Rio de Janeiro is marching ahead with its plans to host the Brazilian Grand Prix in the future, unveiling yesterday the design of its track layout.
Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro took everyone by surprise recently when he stated that Rio would host his country's F1 event in 2020, a claim that contradicted the fact that Sao Paulo - the current venue for the Brazilian Grand Prix - is contracted to stage the race next year.
Undeterred, Rio has awarded a 35-year concession to US consortium Rio Motorsports that includes a lease on military land located on the outskirts of the city and the right to build a track.
The Rio MotorPark layout was designed in association with F1's resident architect Hermann Tilke.
"The proposal we have brought to Rio seeks to present a picture of a modern track, dynamic and full of emotion," said Tilke.
"At the same time, we think of a space with a multidisciplinary approach that allows a very wide range of use in other sports, serving the whole community."
Rio de Janeiro's plans to host the race still need to get through several levels of red tape and a barrage of opposition from environmental groups, not to mention the need to secure the funds to build its facility and run an F1 race.
Liberty Media is keen on a transfer of the Brazilian Grand Prix from Interlagos to Rio as the former no longer provides good monetary value for the sport's commercial rights holder.
Given the current contractual aspects of the event and the time constraints linked to the building of a new circuit, it's unlikely the Brazilian round of the F1 world championship will take place anywhere else than at Interlagos in 2021.
Thereafter however, the historic home of the Brazilian Grand Prix will be challenged to keep its spot on the calendar.
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