Igor Yermilin, vice-president of the Russian Motor Racing Federation, said last month that hopes for a Russian Grand Prix have turned to St Petersburg after the death of the Moscow project.

But the chairman of the committee for tourism of the Moscow city government has told BBC Sport Online that this is not the case.

"The Moscow Grand Prix does not exist yet, but undoubtedly will," said Gregory Antioufeev, who is also vice-president of the Russian Automobile Federation (RAF).

He refused to comment on Yermilin's remarks, beyond insisting that the RAF is the only federation in Russia with sporting authority from world motorsport's governing body, the FIA.

Antioufeev added that a design for the Moscow track is being created by Tilke, a company favoured by F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone.

"We all wish we could be progressing faster, but believe me, the project is developing," he said.

Last month, Yermilin told the Reuters news agency: "It (Moscow) looks to be dead for now. We can forget about having a Formula one Grand Prix in Moscow at least for the next few years."

He added: "[St Petersburg] already have the land for it and if everything goes according to schedule, they can begin construction early next year.

TV deal foundered

"So we can have a F1 circuit within two to three years."

Ecclestone went to Moscow last March to sign a deal with the city's mayor, Yuri Luzhkov.

Ecclestone said at the time that a track - to be built on an island called Nagatino, south of the city centre - should be ready by 2004.

But a contract was not signed after attempts to secure a TV deal foundered.

Yermilin blamed the overall failure on the city council's tourism committee.

"They did not inform Luzhkov properly, putting him and Ecclestone in an awkward position," Yermilin said.

"It's understandable that the mayor has now grown a bit cold to the idea of F1 racing in Moscow."

The Middle Eastern kingdom of Bahrain last month signed a deal to host a Gand Prix from 2004, but it too has yet to build a track.

Other places bidding for a place on the F1 calendar are China, with Shanghai the favourite to host the event, as well as Dubai and Beirut, capital of the Lebanon.