© Melissa Chandler
Mallorca sets its sights on hosting F1 Grand Prix race
Bernie Ecclestone, the commercial rights-holder of Formula 1, has reportedly had a meeting with officials from Mallorca to discuss the possibility of moving the race to a new, medium-to-high-speed 5.8km, 3.6 miles track that would be scheduled for completion by 2013.
After the Valencia Grand Prix last week, a few issues concerning track safety were raised. There were reported issues with the safety car and a bottle was thrown onto the track. Promises have been made to “up their game” to ensure that the race remains in Valencia around the decidedly unpopular street circuit.
However this could be too late if speculation of an as yet not built circuit here in Mallorca proves to carry some weight.
The team working on the project includes Joan Jaume Mulet, Mayor of the Llucmajor municipality. Spanish architects Biel Arbona and Mateo Palmer have been asked to work on the project, along with Federico Gastaldi, who helped to (briefly) return Argentina to the sport’s calendar in the mid 1990s.
Ferrari is understood to be in support of the new track in Mallorca. Meanwhile, Valencia promoter Valmor Sport has revealed possible changes to three corners of the Valencia street circuit in an effort to improve manoeuvring and passing for the drivers. But this could all be too little, too late if those involved with the racing decide Mallorca would be a better option.
Teams such as McLaren are no strangers to the Balearics. Until last season, they used the old air strip in Minorca for testing. Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, who filmed a TV commercial on the island last month, have also come to the island on holiday.
