Colombia plans to host its own F1 Grand Prix

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For many years, the Brazilian Grand Prix was the only South American race on the F1 calendar, but if it was up to Evan Duke, the number of Grand Prix on the continent would double in a few years. The President of Colombia has announced plans to organize Formula 1 racing in his country.

Half-road roundabout in Barranquilla

The first Colombian Grand Prix is ​​set to take place in the northern port city of Barranquilla, with a population of over 1.1 million. City Mayor Jaime Pumarejo also likes the plans. He agrees that his city still needs to do a lot of work to properly organize a Grand Prix, but talks are already underway with Formula 1 bosses about arranging the Grand Prix in Colombia on a half-street circuit. City.

“The mayor of Barranquilla, Jaime Pumarejo, has already held talks with Formula 1 management,” President Duke told a gathering in his home country. “We know some changes need to be made, but we can realize a half-street circle with the necessary changes. That round still needs to be approved by the Formula 1 system.

“This is a sports investment that will put Colombia on the international map. So I want to tell you that we have your full support,” Duke told the mayor. “As a team we can make this dream come true.”

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Columbia has never held a Grand Prix before, but has already produced three Formula 1 drivers. Ricardo London first competed in the 1981 Brazilian Grand Prix. Roberto Guerrero played for the Ensign and Theodore teams in 1982 and 1983, respectively. Juan Pablo Montoya is by far the most famous and successful Colombian Formula 1 driver. The former Williams and McLaren driver has won seven of 94 Formula 1 races.

Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali previously announced that Colombia is far from the only country interested in organizing its own Formula 1 race. By 2022, 23 races will be recorded in the Formula 1 calendar, but according to Dominicali it could easily be 30. New to this year’s calendar is the Miami Grand Prix, but due to potential growth in the US, Motorsport is keen to organize more races on the other side of the Royal Glass Atlantic.