Imola Mayor, Schumacher Skeptical of GP Demise

Bernie Ecclestone's statement today that Imola would host its last San Marino Grand Prix this year was received with skepticism by the local authorities and World Champion Michael Schumacher.

Ecclestone told Gazzetta dello Sport, in an interview published today, that "Imola is at its last edition: from 2005 it'll be out of the calendar. So Italy will have only one race."

However, Schumacher - who was appointed honourary ambassador of San Marino last year - said the news is not final. "Ecclestone is always saying a lot of things. Let's wait and see what happens," Schumacher told reporters in Fiorano, where he is testing the F2004 today.

Nevertheless, asked if he would be disappointed to see the San Marino Grand Prix removed, the German said: "In one sense yes, but I will still be an ambassador of San Marino."

Imola's mayor, Massimo Marchignoli, was also cautious about the news. "The contract runs out this year," he said. "It's not the first time it's happened. We'll see what we need to do to reopen talks with Ecclestone."

Imola has hosted a Formula One World Championship Grand Prix since 1980, when the circuit was used to host the Italian Grand Prix. The success of the event lead the organisers to stage a Grand Prix at the venue thereafter, naming it the San Marino Grand Prix.