Despite recent rumours in Spain that the future of the European Grand Prix in Valencia was under threat after the first two underwhelming events, Spanish motorsport boss Carlos Gracia has insisted the event is not under threat. More's the pity.
The new Valencia Street Circuit has come in for a lot of criticism since making its debut on the F1 calendar in 2008, with the track itself, the rather industrial-looking surroundings and the on-track action all causing issues.
And recent reports in Spain suggested that both F1 insiders and the Spanish fans had expressed disintrest in returning to the track after complaints over the atmosphere at the circuit, as well as the lack of overtaking opportunities offered by the dire 5.4 km track.
The reports also suggested that the current race promoter, Valmor Sport, was beginning to tire of organising the event, despite holding a contract due to last until the 2014 season at the earliest.
Last year's low attendance was also suggested to have discouraged the promoter.
But Gracia has insisted that the future of the track on the F1 calendar is still secure.
"Last year they were not positive but now they have told me that they are fulfilling religiously all the years they have left on the contract," he told the Spanish AP newspaper following a meeting with Valmor representatives.
The Valencia race has been earmarked as potentially under threat from the latest F1 tracks set to be added to the schedule in future years. India, Russia and the United States are all rumoured to be close to a deal with Bernie Ecclestone to host F1, while a new Rome street race from 2013 has already been agreed.
But the pressure on existing venues has eased somewhat when Ecclestone was recently quoted saying that he would like to see the F1 calendar expand from 20 to 25 events to help accomodate the new tracks.
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