New reports suggesting Long Beach could return to F1's annual
calendar have emerged.
Last year, bosses of the iconic US street race denied
reports F1 figures had expressed interest in snapping up a deal when Indycar's
contract expires in 2015.
Race president Jim Michaelian said then: "The race
isn't for sale and there's been no contact between anyone and (owner) Kevin
(Kalkhoven) about a sale."
But the Long Beach Press Telegram is now reporting that,
at a meeting on Tuesday, the city council will discuss the issue of the race
lease, claiming F1 bosses "want the city to open up the bidding
process".
"We just want a fair process where qualified people
can bid on it," confirmed Chris Pook, F1's original Long Beach pioneer who
is now working closely with Bernie Ecclestone.
"We would like to be one of those entities," he
confirmed.
The Long Beach Press Telegram revealed that, in a letter
to mayor Bob Foster last May, Ecclestone expressed interest in taking F1 back
to the streets.
"If you and the city council so determine, the
opportunity to operate an automobile race through the city streets of Long
Beach can be put out to open bid," he wrote.
"Please be advised that formula one is interested in
returning to your city, and we will consider the appropriate entity to make
such a bid if you decide to permit such a process," Ecclestone added.
Culled from Grandprix
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