Can throw billions at banks but 13 million for a track is illegal?

Russia's GP circuit construction is on schedule, according to organisers
By Pablo Elizalde Wednesday, July 18th 2012, 08:12 GMT

The construction of the circuit that is set to host the inaugural Russian Grand Prix is on schedule, according to organisers, who have revealed images of the site.

Russia, which secured a seven-year deal to host a grand prix from the 2014 season, has allocated nearly $200 million to build the track in Sochi.

Organisers said the medical centre, the pit building and the pitlane are under active construction. Works on strengthening the soil and preparing the foundation for the track are also being carried out.

The construction is expected to be finalised in time for the Winter Olympics in 2014.

"The Russian round of Formula 1 World Championship is destined to happen," said Alexander Bogdanov, general director of 'Formula Sochi'. "We are pleased to be here in Moscow, and to present our project at Moscow City Racing Road Show.

"The Formula 1 Grand Prix will be a significant event for our country. I'm glad that I and my team have the honour to hold this event, we are ready to do it on the international level. "

Nicholai Buturlakin, deputy governor of the Krasnodar region, added: "Today in Russia we can see the rapid development of motor racing, and the Formula 1 project in Russia arouses great interest.

"We are confident that the circuit in Sochi will be a respectable addition to all the other prestigious sporting events as the Winter Olympics 2014 and the FIFA World Cup 2018, which will be held in our country."

One from the 'wat?' files.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/101265

Stewart reckons the Williams team set a good example in hiring former GP driver Alex Wurz as a driver mentor for this season, when the Grove team is using two inexperienced drivers in Pastor Maldonado and Bruno Senna.

I'd rather lose the Nurburgring than Greece come Acropperlis and we all die.

good news from the Motherland:


I know there were negotiations with Brezhnev (whose rain ended in 1982) to bring F1 to the USSR. I wonder where they planned to build the track then.

While holding a machine gun and petting a tiger.

While shedding a tear and carving a wild bore he caught with his bare hands.

While pissing on Kim Jong il's grave in the middle of beating up Chuck Norris.

While performing a appendectomy on a distressed bear using only a plastic spoon, and giving Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a wedgie.