Plans to build a Formula 1 circuit in a forest on the outskirts of Rio have been officially abandoned, confirmed a Brazilian local government official.
Former F1 CEO Chase Carey was eager to withdraw the Brazilian Grand Prix from Interlagos, and a formal agreement was reached last September to race in Rio.
However, development plans ran into obstacles and in December F1 announced a new contract for the Brazilian race, which would become known as the São Paulo GP, at its traditional home.
The proposed new location was in Deodoro, a former military base that was used for some events at the 2016 Rio Olympics, including hockey, seven-a-side rugby, shooting, BMX, mountain biking, jumping jacks, and the modern pentathlon.
The construction of the track would have a major impact on Cambodia’s forest area and, despite promises to solve the environmental problem by planting new trees, the plans met considerable opposition.
They first had to be approved by the National Institute of the Environment. [INEA], then the National Commission for Environmental Control [CECA].
In a letter to the acting governor of Rio dated September 14 and published the following month, Carey said: “I am writing to inform you that we have finalized racing agreements with Rio Motorsports LLC to host, organize and promote Formula events. 1 in Rio de Janeiro.
“These agreements are ready to be executed and announced by Formula 1 as soon as the competent authorities, INEA / CECA, issue all the necessary licenses in Brazil / Rio de Janeiro.”
When it was difficult for him to obtain these licenses, Carey returned to Interlagos and quickly struck a deal with a new promotion company backed by the Abu Dhabi government.
On Monday, Rio’s environment secretary, Eduardo Cavaliere, confirmed that the plans for the Deodoro road would not be carried out and that at the mayor’s request he had officially written to the INEA to confirm the authorization process for the construction of the circuit.
In a tweet that impressed world champion Lewis Hamilton, he wrote: “Rio is competing for a sustainable future: Cambodia’s forest will NOT be replaced by Rio’s international circuit.
“Under the leadership of Mayor Eduardo Paes, WE OFFICIALLY WITHDRAWAL the works licensing process.”
The loss of Rio represents F1’s third major failure to launch a new event since Liberty Media took control, and Vietnam is unlikely to continue after a corruption scandal and Miami on hold during the pandemic, facing strong opposition. local. .
However, the F1 deal with the Rio de Janeiro promoter is unrelated to the Deodoro headquarters and, in theory, racing could be revived in other parts of the city.
