Quote:
Originally Posted by Knowlesy
Is there a history of people complaining about the garages, control tower etc.. at the track or is this just so Montreal looks shiny on TV?
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Well, there's a history of Bernie complaining, but what else is new? However, Montreal promoter Francois Dumontier and others admit (see below) that the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve needs some improvements.
As can be seen in this photo, the Montreal track is located on an artificial island in the St. Lawrence River, so it is hemmed in by water on all sides. Most of the time the island serves as a city park. The city only allows it to be used for racing twice a year. So it's hard to justify spending a lot of money on improving the race facilities and it's a hard place to expand the facilities that are already there.
Ecclestone wants Montreal improvements
ESPN Staff
May 10, 2012
The future of the Canadian Grand Prix could be in doubt after reports that Bernie Ecclestone has demanded improvements to the circuit at Montreal before extending the race contract.
The paddock at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is one of the smallest on the calendar, with floating platforms currently used on the Olympic basin to enlarge the available area...
Race promoter Francois Dumontier has played down the demands, saying that work on the facilities was to be expected and that the time left on the current contract allows the circuit to react.
"Firstly, it is important to point out that two years remain on the current contract," Dumontier said. "Taking into consideration that the permanent facilities of the circuit, such as the control tower and the garages, are nearly 25 years old, it is quite likely that work to be carried out on these will be an important part of the negotiations aiming at extending the current contract..."