Ralf Schumacher Backs Moscow Grand Prix
- By Unknown
- Jul. 16 2003 00:00
"Russia is a very interesting market and motor racing seems to be very big, so I certainly would enjoy racing here," said Schumacher, who is on a promotional trip to Moscow.
A deal to bring grand prix motor racing to the capital collapsed last year. Mayor Yury Luzhkov blamed Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone for the failure to reach an agreement.
Ecclestone had expected the first race to take place in Moscow as early as 2004 at a circuit that would have been built in Nagatino, a few kilometers southeast of the city center.
But a deal was scuppered at the last minute when the two sides could not agree on a seven-year television contract, valued at around $250 million.
"There were a lot of rumors about it [Formula One coming to Moscow], but then suddenly it got very quiet," Schumacher said. "But certainly Moscow remains a good possibility. There are a lot of races in Europe and there is room for maneuver."
Schumacher, who has closed on his elder brother Michael and Finn Kimi Raikkonen in the world championship standings after winning the last two races, came to Moscow to pitch road safety to motorists.