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| 2013-08-07Russia misses F1 Grand Prix deadline
STRONGMEN ... Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Russia has missed the deadline to submit its application to hold a Formula One Grand Prix in 2014 but still hopes to convince the sport’s governing body that it can host the race.
The Russian Automobile Federation said on Thursday it had missed the 31 July deadline because of a financial dispute with the race organisers in the Black Sea city of Sochi, which will also be staging the Winter Olympics in February 2014.
It said its only option now was to prove to the International Automobile Federation that there was a “force majeure” reason for its failure to file on time.
“The RAF says it is ready to include the Russian Grand Prix on the FIA calendar under force-majeure conditions,” it stated.
If the problems are resolved, the race is expected to go ahead in October 2014. Preparations for the race had earlier been disrupted by concerns that the circuit would not be completed on time.
-Nampa-Reuters
It said its only option now was to prove to the International Automobile Federation that there was a “force majeure” reason for its failure to file on time.
“The RAF says it is ready to include the Russian Grand Prix on the FIA calendar under force-majeure conditions,” it stated.
If the problems are resolved, the race is expected to go ahead in October 2014. Preparations for the race had earlier been disrupted by concerns that the circuit would not be completed on time.
-Nampa-Reuters
