Both the Nurburgring and Imola are keen for their 2020 Formula 1 revival not to simply be a one-off to fill the calendar.
On Friday, it was confirmed both circuits, plus Portimao on the Algarve, will host races later this year after F1 bosses decided to cancel all rounds in the Americas.
For the Nurburgring, which will return under a new moniker of the Eifel Grand Prix, it will end a seven-year absence after financial issues plagued the historic venue.
Before then, however, the circuit had an agreement with Hockenheim to alternate hosting the German GP, and that is something the current boss is proposing again.
“We were always in contact with Formula 1,” Nurburgring MD Mirco Markfort told Motorsport-Magazin.com of the sport’s return.
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“In the past few weeks, the discussions have intensified and thank god we have come to a deal that is fair for both sides and just fits.”
Looking forward… “The best model for us would be if we could come back to such an alternating solution,” he continued. “I think that would help both [circuits].
“We are concentrating on this year for the time being and we will see everything that comes afterwards.
“Whether with our colleagues in Hockenheim or with us, it’s good that Germany hasn’t completely disappeared from the map, which was the case before the season.”
As for Imola, it has had to wait quite a bit longer with the last San Marino GP taking place back in 2006 before F1 outgrew the venue.
Soon afterwards, however, the facility was upgraded and now, 14 years later, its wish for a return has come true.
“We have been looking for this goal for many years,” Imola boss Selvatico Estense told Autosport.
“We talked with the F1 Management people for a long time, and now we’ve achieved the target that we tried to get.
“I think our heritage is so important, we are so famous for F1 that this opportunity came true not only because of COVID, but also because F1 needs to come back to the historical tracks, back to the real passion of F1 fans.
“We are trying to apply to F1 for an opportunity for next year, but there’s everything to discuss after the race, I think. Our will is very clear, we are driven by our passion.”
The event, which will be called the Emilia Romagna GP, will be held over just a two-day weekend as a trial for a future format F1 may look to introduce.
And also there is a possibility of fans returning to the grandstands, with Italy now well beyond being the centre of the coronavirus in Europe as it was earlier this year.
“On Friday our minister of health announced that probably after September they will open the opportunity to get spectators into events,” Estense revealed.
“So we cross our fingers and we hope that the grandstands will be available for spectators, but nothing is fixed.
“Everything changes every day, so it’s very difficult to make a forecast.
“Obviously Italy in that period is not like in summer, but I think that it will be attractive for people in case there is a possibility to have spectators.”
Nurburgring too is also hoping at least some fans will be allowed through the gates for its race in October.
