Abu Dhabi gets seven year deal!

[Marbot]

Another "Middle East" GP.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/56583

[Jimmy Magnusson]

And it was totally necessary to build a new track (probably by Tilke)?

[Rockmunky]

It's another Tilke Job. With another long straight - slow hairpin. Woop.


How interesting.


Where the hell is Abu-Dhabi anyway?

[touringlegend]

It's in the United Arab Emirates. Bordered by Saudi Arabia. Closest GP track right now is Bahrain.

[Flat12-Aircool]

Ecclestone himself was certain this Track will be Tilke's best yet.

"The Tilke group has learnt its lessons from the tracks it built in the past and put all those lessons in to this track," Ecclestone stated.

"We consider it will offer the best F1 racing in the world."

Pretty big statements there from uncle Bernie, obviously these lessons learnt do not involve his rather irritating long straight with tight hairpin obsession!

Still it remains to be seen how it'll turn out, maybe with shades of Monaco with a semi-street course? If I was being honest I think Tilke is getting slightly better, as the Istanbul GP circuit is a valiant effort that's marred only by pathetic spectator numbers.

[amier]

Originally Posted by martyn bott

Another "Middle East" GP.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/56583

And whats wrong with that?? Europe does not have any god given right to host them all.

[Jimmy Magnusson]

Originally Posted by amier

And whats wrong with that?? Europe does not have any god given right to host them all.

Perhaps because nearly all the teams and drivers are from Europe?

[JeremySmith]

I am not sure I understand the real reason for going there?

[chillibowl]

lots and lots of money

[nickyf1]

This is great. Seriously, F1 has brought so much to Asia, theyve got all these new tracks, where as before, there were almost none, that new Thunder Arabia championship looks like a stepping stone up to F3 and stuff like that.

[JeremySmith]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

lots and lots of money

well yes my comment was somewhat tongue in cheek, and of course you are quite correct it is money driven, but who is going to attend the races?

[chillibowl]

true.
while i do like the Bahrain track and the races it has produced, attendence has been pretty poor. i dont see the situation being much better in Abu Dhabi.

hopefully by 2009 interest has increased, ticket prices will have become more affordable for the local population, and greater stability in the region will encourage more tourism.

on a brighter note, perhaps Bernie, in his infinite wisdom, is just doing this to bring peace to the Middle East

he should get nobel peace prize for his efforts!

[Last2LiftOff]

Originally Posted by Ecclestone himself

"The Tilke group has learnt its lessons from the tracks it built in the past and put all those lessons in to this track...."

Don't have to tell them twice huh Bernie?

How great is that? You keep on gettin' the work after screwin-up almost all of the few first assignments. What a great gig! Wish I had a gig like that.

Mr. Tilke must be very proud.

[Marbot]

BE wants twenty (20) races within the next three years!

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/56584

[Last2LiftOff]

Right Martyn.

With five countries "waiting to see if (they) can put a race there" pretty sure it's oversubscribed. My concern would be which one or two we're gonna lose. China? Bahrain? Malaysia even? I'm a frayed knot.

[Rushy]

is it like the same country as dubai??

[JeremySmith]

Originally Posted by Last2LiftOff

Right Martyn.

With five countries "waiting to see if (they) can put a race there" pretty sure it's oversubscribed. My concern would be which one or two we're gonna lose. China? Bahrain? Malaysia even? I'm a frayed knot.

And this is what I think is extremely unfair..They go ahead and build these facilities at huge cost only to stand loosing the race in the not too distant future..

[duke_toaster]

What the hell is the point of a new circuit in Abu Dhabi when there is Dubai Autodrome!

[Flat12-Aircool]

Originally Posted by Rushy

is it like the same country as dubai??

Yes it's the largest Emirate in the United Arab Emirates, which also includes the Emirate of Dubai.

The Dubai Autodrome is less than 70 miles up the coast from the proposed site of the Abu Dhabi GP track.

IMO, the Dubai Autodrome is one of the best tracks to be constructed in the last 10 years (also NOT a Tilke design).

[Bononi]

Wow... soon we'll have a middle east GP besides Bahrain. Looks like Bernie likes the desert.

[BobHWS]

Originally Posted by Last2LiftOff

...My concern would be which one or two we're gonna lose. China? Bahrain? Malaysia even? I'm a frayed knot.

Unfortunately, I think we will lose one of the best host cities, Montreal, after their contract runs out in a few years. A few years ago Bernie blackmailed the Canadian national and Quebec provincial governments into forking over big bucks to keep the race. He will try to do it again when the contract comes up for renewal and this time the Canadians will refuse to pay his price (and I won't blame them). He will give that race to some nouveau-riche country with no tradition of auto racing whose government is willing to pay his price. And when this day arrives, I will cease being a fan of F1.

[touringlegend]

But then, F1 is a TV sport anyway these days I'd say.

[Flat12-Aircool]

Originally Posted by BobHWS

And when this day arrives, I will cease being a fan of F1.

Yeh right, I've heard that one before loads of times.

Spa was missing last year and Imola will be missing this year but after the fans initial tears they all come back again.

If Montreal is axed from the calender I'm sure it won't be permanent. I think Uncle Bernie wants 20 races that are rotated between about 25 circuits, so that he can keep a kind of Auction system going to the highest bidder.

[ausracefan]

What's wrong with that track in Dubai? Looked like a great track when i saw the A1GPs race there last year.

[locco]

abu dhabi track.. it might be a great track, but the atmosphere will be boring like bahrain you just can't force a sport to the people there, the locals there love speed and cars, but they're not into motorsports so why force it, even if the whole point of it I think is to promote the country and the cities, its kind of embaressing to see a f1 grand prix with almost empty seats. even after giving the tickets away for free!!