a signed agreement by Bernie Ecclestone.

The idea for a Roman street race has been floating around since the beginning of this year, and has been supported at one point or another by the organizer himself Maurizio Flammini, Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo, and now FOM boss Bernie Ecclestone.

"The first agreement has been signed. The details can't be disclosed, but it's a written confirmation that Bernie will support the GP in Rome. We still need approval from the province, the region, the ACI [Automobile Club Italiano] and the FIA. I think we need seven or eight months more for those, it's a long administrative process," Flammini told 'La Gazzetta dello Sport'.

"We know the prospected year is 2012, even though it could even be brought forward if we build the structures in record time. We are working towards having a race in spring or fall, but sometime in August would have its advantages because there's no traffic in Rome during that month, and there is better availability with the hotels."

It has long since been declared that this proposed GP would not affect or threaten the one held at Monza, but rather accompany it on the Formula One calendar.