The Russian Grand Prix has been thrown into uncertainty after the Russian Automobile Federation (RAF) missed the deadline to submit its FIA application to host a race in 2014.
Work at the Sochi track continues, with organisers only recently confirming the October 19th 2014 date for the inaugural Grand Prix,but the race has been thrown into doubt.
It is thought that the RAF refused to officially lodge their application to host next years Grand Prix due to a financial dispute with the promoters of the Sochi track - JSC Omega.
This meant that they missed the July 31st deadline to submit an application to the FIA - motor racing's governing body - for the country to host a race in 2014.
To get the race back on track, the RAF would have to prove to the FIA that there was a 'force majeure' reason for missing the application deadline.
A statement from the RAF read: "The application to the FIA for submitting the Russian Grand Prix to the 2014 Formula 1 calendar was not sent in proper time as JSC Omega didn’t fulfil the necessary conditions.
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| Image (c) Khelnama |
It is thought that the RAF refused to officially lodge their application to host next years Grand Prix due to a financial dispute with the promoters of the Sochi track - JSC Omega.
This meant that they missed the July 31st deadline to submit an application to the FIA - motor racing's governing body - for the country to host a race in 2014.
To get the race back on track, the RAF would have to prove to the FIA that there was a 'force majeure' reason for missing the application deadline.
A statement from the RAF read: "The application to the FIA for submitting the Russian Grand Prix to the 2014 Formula 1 calendar was not sent in proper time as JSC Omega didn’t fulfil the necessary conditions.
"That is: [it] didn’t sign a contract
with the Russian Grand Prix organiser, didn’t sign a deal for an
application submission and also didn’t pay a fee to the FIA for
including an event on the FIA F1 calendar.
"RAF informs that it is ready to include
the Russian Grand Prix on to the FIA calendar under force majeure
conditions, permissible by the FIA, as soon as the promoter fulfills all
the necessary formalities."
Another dispute between organisers and the RAF is the training of marshals for the race, an essential requirement for the race. The RAF started its own project to train marshals for the race with the FIA Institute and in partnership with Australia's CAMS.
However they have made it clear that they want financial help to fund the continuation of the training programme from the organisers.
CEO of the RAF, Sergey Ivanov said: "The F1 grand prix of Sochi gave a huge
boost to develop the system of staff preparation.
"Until the end of 2012, we received
grants from the FIA to organise seminars as well as do other work. Now
we need to continue that programme and broaden it, which requires
additional funding for the RAF."
It is also understood that the commercial and intellectual property rights to the race and the length of the contract between the RAF and promoters is also causing conflict.
Whilst this doesn't discount the race from the 2014 calendar, it does put a shadow of date over next years calendar if the RAF and organisers can't sort their differences out.
Whilst this doesn't discount the race from the 2014 calendar, it does put a shadow of date over next years calendar if the RAF and organisers can't sort their differences out.
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