Bernie talking about returning F1 to Mexico and South Africa

[willb]

http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/story/59218.html

Unless the amount of races on the calendar is increased some races would have to be removed.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by willb

http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/story/59218.html

Unless the amount of races on the calendar is increased some races would have to be removed.

Certainly would if he's going to keep the calendar at 20 rounds.

I can see two European races getting axed in that case.

I would suggest Valencia and Hungary, once Russia's on it, and outside of Europe I guess Bahrian is vulnerable because no-one really wants to race there anymore?

[NewYankee01]

Originally Posted by chunterer

Certainly would if he's going to keep the calendar at 20 rounds.

I can see two European races getting axed in that case.

I would suggest Valencia and Hungary, once Russia's on it, and outside of Europe I guess Bahrian is vulnerable because no-one really wants to race there anymore?

hungary in 25 years has only produced 2 or 3 good races, the rest inhumanely boring, once the sky sports deal comes in to force, the uk, one of f1's biggest market will switch off, im not sure people will start paying ppv. hungary has to go, its more than had its time, valencia should stay, thats not as boring as hungary and its only so far had only a few seasons...

[gregtummer]

Is Mexico City a FIA Graded 1 track yet?

I recall a bit ago, FIA officials went there to survey the track and said that they had to make a few minor adjustments to get Grade 1 status.

[MagnetON]

Just throwing it out there, but what if the "big picture" is to start rotating races between countries where there's not quite enough interest / money to support a GP on a yearly basis. So we end up with a pool of (say) 25 countries of which a core 10 get a GP each year and the other 15 get a GP on a rotated basis.

[pauln]

Which is sort of what they've been trying with WRC over the past few years. Not sure that it's working for them, though.

[Spritle]

Do the Germans know yet that they are supposed to pay for Greece...

The man is daft!

[Jimmy Magnusson]

Originally Posted by pauln

Which is sort of what they've been trying with WRC over the past few years. Not sure that it's working for them, though.

They've given away the Monte, Corsica and San Remo to IRC, so no, not what I would call "working".

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by MagnetON

Just throwing it out there, but what if the "big picture" is to start rotating races between countries where there's not quite enough interest / money to support a GP on a yearly basis. So we end up with a pool of (say) 25 countries of which a core 10 get a GP each year and the other 15 get a GP on a rotated basis.

I think that a lot ofmpeople would like that. One problem the investment required to the circuit is high and often needs multiple year contracts to recoup. It works with nurburgring and Hockenheim.

[bjohnsonsmith]

If there is a South African GP added to the F1 calendar, then the Sun will never set on Bernie's F1 Empire.

[blovell]

I used to love the Kyalami GP

Not sure South Africa has enough commercial clout compared to Arab states to buy their way back in though...

[Bononi]

I like when Bernie talks. It gives a lot of traffic over here.


Wish list ?

[Marbot]

Bernie was also talking about going over the current 20 race limit. Bernie says a lot of things. Even managed to get the money off Sakhir for having no race. What does that mean?

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by blovell

I used to love the Kyalami GP

Not sure South Africa has enough commercial clout compared to Arab states to buy their way back in though...

Doesn't SA still have a lot of car factories etc?

FIA will always look favourably at having races in emerging economies and areas where there are 'low cost manufacturing' centres.

South America, Mexico, Eastern Europe, Middle East, China, South Africa etc..

[Bononi]

Originally Posted by chunterer

Doesn't SA still have a lot of car factories etc?

FIA will always look favourably at having races in emerging economies and areas where there are 'low cost manufacturing' centres.

South America, Mexico, Eastern Europe, Middle East, China, South Africa etc..

Bernie is clearly chasing to fill in the BRICS group.

[johntt]

F1 belongs in Mexico and South Africa, they both held F1 races in the past and have a history in the sport.

Me being me, I would like them to run Mexico City (without the chicane on the run down the final corner that A1GP had) and Kyalami.