Another one bites the dust - Chinese GP

[ArrowsFA1]

Chinese Grand Prix officials are weighing up whether or not to extend their Formula One contract beyond 2010, with the race's future in the balance because of the huge costs of holding the event.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72111

If govt. backed venues who were happy to stump up $m's to have a GP are now beginning to question whether it's worth it F1 may have itself a problem. Could it mean Bernie is forced to put a more realistic price on the "privilege" of holding a GP, or even a return to more "traditional" venues?

[BDunnell]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72111

If govt. backed venues who were happy to stump up $m's to have a GP are now beginning to question whether it's worth it F1 may have itself a problem. Could it mean Bernie is forced to put a more realistic price on the "privilege" of holding a GP, or even a return to more "traditional" venues?

Yes and yes. F1 needs to adapt to changing times, whether we're in a recession or not. This is part of the process.

[Sleeper]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72111

If govt. backed venues who were happy to stump up $m's to have a GP are now beginning to question whether it's worth it F1 may have itself a problem. Could it mean Bernie is forced to put a more realistic price on the "privilege" of holding a GP, or even a return to more "traditional" venues?
Oh god I hope so.

What's "traditional" though?

Magny Cours? Imola? The Sud-Ring Nurburgring? Estoril?

Does "Traditional" now include anything that was first used less than 25 years ago?

[seppefan]

Great news, the Drivers and Fans will love it. Maybe Portugal will be able to afford a GP at the fantastic new Portimao track. Keep Spa, Silverstone and lose some of the new circuits.

Would just love the CVC owned, Bernie run F1 to go bust and a new F1 to arise from the ashes, properly financed and there for the teams, driver and fans not just the owners as is presently the case.

[BDunnell]

What's "traditional" though?

Magny Cours? Imola? The Sud-Ring Nurburgring? Estoril?

Does "Traditional" now include anything that was first used less than 25 years ago?

To me, of those that have been under some threat of losing their GPs, it's Silverstone, Montreal and Spa.

[ArrowsFA1]

What's "traditional" though?
I guess I consider the "traditional" venues to be circuits that were not political creations i.e. those which were designed and built from scratch, often in locations that previously had no particular interest in, or history of, motorsport. By "political" I mean created for every reason but sporting i.e. tourism, commerce, the event being a shop window for the country.

I'm sure that definition is flawed :p

Magny Cours could be considered to be the first example in that it very much was a government backed creation, built in the middle of nowhere. Of course France has a rich tradition of motorsport :D

Others have followed. Turkey and China spring to mind as locations with no links to F1, or motorsport particularly, but whose governments saw the benefits of having a prestigious international event to showcase their nation.

For China now to be asking "is it worth it" is worrying for those who have earned a lot of money developing these "new" F1 markets.

[pino]

Bring back Imola !!! :p :

Bring back Imola !!! :p :

Nah, bring back Reims.

Admittedly, the pits do need updating though.

[ArrowsFA1]

Nah, bring back Reims.

Admittedly, the pits do need updating though.
Like the safety car :p :laugh:

Like the safety car :p :laugh:

That was my first car. (Not the one in the photo, mine was french racing blue....well, blue, anyway). The great thing about it was that every turn, even those in a car park felt, like it would be my last.

850cc of pure revs....no horsepower, just revs.

Come to think of it, I think Honda copied the design for the RA108.

[Dave B]

850cc of pure revs....no horsepower, just revs.

Come to think of it, I think Honda copied the design for the RA108.
:laugh: I like it!

[truefan72]

Bring back Imola !!! :p :

I do beleive they are poised to come back


What's "traditional" though?

Magny Cours? Imola? The Sud-Ring Nurburgring? Estoril?

Does "Traditional" now include anything that was first used less than 25 years ago?

excellent point

I think the solution is really easy.
Bernie should reduce those astronomical costs to host F1 races and perhpas everyone can benefit.

I find it ironic that the FIA is incessant about their cost cutting moves bit clearly neglect the most inflated part of the whole circus. It's only when they start losing GP's in their "coveted" market that they will understand that charging those kind of rates for F1 races will kill the sport in the long run.

[Donney]

Besides wasn't it this season when almost all the stands, in the Chinese GP, were empty?

I don't think I'll miss it.

[V12]

I wouldn't miss it.

Hopefully this could open up the possibility for Canada or a traditional European venue to return - or even perhaps a second race in Latin America.

That's in an ideal world.

Knowing Bernie he's probably plotting a race in French Polynesia, Antarctica or on The Moon as we speak.

[yodasarmpit]

Market forces will dictate how much F1 can charge for the hosting of a GP, and what we see here is market forces in action.

[Nikki Katz]

Although I'm not a big fan of the track, I don't really see this as positive. If an economy the size of China can't afford F1 costs, then surely soon all races will be in the Middle East.
But I think that this is probably just the Chinese trying to get Bernie to give them a better deal. I doubt it'll work.

[Tazio]

After the drama we had for the wdc over the last two seasons,
I would think that TV and their advertisers would be willing to pick up the slack.
Like in every other sport!
And Bernie could be a little less greedy lol!
What a mess! :confused:

[Allyc85]

I wont miss it at all, infact im hoping it goes! The circuit dosnt seem to have a very good future at all now its lost moto gp and now possibly F1.

[ShiftingGears]

Besides wasn't it this season when almost all the stands, in the Chinese GP, were empty?

I don't think I'll miss it.

It might just be the effect of having an enormous number of grandstands.

[ShiftingGears]

Bring back Imola !!! :p :

Yes!

In this configuration.

http://theracingline.net/racingcircuits/racingcircuits/Italy/Imola%201954.gif

Ooooh yeah.

[truefan72]

I wish they would bering back the original hockenheim

[jso1985]

Bring back Zandvoort!

[ioan]

I wish they would bering back the original hockenheim

Me too!
Along with Spa it was and still is my favorite track!

[ShiftingGears]

I wish they would bering back the original hockenheim

With or without chicanes?

[ykiki]

With or without chicanes?

Honestly, I hate the current configuration so much that I'd take either!

[Dave B]

Autosport are reporting that the Chinese GP is "likely" to stay beyond 2010, but admit that the organisers are still weighing it up:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72236

[Tallgeese]

It would be a shame to lose the Chinese GP, but I think that FOM's own fees are too high. Why should Shanghai pay more than three times as much as other venues? The question of FOM's own management practices should be viewed in retrospect. The Canadian GP probably required an axe due to the unsafe nature of the circuit but the Shanghai Circuit is the victim of over-charging.

[ShiftingGears]

The Canadian GP probably required an axe due to the unsafe nature of the circuit

It isn't unsafe.

[Tazio]

It would be a shame to lose the Chinese GPAnd all those fine Asian pit babes :confused:

[leopard]

Yes!

In this configuration.

http://theracingline.net/racingcircuits/racingcircuits/Italy/Imola%201954.gif

Ooooh yeah.
"Dad look, I am drawing a duck, what do you think?"

[gloomyDAY]

And all those fine Asian pit babes :confused: All the silicon in the world couldn't make their faces look any better.

I don't think I'd be perturbed to see Shanghai hit the bricks.
The track is one of the most boring on the calendar.

[Tazio]

All the silicon in the world couldn't make their faces look any better.
I beg to differ my man! :eek:
http://www.asiadiva.com/photofull.php

[Tazio]

All the silicon in the world couldn't make their faces look any better.
It's not all about silicone my man!!
http://carpimps.org/image.php?image_id=2747
BTW last time I checked Argentina doesn't have an F1 race :)

[leopard]

In regard to silicon, it's not what Asian usually do in order to look nice.

We will have F1 held in Korea on Shanghai leave, Korea and China are practically not different. So above me don't despair.

[gloomyDAY]

It's not all about silicone my man!!
http://carpimps.org/image.php?image_id=2747
BTW last time I checked Argentina doesn't have an F1 race :) Hey, the question was "best grid girls?". No one ever mentioned F1. :p


In regard to silicon, it's not what Asian usually do in order to look nice.

We will have F1 held in Korea on Shanghai leave, Korea and China are practically not different. So above me don't despair.Make sure you don't say that to either a Korean or someone from China. I don't think they'll be too pleased.

Back on topic: Does anyone know how much Shanghai pays for the race?

[anthonyvop]

Bring back Sebring!

[ArrowsFA1]

Could we please have a GP here:

http://www.autosport.com/gallery/picture_free.php/dir/gt2008arg1/image/106-2
Potrero de los Funes in San Luis, Argentina - more photos (http://www.autosport.com/gallery/index.php/id/1558)

:s mokin:

[V12]

Are all the old roads that made up the old pre-1970 Spa circuit still intact?

And there's always the Nordschleife.... :D

*slaps self to wake up*

[markabilly]

the original RING, all of it especially those flying hills, time to seperate the men from the boys

Seca for the usa

As to canada, the road was as in as good of shape as many streets everywhere....poor ole f1 cars got to have it as smooth as a baby butt or they wont go, well boo hoo boo

[Tallgeese]

And all those fine Asian pit babes :confused:

Haha. No I just like the Chinese GP layout. Everybody prefers pit-girls (Formula Unas) from one place or another. I just happen to prefer Turkey, but yeah, I'll miss those Chinese F1as too!


It isn't unsafe.

It is. Too many close calls & besides, the circuit 'cracks up' not to mention it's too slippery. Don't get me wrong, I think there should be an F1 GPs in North America, but the circuit itself has too many detractors & needs some modifications.

[ArrowsFA1]

The future of Formula One at the Hockenheim circuit is in doubt unless the government decides to help financially, a track official has said.
"Without grants from the state there will be no more Formula One in Hockenheim," Karl-Josef Schmidt told the Der Tagesspiegel newspaper.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72283

[jso1985]

Could we please have a GP here:

http://www.autosport.com/gallery/picture_free.php/dir/gt2008arg1/image/106-2
Potrero de los Funes in San Luis, Argentina - more photos (http://www.autosport.com/gallery/index.php/id/1558)

:s mokin:

:up: