Plans for a Miami Grand Prix have been officially dropped by the organisers over disruption fears.
A second US race in the Floridian city was meant to take place this year but was pushed back to 2020 in the face of massive local opposition.
Hopes were lifted when a second vote was scheduled earlier this month to move forward only to be squashed by a court days before.
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And now has come the news Formula 1 owners Liberty Media were probably dreading.
“When we received the detailed report of what it would take to build a street circuit each year, the multiple weeks of disruption to the port, Bayfront Park and the residents and businesses on Biscayne Boulevard would have been significant; which Steve [Ross, race organiser] and I felt defeated the purpose,” Tom Garfinkel, CEO of the Miami Dolphins NFL franchise, told the Miami Herald.
Interestingly, Garfinkel has suggested the idea of a Grand Prix may not be dead yet, however, as he proposes simply switching location to near his team’s stadium.
“A lot would have to happen for us to be able to do it, but we have over 250 acres of land so adding an F1 race to where Hard Rock Stadium and the Miami Open sit means we can create a world-class racing circuit that is unencumbered by existing infrastructure,” he added.
“It also means better ingress and egress, better amenities, unprecedented sight-lines, and opportunities for the best hospitality anywhere in racing.
“We can still do parties and events all week downtown, at [South] Beach, and in Brickell.
“We only want to do it if we can create world-class racing, a great fan experience, and a lot of value for Miami.”