Russians vote for F1 circuit

THE Moscow City government has voted to build a Formula 1 standard racing circuit at Molzhaneyevsky, close to Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport to the north of the city. The facility, which will also include a golf course, will be located close to the Moscow-Leningrad motorway which is currently being upgraded. The $300m project will feature special access roads to the circuit.

The proposal to build a track was made last year to the city's building committee, which is headed by the mayor YuriÊLuzhov. The idea was approved and so the program was passed on to the main city council. The project will depend on whether or not private investment can be found as the government is not planning to fund the entire project.

The idea of a circuit in Moscow has been promoted by Oleg Iarovoy, who is First Vice President of the Centre Automotoclub of Russia - the national sporting authority - and a member of the council of the Russian Automobile Federation.

The news will come as a blow to rival projects in Tula and Leningrad but the battle to host a Grand Prix in Russia is by no means over. Investment must be found and the circuit completed. And after that the Russia's have to come up with the money to convince Formula 1 that it should visit the country.