Sep.11 (GMM) Bulgaria demonstrated it is serious about joining the F1 calendar by sending a senior government minister to the Italian grand prix.

A scandal erupted recently after reports said an Abu Dhabi company was going to fund a formula one track for the southeast European country.

The Abu Dhabi interests reacted angrily, declaring the announcement incorrect and inaccurate and vowing to cancel all its Bulgarian investments.

But according to the Sofia news agency Novinite, Bulgarian economy minister Traicho Traikov was trackside on Saturday at Italy's Autodromo Nazionale di Monza.

He reportedly met with F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, about Bulgaria hosting a future round of the world championship.

Ecclestone "voiced interest in that idea and committed to visit Bulgaria in the coming weeks to familiarise himself with details of the project", said the report.

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