The 2013 Italian motorsport season will possibly be remembered as one of the toughest ever, with very low car counts all round, few fans in the grandstand and very poor coverage both in the press and on TV (except for Italian GT, which gets good screen time), but already next season has plenty of unanswered questions. The darkest one concerns the oldest track in Italy, the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, which has been beset with political and legal strife. Although nothing has yet been confirmed, it looks like the circuit will have a much-reduced sporting calendar in 2014.
The World Touring Car Championship won’t be racing in Italy next year, the International Superstars series is gone, and probably the Superbike won’t be racing again at the Autodromo; and perhaps the most worrying thing is that the Coppa Intereuropa Autostorica, the big Historical meeting featuring the old 1000km race for GTs and sportscars has yet to be confirmed, with its traditional date currently occupied by Italian GT, which will have two rounds at Monza in 2014.
What will be left? The Blancpain Endurance Series in April, maybe the World Series by Renault and the Italian Motorcycle Championship in May, only the Porsche Club in June, and the one make Clio Cup and Formula Renault Alps in July. And that’s it until F1 in September, which is currently only safe until 2016; and unless a miracle happens, that will be F1’s last time ever at the “Temple of Speed”.
No official statement has yet been released, but as things stand it is a worrying time for motorsport fans. We can only hope that things are better than they look.
Gabriele Tosi
