Formula One Racing In Greece

Greece is considering building a Formula One racetrack to tune up the country’s vital tourism industry. However, the venue for the track is causing some problems for government leaders.

“There are some plans on the table about the creation of a Formula One racing track. It requires some caution but it is something we could see as positive,” Deputy Culture Minister Giorgos Orphanos, who holds the sports portfolio, told a press briefing last month.

Tourism Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos said that a possible location was the Viotia region, about 100 kilometers north of Athens. He said a final decision would be announced soon. Mr. Avramopoulos made his comments after meeting with Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis to discuss a major promotional campaign already under way.

Immediately afterwards, a group from the Patras area wrote to the prime minister explaining that it had been trying to create a Formula One race track in the area for more than 20 years now but was unable to get the required approvals. The group urged the prime minister to help as his party had promised prior to elections.