Automobile Club of Milan President Ivan Capelli said that Imola "is taking legal action regarding government backing of the deal to keep Formula 1's Italian Grand Prix at Monza," according to Rencken & Barretto of AUTOSPORT. On Friday, Monza announced it had "secured a new three-year deal to host the race" through '19, but the contract "has not yet been signed." In a "fresh twist to the long-running saga, it has emerged this is because Imola has taken legal action." The venue feels it is not legitimate that Automobile club d'Italia has "awarded government backing to Monza and not Imola" to help fund an Italian GP beyond this season. Capelli, a director of the Monza organizing committee, said that the court will meet on Oct. 26 to assess the case. F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone said that the Italian GP deal would be signed "hopefully in a couple of weeks" but added, "We have to wait." When asked "what the reason was" for the delay, he said, "The people in Imola are starting an action against these people using public money" (AUTOSPORT, 9/6).
