Work to renovate the ‘Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari’ at Imola began this week, despite the Italian circuit losing hosting rights for the traditional San Marino grand prix in 2007.
“(Bernie) Ecclestone has guaranteed to me that once the works are finished, F1 will return in 2008,” the north-central Italian town’s mayor, Massimo Marchignoli, told sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport.
The ‘CP’ and ‘AP’ news agencies said the first work on Sunday was to destroy the ageing media box and paddock with explosives, with the total overhaul reported to be costing $13m.
Construction is scheduled to be completed in April.
Work is now also underway at Spa-Francorchamps, as the popular Belgian venue returns to the F1 calendar after an absence.
Photographs show trucks carrying the demolished remains of the old pitlane buildings down the front straight. The famous ‘Bus Stop’ chicane will be re-profiled and moved back, while the first hairpin ‘La Source’ is to be moved forwards to make room for a new paddock and longer pit straight.
GMMF1
DailyF1News.com
