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Old 3 Apr 2010, 20:00 (Ref:2666110)   #12
duke_toaster
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duke_toaster should be qualifying in the top 5 on the gridduke_toaster should be qualifying in the top 5 on the grid
There are only four Asian countries that can justify GPs IMO - Australia (counting it as part of Asia for several reasons, including other sporting bodies), Malaysia (not due to attendance, due to the track being good), Japan (good track, good crowds, has fans that know one end of a car from the other unlike some) and Singapore (due to the circuit, although I can see good arguments for dropping it). Both SW Asian races can go. India has no tradition of motor racing, no interesting circuit, no fans, no room, and it's too much of a travel cost. China has no interest in motor racing, for several reasons (Communist states haven't gone in for it, you would have thought someone in the Kremlin would have decided in bringing Lada in at some point after a few pints too many of vodka, but that's off topic). South Korea is a little more justifiable than tose - let's wait until either Hyundai join F1 or there's a decent Korean racing driver (Keisuke Kunimoto and RĂ©cardo Bruins Choi don't count either, they're Japanese and Dutch respectively - like the fact that anyone who has heard an interview of him knows that Ho-Pin Tung is a Dutchman).

The US clearly needs a GP, no arguments there. I'd give it the season finale. Canada must keep its race. Interlagos is an excellent circuit. I don't see any justifications for any other countries in the Americas other than nice circuit.

Most of F1's fans are in Europe, Bernie needs reminding that - Finland, France and Portugal can all have easily justified GPs.

The problem is the idiotic way that the F1 calendar is drawn up. FIFA, the IRB, et al et al are not required to sell the rights to dictate the calendar of their sports to some midget who wants to cream of the sanctioning fees. The FIA and FOTA should determine where GPs are held, not a commercial rights holder. The same goes for all FIA series.
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