Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

An official agreement on holding a stage of Grand Prix of Formula One race in Azerbaijani capital in 2016 was signed in Bakuon April 30 .

The news was announced by Samaya Mammadova, the spokesperson of Azerbaijan Youth and Sports Ministry.

The race may be called the "European Grand Prix" and will take place on the streets of Baku a year after the first European Games Baku 2015.

The agreement was signed with Bernie Ecclestone, head of Formula One.

Azerbaijan will become the second country in the former Soviet Union after Russia that will host the Formula One Grand Prix.

Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and officially referred to as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single-seat auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA).

The F1 season consists of a series of races known as Grands Prix held throughout the world on purpose-built circuits and public roads. The results of each race are evaluated by using a points-system to determine the two annual World Championships, one for the drivers and the other one for the constructors.

At present, the championship calendar consists of 19 stages, but the number of stages is expected to reach 22 in the future.

Thailand, South Africa, Greece, Argentina, and Mexico are claiming to be a part of the grandiose motor show, while Turkey, China, UAE, Bahrain, and Malaysia are among the countries recently added to the list of traditional venues.

Baku has recently gained some experiences in holding large-scale racing competitions.

Azerbaijan's capital hosted 2013 FIA GT Series season finale on November 22-24. Some 14 international race teams and 30 GT cars took part in the FIA GT Series Final round on a newly designed 4-kilometer long street - circuit, which stretched along the Caspian Sea and centered around the National Flag.

Baku also hosted its first racing Baku City Challenge in October 2012, presenting a spectacular urban motorsport experience, and attracted the attention of city residents. Approximately 120 countries broadcast the show for 300 million people.