Argentina to Return to Formula One Race Calendar

March 15, 2012

Argentina is close to bringing back Formula 1 to the country according to national president Cristina Fernandez.

Fernandez said the country has agreed a three-year deal that will see grand prix racing return to the South American nation from 2013.

She said the race will be hosted at a circuit in seaside resort Mar del Plata, 400 km from Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires. There is currently no circuit in Mar del Plata.

The race, Fernandez said, will take place at the end of November from the 2013 season.

“We are closing [the deal],” Fernandez said. “For three years, in 2013, 2014 and 2015 in the city of Mar del Plata.

“For us it will be very important because after football, racing is the second favourite sport for Argentineans. Getting Formula 1 back to Argentina is something we deserve in order to be able to show the things we have.”

The Argentine President said that bringing F1 back to Argentina “is an accomplishment Argentina deserves, so we can show the world what we have”.

The Argentina Grand Prix was hosted by the South American country in an intermittent way from 1953 to 1998. Due to the organisers’ financial problems, the Grand Prix was suspended after 1998.

by Ismail Uddin

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