Matters of moment, June 1995

History lessened?

As we closed for press, it appeared likely that there would, after all, be 17 races on this year’s World F1 Championship schedule. That may cause some of the impecunious teams to wince, but for the sake of the sport’s tradition, we hope that this proves to be the case. Either that, or that the Pacific GP at Aida is the race to be dropped.

Recently, however, the talk was not of removing Aida from the schedule, but Monza…

Some of the recent changes to the fabric of the World Championship have been absolutely necessary. The revisions to Imola, for instance, were inevitable, and have to be accepted as such. But to lose Monza from a calendar which already contains antiseptic, characterless circuits such as Buenos Aires, Magny-Cours, Budapest, the Nurburgring and the aforementioned Aida would be to emaciate it beyond reason.

One accepts having to move with the times, but if Monaco continues to be included on the annual schedule, then there has to be scope for other traditional motor racing outposts to do likewise.

Period.

Safety is important. But so is the sport’s history.

If Monza has to be rested pending safety modifications, then why not move the Italian Grand Prix, temporarily, to Mugello, a ‘proper’ circuit with superb facilities?

It has always been argued that Mugello lacks the necessary infrastructure, that there are insufficient hotels and a lack of access roads. But that didn’t prevent Formula 1 going to Aida last year.

• Please note that production deadlines dictate that next month’s Motor Sport will be on sale on the filth Friday of the month, June 30, one week later than our traditional publication date. It will include our free, full-colour guide to this year’s British Grand Prix. Don’t miss it.