Turkey, Greece eye spots on F1 calender

[Rob]

Wednesday 15 August at 15:35 : Aug.15 (GMM) Turkey could return to the F1 calendar.

Between 2005 and last year, despite poor spectator attendance, drivers enjoyed the Hermann Tilke-designed Istanbul layout, featuring the unique quadruple-apex Turn 8.

But the race was not included on the 2012 schedule, after organisers and F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone disagreed over the sanctioning fee.

81-year-old Ecclestone, however, said on Wednesday that he, the teams and the FIA are "happy" to go to Turkey.

He told the major daily Haberturk: "If we can solve this (fee) problem, Turkey can return to the F1 calendar."

It is not known if the news is linked with recent reports that, amid Greece's severe economic crisis, the country could enlist neighbour Turkey's help to stage a formula one street race in Athens.

A report in the Hurriyet daily said Greece was in serious talks with Turkish race official Mumtaz Tahincioglu.

"We have to support all projects that market Greece," said Greek sports minister Kostantinos Cavares.


http://www.onestopstrategy.com/daily...+calendar.html

[Rob]

After being excluded from the calendar of the 2012 Formula 1 , the GP of Turkey might even return to join in 2013. And if the news is the launch of Circus boss Bernie Ecclestone, then it could also be very likely. Mister E has in fact given an interview to local newspaper Haber Turk , in which he did understand how the disappearance of the track Istanbul Park was only due to economic problems: " If we solve the financial issues, I see no reason why we can not return to racing in Istanbul . " Even then why Ecclestone wanted to remember that this track, best known for treacherous Turn 8, has always been very apprezzatto by all riders, who got to know him well in all editions of the GP played between 2005 and 2011.

http://www.omnicorse.it/magazine/206...-gp-di-turchia

[scuderiafan]

Sick of some of these 'One-year' countries, whose only plus is to line Bernies pockets. They show no commitment, and you can tell the drivers don't really want to be there. Example Korea, who now seem to want out. What happened to that 'track-city' thing?

[Hornet]

Sick of some of these 'One-year' countries, whose only plus is to line Bernies pockets. They show no commitment, and you can tell the drivers don't really want to be there. Example Korea, who now seem to want out. What happened to that 'track-city' thing?

Well, its not reasonable to expect the government to continue throwing money into Bernie's pocket just to host a F1 race that isn't going to solve poverty or cure diseases. There are many other things that are more important for a country while Formula 1 is a private sporting event, so its understandable that people don't like seeing their tax dollars being wasted on hosting an expensive F1 race.

As long as hosting a race is financially dependent on the government, things will always change. When the economy gets tough, F1 race is one of the things that will have to go.

As long as we keep up the ridiculous fees, you'll have to settle for "passing the baton". And this is certainly better than the alternative where no government (perhaps except Monaco) would be willing to waste money on this and we end up with a handful of tracks. Well, on the bright side though, maybe this will force everyone to rethink.


Anyway, anyone seen the proposed Greek track layout?

I'm not sure if this is real, but if it is, then I must say I don't like it. Its just a Monaco wannabe, and the last thing we need is another boring narrow track circuit. Sorry if it offends anyone But I really don't like another Monaco clone.
2012_F1_Greek_GP.jpg

[Rob]

That track looks horrible. That can not happen.

[scuderiafan]

Well, its not reasonable to expect the government to continue throwing money into Bernie's pocket just to host a F1 race that isn't going to solve poverty or cure diseases. There are many other things that are more important for a country while Formula 1 is a private sporting event, so its understandable that people don't like seeing their tax dollars being wasted on hosting an expensive F1 race.

As long as hosting a race is financially dependent on the government, things will always change. When the economy gets tough, F1 race is one of the things that will have to go.

As long as we keep up the ridiculous fees, you'll have to settle for "passing the baton". And this is certainly better than the alternative where no government (perhaps except Monaco) would be willing to waste money on this and we end up with a handful of tracks. Well, on the bright side though, maybe this will force everyone to rethink.


Anyway, anyone seen the proposed Greek track layout?

I'm not sure if this is real, but if it is, then I must say I don't like it. Its just a Monaco wannabe, and the last thing we need is another boring narrow track circuit. Sorry if it offends anyone But I really don't like another Monaco clone.
2012_F1_Greek_GP.jpg

Exactly. That is what I am saying, if you are going to give races to these guys, then do it like Qatar at the Fifa WC 2022.

You spend billions on a race track, have a race one year, then that's it? There is better ways you can spend that money, like you said.
And then Bernie/FIA says F1 shouldn't be involved in politics. The reason it has to be is that they are sleeping with those regimes that are giving them all this money, and now firsthand we can see what is the result. No more Spa next year, as arguably the favourite track on the calendar not on it because of this, then you still have those attention/vote seeking ventures.

So in short, we agree Hornet

[Rob]

Exactly. That is what I am saying, if you are going to give races to these guys, then do it like Qatar at the Fifa WC 2022.

You spend billions on a race track, have a race one year, then that's it? There is better ways you can spend that money, like you said.
And then Bernie/FIA says F1 shouldn't be involved in politics. The reason it has to be is that they are sleeping with those regimes that are giving them all this money, and now firsthand we can see what is the result. No more Spa next year, as arguably the favourite track on the calendar not on it because of this, then you still have those attention/vote seeking ventures.

So in short, we agree Hornet

What, no Spa next year? where did you read that? I know they were thinking of alternating with France. But French GP was falling through, so thought they (Belgian GP) were in talks with the circus master to get contract till 2016

[scuderiafan]

What, no Spa next year? where did you read that? I know they were thinking of alternating with France. But French GP was falling through, so thought they (Belgian GP) were in talks with the circus master to get contract till 2016

I thought the alternating thing was confirmed, and Paul Ricard for next year?

[Rob]

This is form last month.

Belgian GP at Spa Francorchamp Inks Three-Year Deal Through 2015
Posted: 16/07/2012 05:01

Big news if you are like many formula One fans and you consider the belgium Grand Prix at Spa Francorchamps a non-negotiable event ont he F1 calendar...the circuit has inked a new three-year deal that will see the series race until 2015!

Long considered one of the best circuits on the Formula 1 calendar, Spa Francorchamps has become hallowed ground for speed and terrific racing. Legends have been made there and it's one of the few circuit on the F1 schedule that actually feels like the drivers are going somewhere. Brian Redman said that Jackie Stewart may say the 'Green Hell' of the Nurburgring was the scariest circuit but for his money, Spa was the most terrifying in his days.

Walloon Minister of Finance, Jean-Claude Marcourt explained in the columns of L'Avenir.

"We have managed to negotiate an extension of the contract for the years 2013, 2014 and 2015 for the Grand Prix in Wallonia at Spa-Francorchamps, the Belgian Grand Prix", said Marcourt "I wanted to reduce the amount of expenditure in the Walloon Region budget, and when we compare the obligations undertaken in the preceding contract and this new one, I'd say we've accomplished our mission Of course, there is still an outlay involved but it's smaller. What we're doing is reinforcing the attractiveness of Belgium".
I am most certainly biased as I consider the Spa Francorchamps circuit one of the crowning achievements of motorsport excitement and while the cars all take Eau Rouge flat these days, it is still a fantastic venue and as our own Mark Hallam points out, it is one of the few races that is still affordable to attend.

While Mr. Ecclestone may never discuss the finances of the deal publicly, if he had to take a bit of a haircut to keep Spa, I am very grateful for his kind consideration. You've just made F1 fans the world over very happy.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/todd...b_1675121.html

[Rob]

I thought the alternating thing was confirmed, and Paul Ricard for next year?

Heres another story from June..
Spa will not alternate with French GP
Jun.28 (GMM) The legendary Spa-Francorchamps, venue of the Belgian GP, is no longer part of the proposal to revive the grand prix in France.

Prior to ex president Nicolas Sarkozy losing the general election, plans to alternate a single annual race between Paul Ricard and Belgium’s fabled Spa were well advanced.

But with Francois Hollande in power and his sports minister Valerie Fourneyron in the driving seat of the grand prix project, the situation is now very different.

French reports this week say Fourneyron has told France’s motor racing sanctioning body, the FFSA, that Paul Ricard and Magny Cours are competing to secure the rights to a grand prix that the state will not contribute to financially.

And according to the Belgian news agency Belga, the formerly proposed race alternation between France and Spa will remain merely an “unconfirmed possibility”.

However, “Alternating with Belgium is no longer on the agenda,” a report by the French language news agency Agence France-Presse said.

Fans of Eu Rouge and other Brilliant Belgian beauties wait with baited breath.

Subbed by AJN.

[Rob]

As long as we do not loose Spa. It 1 of the best tracks we have on the calender. If not the best.

Good news it going to be around for few more years. Hope they can pen a better deal at end of 2015.

[FranksterGM]

Greece has already had a gp, called the GP of Turkey

[aroutis]

Greece has already had a gp, called the GP of Turkey

Is that supposed to be a joke?

[FranksterGM]

Is that supposed to be a joke?

No

[hakanabi]

Greece has already had a gp, called the GP of Turkey

???

[hakanabi]

Well, its not reasonable to expect the government to continue throwing money into Bernie's pocket just to host a F1 race that isn't going to solve poverty or cure diseases. There are many other things that are more important for a country while Formula 1 is a private sporting event, so its understandable that people don't like seeing their tax dollars being wasted on hosting an expensive F1 race.

As long as hosting a race is financially dependent on the government, things will always change. When the economy gets tough, F1 race is one of the things that will have to go.

As long as we keep up the ridiculous fees, you'll have to settle for "passing the baton". And this is certainly better than the alternative where no government (perhaps except Monaco) would be willing to waste money on this and we end up with a handful of tracks. Well, on the bright side though, maybe this will force everyone to rethink.


Anyway, anyone seen the proposed Greek track layout?

I'm not sure if this is real, but if it is, then I must say I don't like it. Its just a Monaco wannabe, and the last thing we need is another boring narrow track circuit. Sorry if it offends anyone But I really don't like another Monaco clone.
2012_F1_Greek_GP.jpg

I could not put it in words any better. +1

[aroutis]

My $0.2 cents... perhaps I am biased, still there's a lot of people in Greece that love motorsports. There've been a lot of effort throughout the years to get an F1 ring there but for many a reason there has never been one there.

Since this is a privately funded track I see no harm in building one as long as of course there'll be one in the calendar, as for the layout, I don't see what is so wrong about it. I believe it could actually be a good one , compared to other street races. But in the end of the day, all these are just hypotheses :P

As a Greek , for me this whole thing is just another "to see is to believe" thing.

[aroutis]

No

In this sense, Greece also has had Monza, Imola as well. I cannot follow your logic, care to elaborate?

[FranksterGM]

In this sense, Greece also has had Monza, Imola as well. I cannot follow your logic, care to elaborate?

No not really, and northern Italy has nothing to with Greece, only the south unfortunately.

[Hornet]

My $0.2 cents... perhaps I am biased, still there's a lot of people in Greece that love motorsports. There've been a lot of effort throughout the years to get an F1 ring there but for many a reason there has never been one there.

Since this is a privately funded track I see no harm in building one as long as of course there'll be one in the calendar, as for the layout, I don't see what is so wrong about it. I believe it could actually be a good one , compared to other street races. But in the end of the day, all these are just hypotheses :P

As a Greek , for me this whole thing is just another "to see is to believe" thing.

I don't know if that layout is the right one, I just see people at other forums are referring to that. Google image search brought that circuit as well as another one, so not sure which is the right one.

But the thing with street circuit is due to the nature of how streets are design, especially in towns where it just runs between rows and rows of buildings. The roads are narrow, the corners are tight, these factors makes it very difficult for racing. Its not possible to make high speed sweeping corners that we see in normal race track because city streets are not design that way.

I'm all for Greece having an F1 GP, but I would prefer they build a race track (or upgrade existing ones) rather than trying to copy Monaco.

[aroutis]

No not really, and northern Italy has nothing to with Greece, only the south unfortunately.

Greece has nothing to do with Turkey, apart from the part that Constantinopole (aka Instanbul) used to be Greek.

Just like Turkey, Italy is another country, both countries are close to Greece. Italy, just like Greece are part of European south. Turkey, specially Constantinopole, are part of Asia Minor, trying to be a part of Europe. So, how is it of any logic that Greece has a GP in Turkey exactly?

Since you're not joking, there has to be some sort of logic to sustain your argument, no?

[Suzie]

Probably best just to keep it on topic rather than discussing Turkey and Greece non-F1 issues

[Rob]

Probably best just to keep it on topic rather than discussing Turkey and Greece non-F1 issues

[aroutis]

Probably best just to keep it on topic rather than discussing Turkey and Greece non-F1 issues

Oh well... I just couldn't understand what on earth he is talking about. Perhaps he thinks Greece and Turkey is one country. Who knows :) Back on topic then :D