Coulthard won at Imola in 1988

David Coulthard says he would be sorry to see the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola scrapped from the Formula One calendar.

The arrival of new circuits like Bahrain and Shanghai in 2004 has put San Marino's Formula One race under threat.

And there has been much speculation that last weekend's contest, won by Michael Schumacher, could be the last at the picturesque track near Bologna.

"I would miss this race," said Coulthard, who won the Grand Prix in 1998 and has finished in the points every visit since, including fifth behind Schumacher in 2003.

"It's got character and the track is certainly exciting for the drivers to battle on. It makes good viewing for the television because it is up hill and down dale and it would be a shame if it went."

But Coulthard is resigned to the fact that some circuits will be lost with the advent of more non-European venues.

Modifications

"There are many tracks that have come and gone over the years, as well as teams, drivers and journalists, and the sport keeps marching on ahead so the reality is evolution will take its course," said the Scot.

Imola survived the tragic events of 1994 when three-time world champion Ayrton Senna and Austrian driver Roland Ratzenberger were killed in the same weekend.

HAVE YOUR SAY Bag the San Marino Grand Prix, it's boring Victoria Lowe, Florida Join the debate

But the safety modifications made in the wake of those incidents saw the track lose much of its high-speed character.

And while 180,000 spectators witnessed Schumacher's triumph in 2000, only 80,000 turned up last weekend.

More importantly, the circuit's facilities are among the poorest on the F1 circuit, particularly compared with newer venues like Malaysia's Sepang track.