When in Rome: Italian capital could host F1 street race

With every major city and race track around the globe seemingly eager to host a Formula One race, it's been a while since we've kept up with all the rumors and conjecture. But reports persist on the prospect of a street race in Rome, punctuated this week by news that prolific track architect Herman Tilke is in the Italian capital planning layouts.
The idea is being proposed by superbike promoter and former F2 driver Maurizio Flammini, and he reportedly has the support of Rome's city hall. The proposed street circuit would run through the city's southwest EUR district and would cost some €50 million ($64 million USD) to execute if it joined the calendar for 2010 or 2011.
There have been previous attempts to host an F1 race in Rome, but the closest it has ever gotten to realization was when Shell shut the city down to film a commercial (pictured above). This time around, plans are far from definite, with certain elements within Italy's motor racing community opposing the idea. Organizers of the current Italian Grand Prix, held at Monza, are wary of losing their event. Ferrari, which owns the Imola circuit previously used for the San Marino Grand Prix, says the idea makes no sense when the country is packed with empty tracks. Yet the prospect holds merit, and Tilke probably wouldn't be in town if F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone hadn't sent him there...
[Source: Autosport and F1-Live]