Monza to be silenced?

There are a few circuits on the calendar that have experienced uncertainties about whether they will host a Grand Prix in the future and the latest under threat is Monza. The famous Italian track was told by a court this week that at any motor racing event the vehicles must be "fitted with an appropriate silencing system."

Italian and F1 flags.

Photo by xpb.cc.

The nearby town of Biassono lodged a complaint about the sound of roaring engines from Monza and the complaint was upheld by the judge. Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport quoted the judge as saying that racing was "superfluous, dangerous and socially useless activity that had a major impact on the environment".

Circuit manager Enrico Ferrari said that with the ruling in place Monza would not be able to host an F1 race -- they will appeal the decision. Officials from the city of Milan, which co-owns the track, believe they can overturn the court order. The next competition at the circuit is the Rally Monza this coming weekend and it seems the event will go ahead.

The Italian Grand Prix is scheduled to be the 15th race next year, on September 11th. Monza first hosted the Italian GP in 1922, while Italy and Great Britain are the only two countries to have been on the calendar every year since the start of the F1 world championship in 1950.

Monza is not the only event to come under threat recently. The equally famous Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium hit financial problems last month when the promoter of the GP was declared bankrupt. Spa has a contract until 2010 and the regional government is reportedly considering Bernie Ecclestone to take over the race.