HRT refugee Vitantonio Liuzzi has re-emerged on the grid of the Italian-based touring car series Superstars.
Despite having a 2012 contract, the 30-year-old Italian lost his race seat at the struggling Spanish team HRT for this year to the well-backed Indian Narain Karthikeyan.

So, in 2012, he will race a Mercedes C63 AMG – which he tested last week at Monza – in the Maurizio Flammini-organised Superstars series.

Also on the grid will be former F1 drivers Christian Fittipaldi, Mika Salo, Gianni Morbidelli and Johnny Herbert.

“I’m persuaded that Superstars is a great choice to open yourself to other categories than F1,” said Liuzzi.

The season begins in April at Monza, then moving on to Imola, Donington, Mugello, the Hungaroring, Spa, Portimao, Vallelunga and Sentul (Indonesia).

Since 2005, Liuzzi also raced in F1 with Red Bull, Toro Rosso and Force India.

Rome will not host a grand prix, according to an Italian media report on Thursday.
The La Repubblica newspaper said F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone has written to the Italian capital’s mayor Gianni Alemanno explaining that one race per country is enough.

He reportedly wrote that F1 instead needs to concentrate on expanding internationally.

Ferrari recently admitted its opposition to the plans for a street race in the EUR district in 2013, stating that Monza should be Italy’s only F1 event.

The Repubblica report on Thursday came shortly after race promoter Maurizio Flammini said the Rome GP plans would be announced officially on January 21.

Organisers of the historic Italian grand prix are worried plans to take formula one to Rome will leave historic Monza without a race.

Both the Italian capital and Bernie Ecclestone insist the plans for a street race in the EUR district are no threat to Monza, but officials of the high speed Autodromo Nazionale are not so confident.

“Amid a globalisation of grands prix, each country will inevitably be allowed to stage only one” and “since Rome is the capital, I’m afraid we’d lose the grand prix forever,” Monza boss Enrico Ferrari told Bloomberg.

The Rome city council is due to meet this month to consider how to proceed with its F1 bid.

“Rome is known around the world for its history and landmarks, but we need an event that projects an image of Rome that’s not just about museums,” said city mayor Gianni Alemanno.

“We want to project a modern image and formula one would help us do that.”

F1 chief executive Ecclestone insists there is no deal yet.

“We haven’t got a contract yet for the event,” said the Briton.  “As soon as they get that, yes, yes, we can have a race, then let’s see if we can make it happen.”

Ecclestone said a deal with Rome would not necessarily be bad news for Monza.

“We have two events at the moment in Spain,” he explained.  “Let’s wait and see.  It’s still early days.”

Monza mayor Marco Mariani admitted he is worried.

“Politically speaking, Rome is far stronger than us,” he said.

It has emerged that Rome’s agreement about a city-based formula one race in 2012 or 2013 could lapse at the end of the year.

It was reported last month that organisers of the proposed event to take place in the Italian capital’s EUR district had signed a five-year contract with Bernie Ecclestone.

It was said that the only hurdle was the support of the residents of EUR, a major suburban area and business centre.

But Italian media reports late this week, including by the authoritative broadcaster Rai and the major news agency ANSA, have revealed that the document signed at Monza last month was just a “lettera di intenti” (letter of intent).

And Rome mayor Gianni Alemanno is quoted as saying that the original project as devised by the race promoter has lapsed because it would have been too disruptive.

He said a new project will be presented to the Rome authority assemblea capitolina before the letter of intent runs out later this year.

“I will soon meet with Ecclestone to confirm the letter of intent that has been signed and never revoked,” added mayor Alemanno.

He said the original EUR plan was too disruptive. “If someone thinks I want to make a mess of the EUR, they are making a big mistake.

“Rather, we want to enrich the city’s image,” Alemanno is quoted by La Gazzetta dello Sport. “Research shows that the majority of Rome residents, although not an overwhelming one, are in favour.

“But the assemblea capitolina will have the last word” after “very careful scrutiny”, he added.

A five-year contract for a formula one street race in the Italian capital was signed at Monza on Friday, Rome grand prix officials have announced.

Ahead of Italy’s existing race near Milan, they said that Rome would also feature on the calendar in 2012 or 2013, after the agreement was signed by Bernie Ecclestone and organiser Maurizio Flammini on Friday.

“Congratulations for the results he (Flammini) has delivered,” said Rome mayor Gianni Alemanno. “I hope Rome’s grand prix can start in 2012.”

The only obstacles are the objections of residents of Rome’s EUR district, and opponents who are fiercely protective of historic Monza remaining the only Italian F1 event.

Alemanno insisted: “The Monza race will remain — it won’t be destroyed by Rome’s.”

Luca di Montezemolo has been challenged to pledge his support or otherwise to Italy’s historic grand prix venue Monza.

The challenge was thrown out by Monica Rizzi, the regional sports councillor for Lombardy, the governing region of the famous Autodromo Nazionale.

Rome mayor Gianni Alemanno is confident the streets of the Italian capital will host F1 as early as 2012, insisting the event would not threaten Monza’s annual date.

But Rizzi does see Rome’s bid as a threat to Monza, urging Ferrari president Montezemolo to join those opposed to the extra Italian race.

“Monza is part of the history of our region, it is among the most popular on the formula one calendar and our pride since 1922.  Hands off,” she is quoted as having told Corriere dello Sport.

“I think it’s time for di Montezemolo to say whether Ferrari is for or against (a race in Rome).  As most Ferraris are sold in the north of Italy, I think it would be appropriate,” added Rizzi.