Italian GP saved by waiver.

The Italian Grand Prix will go ahead this year, and in future, after the local government for the region surrounding Monza opted in favour of an exemption to noise regulations.

The event, one of the most charismatic on the Formula One calendar, was placed under threat of cancellation after Monza residents launched an objection to the noise created at the parkland circuit and appeared to win their case, with the Italian round of the Le Mans Series already facing the axe and the recent F3000 Masters event running with silencers fitted to all cars.

However, despite Judge Marco Manunta supporting the residents, and terming motorsport 'a superfluous, dangerous and socially useless activity' when he issued a court order banning unsilenced cars, the Lombardy regional government took the opposing view and granted a 30-day exemption from the order, effectively allowing the grand prix and other events to take place.

A reprieve for the LMS event remains uncertain, however, as the round was officially canned towards the end of last month, with a replacement due to be announced in the near future. Ironically, the sportscar event was due to have taken place just two weeks after the F1 grand prix.