MARCH 29, 2002
A dream scenario for Mr E
Moscow's deputy mayor and head of the city's Tourism Committee Grigory Antyufeyev is sure that the Russian Grand Prix will be going ahead in 2004 and he says that he expects a deal to be signed with Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone within the next month.
But the pressure is on - or at least that is the impression that Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone created when he flew to Istanbul to meet with Mumtaz Tahincioglu, the head of the Turkish Motor Sports Federation. The Turks are keen to hold a race but the F1 boss said that they are going to have to build a circuit quickly if they want to have a chance of a race in the short term. The Turks are asking the government for help to build a track.
The situation is perfect for Ecclestone who likes to have a little bit of leverage when he is negotiating. The big question is whether or not Moscow and Turkey are real prospects or whether Bernie's real aim in a deal with a cash-rich Arab nation...