Former San Marino Grand Prix venue Imola ready to host F1 again

Imola is ready to host Formula 1 again in the future with its chief Selvatico Estense meeting Bernie Ecclestone in Bahrain to discuss the possibility, Autosport has learned

The track has not hosted F1 since 2006 but has since been revamped and currently holds the FIA Grade 1 licence required to do so.

There remains an impasse over the future of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza with talks continuing between the circuit and Ecclestone.

It is believed Estense's meeting with Ecclestone concerned F1, with the Imola boss reaffirming the venue's availability to deal with its possible return.

Nothing definitive emerged from the meeting and it is believed the talks were not an attempt to scupper Monza's hopes of keeping F1.

Instead, Imola wanted to make clear it is ready and keen to host F1 again in the future, having revamped its pits and paddock.

Imola hosted the Italian Grand Prix in 1980, the only year Monza has not hosted the event since the world championship started in 1950.

From 1981, it ran under the San Marino Grand Prix banner with Italy having two races until 2006 when Imola hosted its last race.

Imola, which has issued a commemorative coin to mark 35 years since it first hosted a grand prix, currently has a round of World Superbikes as its flagship event.