Imola has reached an agreement with Bernie Ecclestone to host the Italian Grand Prix from 2017, but it still requires the approval of the Automobile Club d'Italia (ACI) for the deal to become reality.
Monza's current contract to host the Italian Grand Prix comes to an end this year, with the ACI taking over the running of the event from 2017 onwards. Negotiations between ACI president Angelo Sticchi Damiani and Ecclestone for the race to remain at Monza have so far proved fruitless, leading Ecclestone to propose Imola as an alternative.
The ACI responded saying it will only back a race at Monza, but that has not stopped Ecclestone reaching an agreement with Imola.
"Bernie knows that we are available," Formula Imola president Uberto Selvatico Estense told Motorsport.com. "And he sent us a proposal that we signed and sent back to him. We will be very happy to have F1 back in Imola. Our main effort is to achieve this kind of result.
"It just depends on Angelo Sticchi Damiani. I think it's a political issue. We have an agreement with Bernie, and we only need the approval of the national sporting authority. If in the future there is not an Italian GP, it is only the problem of Mr Sticchi Damiani, who didn't allow this agreement."
Imola last hosted a grand prix in 2006, but has since undergone major redevelopment work.