F1 inks Valencia GP deal for 2009 – report
03/28/07 (GMM) Amid reports that Valencia has been given a green light to make plans for a street circuit, it is being claimed that Bernie Ecclestone has already inked an agreement for a grand prix in the Spanish city.
The inaugural race, to probably be branded the Mediterranean Grand Prix, is set to take place in March of 2009, with Barcelona expected to retain the Spanish GP.
It is understood that Formula One Administration has already trademarked the name Mediterranean GP, although Valencia could alternatively be run under the European GP title.
On Tuesday, the region's autonomous government – the Generalitat Valenciana – approved the development of an area for a street circuit, but an official announcement is not expected until an upcoming election campaign, according to the newspaper Diario As.
A government spokesman, meanwhile, told the Spanish news agency EFE that more news about this subject will be forthcoming in the "coming days".