Valencia gearing up for GP bid?

27/03/2007

With interest in F1 in Spain at an all time high, courtesy of back-to-back World Championship titles for Fernando Alonso, there has been much talk of new circuits and dramatic renovation work on old circuits, with the Circuit de Catalunya - host of the Spanish Grand Prix - being seemingly modified and improved year on year.

In recent times there has been talk of a Grand Prix at the Valencia track, which would need a major overhaul, and even a street race, though all such speculation has been played down by Bernie Ecclestone.

Now, however, the Generalitat Valenciana has announced that it is has voted through a funding programme with a view to upgrading a number of streets in the city and is now pushing ahead with plans for a street race, having gone to the lengths of issuing a map of the prospective track.

Valencia is to host the America's Cup, and no doubt a Grand Prix would give the Spanish city even more prominence.

Earlier this year, McLaren hosted a lavish (night time) street demonstration in the Spanish city to mark the launch of its 2007 contender, which was launched at the nearby race track earlier the same day.

The local media is claiming that a race could take place as early as next year, though there is still no word of such an event from Ecclestone.

That said, the prospect of another Monaco-type street race, albeit in Spain, is sure to appeal to the Englishman.