In Tenerife, it has led to the island council throwing its weight behind ambitious plans to build a top quality motor racing circuit.

A substantial site near Reina Sofia airport in the south of the island has been chosen as the location for the CIDEM (Centro Insular de Deportes de Motor) – simply Motor Sports Centre.

It is close to the motorway and also near to the town of San Isidro.

The idea is to provide a circuit capable of hosting regional, national and even international events in all forms of motor sport, from rallying to motor cycling.

Proponents of the project are also hoping they might be able to attract Formula One teams to the circuit during their winter testing programmes.

The project is currently at the design stage, tackling the unusual and difficult task of providing a venue that can host different activities at the same time, so that event organisers can run rally and racing meetings for both cars and motor bikes simultaneously.

The island government has already set aside three million euros to purchase nearly 250 acres of land and cover the cost of construction of the circuit.