Ralf: Russian Grand Prix a Good Idea

Ralf Schumacher offered support today to Moscow hosting a Formula One Grand Prix.

"Russia is a very interesting market and motor racing seems to be very big, so I certainly would enjoy racing here," Germany's Williams driver, on a promotional trip to Moscow, told a news conference.

A deal to bring Grand Prix motor racing to the Russian capital collapsed last year. Mayor Yuri Luzhkov blamed Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone for the failure to reach an agreement.

Ecclestone had expected the first race to take place in Moscow as early as 2004 at a circuit which would have been built in Nagatino, a few kilometres southeast of the city centre.

But a deal was scuppered at the last minute when the two sides could not agree on a seven-year television contract, valued at around $250 million.

"There were a lot of rumours about it (Formula One coming to Moscow), but then suddenly it got very quiet," Schumacher said. "But certainly Moscow remains a good possibility. There are a lot of races in Europe and there is a room for manoeuvre."

Schumacher, who has closed on his elder brother Michael and Finn Kimi Raikkonen in the World Championship standings after winning the last two races, came to Moscow to pitch road safety to Russian motorists.

Ecclestone told India's The Week magazine recently that India would host a Formula One in the future. China and Bahrain are due to host races for the first time next year.