Monza angry as Imola steps up grand prix bid

A Monza official has hit out at Imola, the former San Marino Grand Prix host that is reportedly shaping up as an alternative venue for Italy's annual Formula 1 race.

With negotiations between Monza and Bernie Ecclestone about 2017 and beyond still dragging on, officials at Imola - a famous circuit east of Bologna - have already had sit-down talks with the F1 supremo.

Now, Italian reports suggest that Imola circuit president Uberto Selvatico Estense has followed up his recent meeting with a letter to Ecclestone.

"This is a disruptive action in the final stage of negotiations to rescue the grand prix at Monza," a furious Angelo Sticchi Damiani, the Italian automobile club chief, said.

The German news agency SID claimed that Monza is now just €2m (£1.5m) short of Ecclestone's demands for a new contract costing €25m (£19m) per year.