F1's at Mount Panorama Bathurst

[louonline]

Hi guys, tonight Bathurst Council agreed to seek funds to to upgrade the track to make it suitable for F1's.

It is intended to have some sort of F1 event in 2015 as part of Bathurst's Bicentennial Anniversary Celebration.

Any email of support/approval from any of you would help to strengthen Council's resolve.

This link to the Mayor and all the Councillors.

http://www.bathurst.nsw.gov.au/council/councillors

Just email the Mayor and CC all the Councillors.

[Peat]

Sorry, do you want this to happen or not? (confused)

I don't see any reason why you WOULD want them to change the track for F1. To get it to a level to host an official 'Formula One' sanctioned event, the place would have to be changed beyond recognition. Why destroy one of the best tracks on the world in the name of eff-1

[louonline]

Originally Posted by Peat

Sorry, do you want this to happen or not? (confused)

I don't see any reason why you WOULD want them to change the track for F1. To get it to a level to host an official 'Formula One' sanctioned event, the place would have to be changed beyond recognition. Why destroy one of the best tracks on the world in the name of eff-1

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Yes I do.

NO changes to the actual track. Only things like move walls and create more run-offs.

[AndyS]

Originally Posted by louonline

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Yes I do.

NO changes to the actual track. Only things like move walls and create more run-offs.

Oh no they'll ruin the place, particularly if Tilke is involved. Expect acres of concrete run off, spectators so far back you might as well be watching on TV and I'm sure they'll want lots of nice exciting slow corners, oh and debris fencing everywhere as well. Not a good idea!

Please do not ruin one of the World's greatest tracks!

[Tim Falce]

Originally Posted by Peat

Sorry, do you want this to happen or not? (confused)

I don't see any reason why you WOULD want them to change the track for F1. To get it to a level to host an official 'Formula One' sanctioned event, the place would have to be changed beyond recognition. Why destroy one of the best tracks on the world in the name of eff-1

Originally Posted by louonline

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Yes I do.

NO changes to the actual track. Only things like move walls and create more run-offs.

If moving walls and creating massive areas of run off isn't making drastic changes what is?
Don't spoil it, until after I've been there at least.

[Tourer]

Crazy to upgrade it to F1 needs - I'm not convinced it could even be done with the drop offs and sheer drops in places immediately behind the walls.

Then there'd be the little problem of funding the F1 sanction fee, convincing Bernie that there'd be enough accommodation in the area for the teams even (there wouldn't be, there's not enough for the V8 teams if they didn't do the homestay thing with people renting them houses & moving out of town for the duration of the event).

Historic F1 might make some sense for some of the events held at the mountain but to run a GP there? Tell 'em they're dreamin'.

After all that, they'd ruin a bloody good circuit in the process.

[Casper]

This has got to be a wind up. Anyone who has been there would tell you the track is not suitable for F1. It nearly took an act of parliament to get open wheelers back there in recent years as they were banned for a long time due to the lack of safety across the top of the circuit. Was this conceived at the after race party and a few drinks by all concerned?

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by louonline

NO changes to the actual track. Only things like move walls and create more run-offs.

I looked, we apparently don't have a "facepalm" emoticon.

While we are at it, lets bring back F1 to the Nordschleife. Move all of those barriers way WAY back. Plenty of paved run off (Flugplatz comes to mind). No changes to the track itself mind you!

Richard

[Bononi]

Ouch, looks like the OP won't get too much support in this forum !

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by Bononi

Ouch, looks like the OP won't get too much support in this forum !

Ultimately it should be a local decision. I guess the local owners/organizers/money people should understand what it will mean (from the perspective of those who might visit the track), but my guess is that most remote fans would feel the same (don't screw with a classic track to try to meet current F1 regulations).

Sorry for coming down hard on the OP!

Richard

[Nick Woodbury]

Absoloutley rediculous idea. Why tarnish one of Australias greatest circuits just to host one Formula 1 race?! Besides, Melbourne already hosts the first round of each season (As long as its contract lasts).

The Bathurst 1000, and the 12 Hour are perfectly good enough. The 12 hour is quickly on the rise and gaining some large interest from the GT3 ranks.

Bathurst doesnt have any room for the overly inflated egos of Formula 1.

[MoMedic9019]

A circuit will not be added unless built for a Grade 1 license. Bathurst will never hold a formal F1 GP.

[Beetle]

I echo what everyone else has said on here. NOT a good idea, for a variety of reasons. Notwithstanding that the uniqueness and individuality of Bathurst will be next to ruined with the safety features that will have to be installed for F1. I hope this doesn't take off...

[FIRE]

This is a VERY BAD idea.
They should keep their hands of the track.

And if you have V8 Supercars why would you want F1?

[bauble]

The answer is simple let's all click on the link and tell the councillors what a bad idea it is:

http://www.bathurst.nsw.gov.au/council/councillors


'Hoist on one's own petard' comes to mind.

[johngee]

Surely this came out of a discussion of the Bathurst Council ..... 'after a few beers'.
It can't be a serious suggestion from anyone who has the faintest idea of how the FIA and (more importantly) Formula 1 Management works.
Is it 1st April?

[TimRTC]

If they just want a demo event then should not need any changes, F1 cars have done Nordschleife in recent years.

[ScotsBrutesFan]

Was there not talk of a track using the pits, but only using half of the mountain and Conrod straights with the effectively an infield circuit to join the two. something like that could be perhaps grade 2 and attract world championships such as WTCC, leaving the top of the mountain for the V8s.

Surely that would make much more sense?

[Paradise City]

Changes seem pointless. The track is demo ready as it is and to race F1 there you'd nearly have to flatten the place.

I didn't think these guys were that bothered with F1, they don't reschedule any of their stuff for it. Quite right too. The 1000 often overlaps the Japanese GP with no apologies made or asked for. If they had any money - which they don't - Indycar would be amusing there. Laguna Seca on steriods. F1 won't go there.

F1 destroys pre-existing tracks. Any track worth its salt should have an anti-Tilke restraining order imposed or Tilke repellent spray or something.

[one five five]

There won't be much of a mountain left by the time it is suitable for an F1 car....

Bathurst chased an F1 race back in the 70s, and a World Sportscar race in the early 90s. In both cases, the ultimate decision was to pass on it as the track would have been ruined to make it suitable to race on (though in the 1970s, 'ruined' probably applied to how the track looks today)

Even some World Sportscar team owners at the time were calling for the Bathurst race not to happen, as it would have ruined the circuit.

[miatanut]

Save Bathurst from F1!

It's ruined enough great tracks already.

[Aysedasi]

I think we should have a petition......

In the interests of fairness, I wonder, does anyone agree with the OP's original sentiments and wish to put up an argument? Does the OP want to come back and defend the idea?

(For the record, I'm very much anti any suggestion of defacing Bathurst on the altar of the Great God F1...... )

[Aysedasi]

I think we should have a petition......

In the interests of fairness, I wonder, does anyone agree with the OP's original sentiments and wish to put up an argument? Does the OP want to come back and defend the idea?

(For the record, I'm very much anti any suggestion of defacing Bathurst on the altar of the Great God F1. )

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by ScotsBrutesFan

Was there not talk of a track using the pits, but only using half of the mountain and Conrod straights with the effectively an infield circuit to join the two. something like that could be perhaps grade 2 and attract world championships such as WTCC, leaving the top of the mountain for the V8s.

Surely that would make much more sense?

WTCC can race on the current track.

[louonline]

Wow guys, talk about getting whacked!

Perhaps I gave you the wrong idea in my opening post.

They are NOT looking for a round of the GP more of a one-off event similar to when Jenson Button came here a couple years ago and 2500 people turned up to watch him do a half dozen laps. Do do the same thing only with more cars they need to move some concrete walls and widen to run off area up the top. Nothing as drastic as some people here imagine.
BTW debries barriers are all ready in place as this was a requirement to even run the V8's. Don't panic the Mount will not be carved up just made a bit safer and this is probably something they'll have to do anyway sooner or later.
The first race at the Mount in 1938 was the Australian GP and it would be nice to have a field of F1's go around as part of the Bicentennial Celebrations.