City of Rome will not pay for grand prix

Formula one will not cost Rome anything, the promoter of a potential street race in the Italian capital has insisted.

Rome’s inaugural race is slated to be held in 2012 or 2013, pending the agreement of the residents of the EUR district, mayor Gianni Alemanno said earlier this month.

But amid the fierce opposition from the direction of the historic Monza event, and reports that Australian taxpayers are paying heavily for the Melbourne race, organisers of the Rome grand prix insist the city will not have to pay.

"I reiterate that the business plan for the project involves nothing payable by the Comune di Roma," said promoter Maurizio Flammini, according to the Adnkronos press agency.

"Not a single euro will be paid from the municipal coffers to the promoter for the grand prix," he insisted.