The Italian Grand Prix saga, which has already had more twists and turns than either circuit, descended further into farce today with the news that authorities in Imola have launched legal action.

The move follows Imola's securing of an agreement to host the Italian Grand Prix from 2017 after Bernie Ecclesotne grew tired of the Autodromo Nazionale's politics and dithering.

While Imola might have the contract, the Automobile Club d'Italia (ACI), which organises the Grand Prix, has said that not only will it not provide funding for the Imola event - though it does for Monza - it will not recognise the race should it move from the Lombardy circuit.

Convinced that Angelo Sticchi Damiani, president of the ACI, is intent only on assisting Monza, organisers at Imola have now launched an appeal against the ACI to the Lazio Regional Administrative Court citing the organisation as not providing the support to allow the circuit to host the event.

With a contract with Ecclestone now agreed, track owners Formula Imola claim that it is wholly wrong of the ACI to withhold its help (money/approval).

"Formula Imola, in her own right, and solicited by FOM, attended free negotiations which led to Formula Imola taking on the contractual commitment," said organisers in a statement.

"Furthermore, the same proposal, sent by Formula One Management and Formula One World Championship to SIAS and the Autodromo di Monza was not accepted.

"We want the national bodies to jointly assess and look at every possible option to prevent such a serious risk to the country's image in sporting terms," it concluded, referring to the possible loss of the Italian round of the championship.