Future of Silverstone?
11-10-2006 | 06:30 AM
#1
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Three Wheelin'
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Future of Silverstone?
The British Grand Prix is facing a renewed threat over its future from Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone.
From 2010 the Silverstone event could be forced to alternate its place on the calendar with the French race at Magny-Cours.
The sport is in demand, and in recent years has taken in Malaysia, Bahrain, China and Turkey, due in part to more traditional venues facing problems.
San Marino has failed to secure its place for 2007 for a variety of reasons, while the German Grand Prix is to now switch between Hockenheim and the Nurburgring from next year.
In just over three years' time there is the likelihood of grands prix being staged in either India, South Korea or Russia, putting pressure on further European races.
Speaking to Bloomberg news agency after leaving an international sports marketing conference in Madrid, Ecclestone said: "The French are happy to do that (alternate).
"As for the British race, I don't know what they want - and I'm not sure they do."
Silverstone has a contract to stage the British Grand Prix for the next three years, but after 2009 is open to conjecture.
Much will again depend on whether circuit owners, the British Racing Drivers' Club, are able to finance the improvements to the track Ecclestone deems are required to bring it up to scratch.
It would appear, though, a race in India is on the cards for 2010 as Ecclestone has confirmed that negotiations are "far down the line."
Hyderabad had previously been mooted, only to come to nothing, but another venue has seemingly come to the fore.
"We had to make sure we found the right place in India, and we have," remarked Ecclestone.
"India is a country that is probably going to grow quicker than China."
From 2010 the Silverstone event could be forced to alternate its place on the calendar with the French race at Magny-Cours.
The sport is in demand, and in recent years has taken in Malaysia, Bahrain, China and Turkey, due in part to more traditional venues facing problems.
San Marino has failed to secure its place for 2007 for a variety of reasons, while the German Grand Prix is to now switch between Hockenheim and the Nurburgring from next year.
In just over three years' time there is the likelihood of grands prix being staged in either India, South Korea or Russia, putting pressure on further European races.
Speaking to Bloomberg news agency after leaving an international sports marketing conference in Madrid, Ecclestone said: "The French are happy to do that (alternate).
"As for the British race, I don't know what they want - and I'm not sure they do."
Silverstone has a contract to stage the British Grand Prix for the next three years, but after 2009 is open to conjecture.
Much will again depend on whether circuit owners, the British Racing Drivers' Club, are able to finance the improvements to the track Ecclestone deems are required to bring it up to scratch.
It would appear, though, a race in India is on the cards for 2010 as Ecclestone has confirmed that negotiations are "far down the line."
Hyderabad had previously been mooted, only to come to nothing, but another venue has seemingly come to the fore.
"We had to make sure we found the right place in India, and we have," remarked Ecclestone.
"India is a country that is probably going to grow quicker than China."
11-10-2006 | 08:30 AM
#2
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Sucks to see some of the venerable circuits go byt he wayside, but F1 would be stupid to have kept 80% of its races in Western Europe rather than expanding to China, Middle East, India, etc etc. and expanding it's fan base.
Grands Prix come and go...nothing new there. Unless you want to expand the calendar to 20-21 races, you simply can't have all of the races. Dropping the Euro Grand Prix and basically having just the one in Germany makes perfect sense...heck, so does the France/British rotation. Maybe even put Spain into a 3 way 2 race rotation with those two. A US/Canada rotation wouldn't be out of the question either if they wanted to expand this concept.
To me, Silverstone just isn't an "untouchable" like Spa or Monaco. I know it's had its fair share of Grands Prix, but I don't really like that circuit.
Grands Prix come and go...nothing new there. Unless you want to expand the calendar to 20-21 races, you simply can't have all of the races. Dropping the Euro Grand Prix and basically having just the one in Germany makes perfect sense...heck, so does the France/British rotation. Maybe even put Spain into a 3 way 2 race rotation with those two. A US/Canada rotation wouldn't be out of the question either if they wanted to expand this concept.
To me, Silverstone just isn't an "untouchable" like Spa or Monaco. I know it's had its fair share of Grands Prix, but I don't really like that circuit.
11-10-2006 | 11:05 AM
#3
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If tradition means nothing, then Monaco above all else should be the race that's dropped. Running F1 cars there has been a joke for over a decade. Of course, there's just too damn much money surrounding that race for it to ever be cancelled any time in the foreseeable future.
11-10-2006 | 12:43 PM
#4
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BRDC's reply to proposal
The British Racing Drivers' Club have rejected a proposal from Bernie Ecclestone to stage the British Grand Prix in alternate years.
Ecclestone, Formula One's commercial rights holder, recently put forward the idea that the Silverstone event share its place on the calendar with the French race at Magny Cours.
But BRDC chairman Stuart Rolt stated: "We said it doesn't work for us.
"We were unable to see how a grand prix every second year works financially - we have to keep the place in a suitable condition for a grand prix - and in terms of staffing.
Ecclestone, Formula One's commercial rights holder, recently put forward the idea that the Silverstone event share its place on the calendar with the French race at Magny Cours.
But BRDC chairman Stuart Rolt stated: "We said it doesn't work for us.
"We were unable to see how a grand prix every second year works financially - we have to keep the place in a suitable condition for a grand prix - and in terms of staffing.
11-10-2006 | 01:47 PM
#5
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One GP per country needs to be reinforced. No more Grands Prix of Europe, San Marino, and Pacific. Also, GPs that can't pull in the crowds should be down graded to alternate years at a minimum, which might increase attendance over the long term. (Bahrain and Malaysia)
11-10-2006 | 06:42 PM
#6
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^^ Agree with that. If the FIA is so intent on expanding F1's audience and reach, they have to realise that there are some races in that Europe that are completely pointless, and many other cities would kill to host one.
About Bahrain and Malaysia, I have no idea how much the tickets run to, but I have to wonder whether poor attendance might be explained by F1 pricing itself out of the reach of many fans in those countries
About Bahrain and Malaysia, I have no idea how much the tickets run to, but I have to wonder whether poor attendance might be explained by F1 pricing itself out of the reach of many fans in those countries
11-13-2006 | 11:14 AM
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Originally Posted by uzzmaan
About Bahrain and Malaysia, I have no idea how much the tickets run to, but I have to wonder whether poor attendance might be explained by F1 pricing itself out of the reach of many fans in those countries
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11-13-2006 | 11:33 AM
#8
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Originally Posted by Billiam
If tradition means nothing, then Monaco above all else should be the race that's dropped. Running F1 cars there has been a joke for over a decade. Of course, there's just too damn much money surrounding that race for it to ever be cancelled any time in the foreseeable future.
Monaco could be replaced with a parade session and net the same result.
11-16-2006 | 10:14 AM
#9
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Originally Posted by F-C
The way I understand it, the Bahrainian and Malyasian GPs are completely subsidized by the government. They practically had to give tickets away to get the crowds in, and the stands are still not full. I understand the governments' thinking that to acquire a GP is prestigious, but I think it is unfair to other countries that have actual paying customers.
Regardless of who is paying for the seats, FIA has determined (correctly IMO) that they need a presence in Middle East and Southeast Asia to further thoae markets. Now whether Bahrain and Malaysia are the *correct* countries to host that presence is debateable. These areas of the world may not have a lot of the "average public" able to afford to attend an F1 race...but in 20 years and beyond...
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