The Eighth Dwarf - South African GP in two or three years, Russia "really important"

[duke_toaster]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukp...-2i1vUZ6WNEbzg

Cape Town. OK, there are worse places to go for races (you know, China, Bahrain, Turkey even though the circuit is like Interlagos with the charm removed), but I'm not sure if it's too high priority. Other places in South Africa I'm yet to be convinced by. Even so, there might be fanbase issues. Lots of things have changed since the last South African Grand Prix, but I feel sure it should be able to work. My concern is fitting these races - especially bearing in mind he's dredged up the prospect of Russia again - in the calendar, I just think his idea of 25 races is not workable. Eighteen or nineteen is the right number.

[nickyf1]

Bernie should keep his trap shut most of the time IMO, nothing he says is particularly exciting or intelligent..

[tux]

Which gps would we lose considering that in the latest f1 fan survey there was a massive response for people saying keeping the historic tracks is important.

[duke_toaster]

Originally Posted by tux

Which gps would we lose considering that in the latest f1 fan survey there was a massive response for people saying keeping the historic tracks is important.

Bernie wants to expand. However, if I were to be wielding the chainsaw, Bahrain, China and Hungary would be the first to go ...

[johntt]

Personally I think they should go to Kyalami. if it can hold A1GP, then it can hold F1.

(Unfortunately Bernie and Prawn Sandwich Brigade would turn their noses up at it...)

[Woolley]

South Africa has a great GP cirucit in Kyalami. If you're going to that country, why not use it.

Russia important to who? I could be controversial but I'm sure it would be libelous to suggest any similarity between someone's business practices and the running of some segments of the Russian economy, so I won't.

Personally, I think it's important to take GPs to places where they want to see F1 and have trained marshals who can do the job when necessary. 85,000 spectators to Friday practice at Silverstone ought to register with someone, but I bet it doesn't.

[JamesH]

Bernie has BRIC fever. Just like most other businesses.

[duke_toaster]

One of BRIC countries is already a good F1 venue with fans. The rest simply aren't interested.

[ptclaus98]

Pretty damning for the Austin, TX boys.

[luke]

Seeing as Bernie is trying to make this now a 'truely world sport'. The fact there isn't a race in South Africa is crazy in my eyes as Kylami was a fantatsic circuit and used to have HUGE crowds.
I'm sure Bernie will love having a race in the Russian market. If Petrov keeps his seat it's quite possible as they've been pushing for years but like everything else it's down to funding.

[Cougar]

South Africa is an excelent choice for a GP ... especially when Bernie is chasing European afternoon times, same timzone and all that.

Building a new circuit... hmmmm job creation... but do you really want to spend millions again on new facilities when 90% of the population is living in poverty...

Kyalami has the facilities.. imo its not a great track for F1 though... If they can keep ticket prices reasonable then you will get great crowds. F1 has a good following in SA. It is covered pretty well on TV there too.

A race in Capetown would be pretty spectacular though.. Much nicer for tourists to go there rather than JHB... Although a high altitude race would add to the drama a little?

Main problem is... this rumour jumps up every two or three years.. and nothing ever comes of it. So I am not getting my hopes up just yet.

[Flyin Ryan]

Originally Posted by Cougar

Building a new circuit... hmmmm job creation... but do you really want to spend millions again on new facilities when 90% of the population is living in poverty...

And the country has more than enough white elephants already with the World Cup now over.

[NeilB]

Perhaps this is a bit of a move by Bernie to force teams into accepting a longer calender? As he did with the inclusion of Canada this year, by saying if the teams and the sponsors want to get into these markets, then they are going to have to stay away from home for an extra few weeks.

Or it could be that Bernie trying to squeeze more money out of circuits that have contracts that are on the verge of expiring?

Russia has been on the cards since the late 90's, with Tom Walkinshaw involved in a circuit on the outskirts of Moscow, so I'm always taking a pinch of salt with mention of Russian GP in the near future.

[JamesH]

Stick a track on top of table mountain. That should keep the drivers between the white lines.....

[fourWheelDrift]

Originally Posted by NeilB

Perhaps this is a bit of a move by Bernie to force teams into accepting a longer calender? As he did with the inclusion of Canada this year, by saying if the teams and the sponsors want to get into these markets, then they are going to have to stay away from home for an extra few weeks.

This a regular tactic of Bernie's isn't it, drop the races the teams want to make room for something Bernie wants and the teams hate, then at the last minute concede that the old favourites can go back onto the calender provided they are an additional round. All part of the strategy to ratchet up the take for CVC and Bernie.

[chillibowl]

so much hate for the little guy...almost makes me wish for the Mosley days when we all had a common enemy

but im in favour of more races and im willing to bet so are the teams and in particular their sponsors.
S.Africa is in the spot light now and im guessing there is an opportunity to get the funding together right now to build a new track. in a couple of month who knows, but i really do hope that a race in Africa can be announced soon. Kyalami is great though and more feasible so this is a race that should happen soon. if it can be made a success again then think about building a new track.
Russia who knows, but it is a huge market and its inclusion makes it easier to attract new manufactures and new sponsors etc etc...we all know these arguments and new money is the one thing F1 needs above all else and thats why they love Bernie.

but is it just a bargaining ploy. BE has used them in the past but in the same vein the teams employ there own tactics and ultimately my guess would be that the parties meet a lot closer to the middle than we have been led to believe.
do i have proof. of course not and one could say there isn't an organization in the world not capable of taking advantage of car manufacturers, FOM being no different. but i cannot believe the teams are this gullible and if they are i am thankful they (rather FOTA) are not in charge.

after a successful return to Montreal and Silverstone i think BE does deserve some more credit.

[Born Racer]

Originally Posted by duke_toaster

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukp...-2i1vUZ6WNEbzg
My concern is fitting these races - especially bearing in mind he's dredged up the prospect of Russia again - in the calendar, I just think his idea of 25 races is not workable. Eighteen or nineteen is the right number.

Fitting them in is not an issue as the teams used to test loads, so going away for more weekends is workable if the order of the races is decided logically. However, I think it would detract from something to have too many 'Grands Prix'.

After Silverstone had finished, within hours I wanted to watch another Grand Prix, but I know you have to keep it a bit rare and special.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

Fitting them in is not an issue as the teams used to test loads, so going away for more weekends is workable if the order of the races is decided logically. However, I think it would detract from something to have too many 'Grands Prix'.

After Silverstone had finished, within hours I wanted to watch another Grand Prix, but I know you have to keep it a bit rare and special.

From 1998 to 2003 CART ran between 19 and 20 races per season peaking in 2001 with 21, though one did get cancelled.

The costs involved must have been horrendous and had to have been a factor in CART's demise, even though most of the races were homegrown; just a warning from the past.