Moscow Grand Prix Unlikely, St Petersburg Possible

The Moscow Grand Prix, which looked a strong candidate to join Formula One racing just six months ago, now appears to be an unlikely prospect for the next few years, a top Russian motor racing official said on Sunday.

But St Petersburg could be a viable option, Igor Yermilin, vice-president of the Russian Motor Racing Federation (FAST), told Reuters.

"It (Moscow) looks to be dead for now," he said. "We can forget about having a Formula one Grand Prix in Moscow at least for the next few years."

A Moscow Grand Prix seemed well on track last March when Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone came to the Russian capital to sign a deal with Mayor Yuri Luzhkov. Ecclestone expected the first race to take place in Moscow as early as 2004 at a circuit, which has yet to be built in Nagatino, a few kms southeast of the city centre.

But a signing ceremony was put on hold at the last minute after the two sides could not agree on a proposed seven-year television deal, valued at around $250 million. The two parties said then they expected the deal to be signed within a month, but further problems emerged.

Yermilin blamed the overall failure on the Russian side, headed by Grigory Antyufeyev, chairman of the city council's tourism committee.

"They did not inform Luzhkov properly, putting him and Ecclestone in an awkward position," Yermilin said. "It's understandable that the mayor has now grown a bit cold to the idea of Formula One racing in Moscow."

A meeting between Russian Sports Minister Vyacheslav Fetisov and Ecclestone last month in Moscow also failed to produce positive results.

Asked about the future of Grand Prix in Moscow, Fetisov, a former ice hockey player, said: "I know little about motor racing and even less about Formula One."

Yermilin said on Sunday the most likely Formula One project in the country appeared to be in Russia's second city, St Petersburg.

"They already have the land for it and if everything goes according to schedule, they can begin construction early next year," he said. "So we can have a Formula One circuit within two to three years."