Formula One's commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone has given preliminary backing to the idea of holding a Grand Prix in Rome, the man behind the proposal has said. “We have the approval of the city council, the regional government, the provincial government and of Ecclestone too,” Maurizio Flammini was quoted as saying by Saturday's La Gazzetta dello Sport. Flammini, a former Formula Two driver and world superbike promoter, said final plans for a race in the EUR district on the outskirts of the Italian capital would be presented to the Rome city council by the end of March. “There are $192.9 million available to set up the first edition in 2011 or 2012,” Flammini said. Ecclestone has also said he will do what he can to keep Honda's team on the starting grid after the Japanese manufacturer pulled out in December. Team principal Ross Brawn and chief executive Nick Fry are looking for new owners and backers although the most likely scenario for the team remains a management buyout.
