Barcelona wants to drop ’Spain’ from GP name

Spanish grand prix organisers would like the annual formula one race to be renamed.

Last year, the Barcelona venue - known since it was built in 1991 as the Circuit de Catalunya - underwent a name tweak. It is now officially called the Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya.

Now, circuit boss Salvador Servia has told Catalunya Radio that he would like the annual F1 race to be called the Barcelona Grand Prix.

"Evidently, the ’Barcelona’ brand outsells the ’Spain’ brand," he claimed.

"When we say that we would call it Gran Premio de Barcelona, it is because we are selling worldwide and the Barcelona brand helps us a lot," said Servia.

The existing Spanish grand prix contract runs until 2016.