Qatar to break F1 hosting Fee Record in 2017

[Rob]

Tuesday 25 November at 07:35 : Nov.25 (GMM)

Qatar, the small Arab country, looks set to break F1's record for the highest-paying grand prix host.

F1 business journalist Christian Sylt, who is close to the sport's chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, cited 'sources' in reporting that Qatar looks set to pay about $78 million a year beginning with its first race no later than 2017.

With either an event at the floodlit MotoGP circuit at Losail or possibly a street race, Qatar would join F1's other two Middle Eastern races on the calendar, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi.

"We are looking at all possibilities there," said Ecclestone. "Qatar is not signed but they are ready to go."

Writing in the Independent newspaper, Sylt said the current highest-paying race host in formula one is Abu Dhabi with its reportedly $72.5 million price-tag.

And the British journalist told us: "(Qatar's deal) would give F1 more races in the Middle East than in North America!"

http://www.onestopstrategy.com/daily...+-+report.html

[Suzie]

I'm so excited I might vomit.
I thought nothing could top the Azerbaijan news.

[eddie]

Wow but I sincerely hope we don't drop any historical tracks just for the sake of $.

[Rob]

Wow but I sincerely hope we don't drop any historical tracks just for the sake of $.

pretty much guarantee we will loose one if we have Qatar willing to "fix" a race hosting.

[Nova]

It costs that much to host a race??!?!?!?!? Wow.

[eddie]

pretty much guarantee we will loose one if we have Qatar willing to "fix" a race hosting.

That's what I thought too. So sad to see F1 being turned into a financial bargaining circus. Hate it!

[Alonso14]

Oh great, a new Tilke track, I cannot wait. Hopefully, as usual it will have the obligatory eleven 90 degree corners, three hairpins, eight chicanes, combined run-offs which are the size of a small European country and absolutely no atmosphere from the crowd

Again Bernie is looking for the quick buck and losing more and more of the core fans But why not? F1 is blossoming and I haven't heard a midfield or below F1 team to have financial problems, have you?

[Hornet]

It costs that much to host a race??!?!?!?!? Wow.

Seems like the race calendar is slowly turning into an auction. Whoever willing to make a higher "bid" will win a spot on the calendar.

If the sport carry on this path, someday the calendar will be full of rich nations only.

[RedRebel40]

They should completely remake that circuit because there is almost no overtaking spots for cars, for motorcycles the circuit is good.

[Nero Horse]

Wow! A new Tilkedrome in the middle of the desert, how incredibly exciting...

[fratelliferrari]

Noo not another one! How long before Spa or any other historic circuit will be removed from the calender

[killer]

Did Tilke design Losail?

[Samcar222]

Unbelievable $$ number.. that would probably fund Roger Penske's Indycar team for two, maybe three years. Crazy.

[kev68]

It would not surprise if one of the historical venues gets axed because Qatar is fronting up 78 milion, its shocking how can others compete against that type of cash.

kev68

[Raz]

seems like a mix between BIC and Bhudd http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Losail_...tional_Circuit