Contract announced today in SpainThe Spanish Mediterranean port city of Valencia will in 2008 start hosting a Formula One Grand Prix in an urban circuit for a period of at least six years, officials said Thursday.
The announcement was made during a joint news conference
in Valencia attended by Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone, Valencia mayor Rita Barbera and the head of the regional government of Valencia, Francisco Camps.
The race, dubbed the European Grand Prix, will be held in a new circuit to be built near the newly refurbished port of Valencia, which is currently hosting the America's Cup yacht race.
The addition of Valencia means Spain will from next year have two Grand Prix events every year.
The popularity of Formula One racing has soared in Spain since Spaniard
Fernando Alonso emerged as double world champion.
Ecclestone had previously said that he did not want to see a European country hosting more than one Grand Prix a year,. This year Imola and Hockenheim were axed from the calendar.
Source AFP
