Motorsport: Imola still hopeful of F1 racing

San Marino Grand Prix organisers remained hopeful today that they would have a Formula One race next year despite it being left off the 2007 calendar.

"We're not dead yet," the mayor of Imola, Massimo Marchignoli, told Italian news agency ANSA.

The 17-race calendar issued by International Automobile Federation had just one round pencilled in for Italy, on the September date usually reserved for Monza.

There was however a gap of nearly a month between Bahrain on April 15 and Spain on May 13 where Imola, the circuit closest to Ferrari's headquarters in Maranello, would normally fit.

"Certainly, the appearance of this FIA document is unexpected," said Marchignoli.

"Only a few days ago, Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone told the president of Sagis (the company that runs Imola) that the race would be held on April 29."

The renovation of Imola's pits and paddock, which Ecclestone had demanded as a condition of retaining the circuit, would begin shortly, said Marchignoli.

"I've noticed that there's a month-long hole in the calendar. Everything seems to be telling us: 'Imola, you've still got a place if you get things sorted out'," he added.

- REUTERS