Brazil round cancelled

[speedfreek]

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpa...s_art_id=26678

shame coz Curitiba looked like an fast track.

[jondownunder]

That's a shame - anyone know why it was supposedly cancelled? Strange that there's no mention on the A1 GP site (the race is still listed). Hopefully another race could be scheduled in Brazil - Interlagos?

[kipper]

According to Autosport a couple of weeks ago (24th November), Interlagos has rejected the opportunity to hold the A1GP race, with a second race in South Africa a mooted replacement. I guess another alternative could be another race in the USA or Mexico.

[Kicking-back]

Originally Posted by jondownunder

That's a shame - anyone know why it was supposedly cancelled?

The correct safety licence for Curtiba wasn't forthcoming

[cos]

Originally Posted by kipper

According to Autosport a couple of weeks ago (24th November), Interlagos has rejected the opportunity to hold the A1GP race, with a second race in South Africa a mooted replacement. I guess another alternative could be another race in the USA or Mexico.

Pitpass reckons that Interlagos shouldn't be discounted so quickly.

[courageous]

I don't think any country should have more than one race, Would Buenos Aires be fit for purpose (or any Canadian tracks - Gilles Villeneuve can't do it, but Champ Car has around 3 races in Canada)?

[ScotsBrutesFan]

Canada would be too cold in the middle of February.

[kipper]

I don't think Buenos Aires would get a round, as I think the idea is that all the races feature a home franchise; of which there is yet to be one for Argentina.

[maximus]

The UAE don't have a team either though and yet they have a round.

[Rob29]

Originally Posted by ScotsBrutesFan

Canada would be too cold in the middle of February.

Very true! This rather limits the options? Florida is the only place I know in the northern hemisphere that has racing in february. For a country that has a team but not yet a race only option must be New Zealand?

[SALEEN S7R]

Originally Posted by Rob29

For a country that has a team but not yet a race only option must be New Zealand?

What about France? A race at Magny Cours or Le Mans could be done, or even a race in Japan at Suzuka or Fuji or any other of the tracks in Japan. The tracks are good enough for Formula Nippon cars which are the same kind of cars that the A1 GP cars are in terms of pace so I personally woudnt rule out Japan or France for that matter, another possibilty would be a race in the Czech Republic at Brno.

[Mekola]

Originally Posted by kipper

I don't think Buenos Aires would get a round, as I think the idea is that all the races feature a home franchise; of which there is yet to be one for Argentina.

Would be very interesting to see A1GP in Argentina; but I see it very difficult because here is a harsh promotion of the series and no TV coverage (except race highlights on ESPN). With this include that two of the last attempts to have an international series on Buenos Aires autodrome -Telefónica World Series in 2002 and WTCC this year- were cancelled.
But with the success of the 200 Kms. of Buenos Aires TC2000, supported even by Brazilian companies like Petrobras, I could have a little hope to bend the Argentinian tradition of privilege local series over international ones.

[Rob29]

Originally Posted by SALEEN S7R

What about France? A race at Magny Cours or Le Mans could be done, or even a race in Japan at Suzuka or Fuji or any other of the tracks in Japan. The tracks are good enough for Formula Nippon cars which are the same kind of cars that the A1 GP cars are in terms of pace so I personally woudnt rule out Japan or France for that matter, another possibilty would be a race in the Czech Republic at Brno.

My point was that these countries are too cold to race in February. Most likely snowbound.

[SALEEN S7R]

Japan snowbound? Very doubtful, France maybe but a little unlikely, Czech Republic I dont know about.

[ScotsBrutesFan]

Japan has held a winter Olympics, so for parts of the country to be snowbound is a possibility. I don't know enough of the location of the circuits to comment as to whether snow would effect them.

[Rob29]

Just checked A1GP site and all reference to Brazil race has now been deleted without comment.Looks like it will not be replaced leaving a 4week break.

[Kicking-back]

Correct.

The track didn't get the relevant safety certificate.

A1GP felt the best thing to do was focus on a successful conclusion to this season and then up the planning for next year.

[courageous]

Not a critisism of A1, but of any series that does it, but why do they keep booking races on tracks that are not ready?
You would have thought the lessons would have been learnt by now!

[cos]

I suppose street races get far more local publicity; but on the other hand the organisation involved can be very complex. Champ Car announced and cancelled a Korean (I think) street race in the last two years for example...

[Rob29]

The Korean race I think was to have been on a permenant track which was not yet built.I believe they are going to try again next year.No excuse for Curitiba which has been there since 1970 to my knowledge.

[paulzinho]

Thats a bummer, I was thinking of going to the Curitiba race while I'm out here but I guess thats some money saved for other things!