Russia launches bid for F1 race
Nagatino Island circuit features an oval, hotel and marina.
Long-awaited details of the Moscow bid for an F1 race have been unveiled, with organisers promising that the event will not fail before it is included on the GP calendar.
A host of previous bids in Russia have disappeared without trace - but project leader Grigori Antioufeev is confident that his, based on an island along the Moskva River in the Russian capital, will succeed.
"I have worked on this project for 15 months," he said. "We have looked at why so many grand prix projects in Russia came to nothing more than just a couple of statements. And we figured out there were eoughly three reasons for failure.
"Firstly, the wrong places were chosen, secondly there was no help from official organisations and thirdly there were no serious partners or investors. All these points are taken care of in our plan and that is why we will not fail."
Moscow authorities gave the go-ahead for the circuit at the end of September, pledging tens of millions of pounds to support the bid, which is also supported by Tom Walkinshaw's TWR organisation.
The 2.24-mile circuit features two main overtaking points and also includes an oval circuit and kart track.
Work is set to begin on during the winter but the harsh weather will not prove a problem. "We are used to such conditions and there is no limit to the number of workers we can have," said Antioufeev. "If necessary, there will be thousands on site. We build huge motorways in the dead middle of winter and we build skyscrapers. It is not really a problem."
It is expected that work on the track will be finished by the end of 2002 ready for inclusion on the 2003 calendar.
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