F1 at Bathurst

[louonline]

Hi guys,
just wondering, what are your thoughts re an F1 event at Mount Panorama?

Lou

[FAS33]

hell yes, bring it here and I'll definately be there.

[aj_308]

It will never happen.
They would have to flatten the entire hill and make both the camping areas run offs before it would be safe enough.

From memory, when Button drove the Mclaren there, he couldn't even take the normal line through the dipper.

[TrueBlueFlyer]

Originally Posted by FAS33

hell yes, bring it here and I'll definately be there.

so would i

[louonline]

Originally Posted by aj_308

It will never happen.
They would have to flatten the entire hill and make both the camping areas run offs before it would be safe enough.

From memory, when Button drove the Mclaren there, he couldn't even take the normal line through the dipper.

-------------------------------------
Here we go with the safety bullcrap.

Mate the challenge of the Mount is to take it on with a racing car not flatting it with a bull dozer!

What are you saying; F1 drivers can't drive on anything but flat tracks with miles of run-offs?

From what I've seen of some of the other tracks they race on, there is not much run-off in them tunnels and streets.

As for the Big Dipper, the "normal" line would be the one that best suits what you're driving.

Lou

[Armco Bender]

One slab of chardonnay limit on top of the mountain.....

[Razzzor]

Would be awesome to see them at Bathurst. Is Monaco really any safer?

Perhaps they could create some more run-offs and smooth the track out a bit, the bumps over the top are a bit ridiculous, but I'd leave the actual layout how it is.

[Alan Raine]

Originally Posted by aj_308

It will never happen.

From memory, when Button drove the Mclaren there, he couldn't even take the normal line through the dipper.

He couldn't take the line down Conrod straight because of the crown in the road.

Why waste Bathurst on F1.

[louonline]

Originally Posted by Razzzor

Would be awesome to see them at Bathurst. Is Monaco really any safer?

Perhaps they could create some more run-offs and smooth the track out a bit, the bumps over the top are a bit ridiculous, but I'd leave the actual layout how it is.

---------------------------------
The track is due for a re-surface next year, perhaps they'll take out those bumps you speak of.

"Minister for Regional Australia Simon Crean announced the $3 million boost for Mount Panorama during a visit to Bathurst earlier this year.
Council will match the federal government’s contribution in order to complete its $6.07 million Mount Panorama Infrastructure Project.
The project will also include resurfacing the 6.2-kilometre circuit and constructing a 2.5-metre safety fence along Pit Straight and other areas of the track."
Link: http://www.westernadvocate.com.au/st...a-lift/?cs=115

Lou

[Scooter185]

Well since Albert Park likely won't hold an f1 race after 2015, maybe they're prepping the mountain for the pointy cars

[johntt]

Certain tracks are suited to certain cars. Bathurst is a touring car / GT track in the same way that Assen is a bike track and Road Atlanta is a sportscar track.

That, and F1's current track rules would never allow it, resurface or not.

[Paradise City]

I think too highly of the Bathurst track to curse them with F1.

[browney]

Originally Posted by Scooter185

Well since Albert Park likely won't hold an f1 race after 2015, maybe they're prepping the mountain for the pointy cars

I'm not sure I would say "Albert Park likely won't hold an f1 race".
The Victorians have managed to trash the goodwill the event had in Adelaide (after all, less spectators in a more wealthy city that is 4 times larger.....??) however I don't think they want to get rid of it.


Back on topic,
F1 at Bathurst is not going to happen (as much as it would be great to see). It doesn't make financial sense for the NSW government and it isn't a safe circuit for F1 cars.

[stripedcat]

It is an amazing track, I grant you. Plus, more of a challenge than the current Melbourne F1 track. But, it would not be safe for F1 to run there. You would need larger run-offs and so on. It just won't happen.

I suspect that Australia might lose its race, and we'll get another Far East circuit. It does look likely. What with their contract coming to an end, and their financial troubles. Plus, Webber might be gone then.

[Casper]

Originally Posted by stripedcat

I suspect that Australia might lose its race, and we'll get another Far East circuit. It does look likely. What with their contract coming to an end, and their financial troubles. Plus, Webber might be gone then.

This man knows. The only reason for the average Ozzie to watch it at the moment is to see Webber race. Historically open wheel racing rates zero in Australia and always has. Ricciardo might replace Webber but the jury is still out on that. If he doesn't all interest will be lost. As for Bathurst hosting an F1 race, pigs fly also. It is a totally silly proposition to even think it would and deserves no further thought. I am surprised that they even allowed FF to race there as the place had an open wheeler ban on it and Skaife was not keen to allow any open wheeler to race there.

[wnut]

Originally Posted by louonline

---------------------------------
The track is due for a re-surface next year, perhaps they'll take out those bumps you speak of.

"Minister for Regional Australia Simon Crean announced the $3 million boost for Mount Panorama during a visit to Bathurst earlier this year.
Council will match the federal government’s contribution in order to complete its $6.07 million Mount Panorama Infrastructure Project.
The project will also include resurfacing the 6.2-kilometre circuit and constructing a 2.5-metre safety fence along Pit Straight and other areas of the track."
Link: http://www.westernadvocate.com.au/st...a-lift/?cs=115

Lou

The bumps and the surface and elevation changes are a large part of what makes the circuit so demanding.
There is a beautiful shot of the front suspension and wheel and tyre working that gets shown on TV. It is great to see a racing suspension actually having to work for a living instead of being whole lot of unnecessary junk because the surface is so smooth the tyre is more than capable of doing all the work.

[wnut]

Not the best I have seen, but v8 tyre working at Bathurst

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqoVLu19DWQ

[Armco Bender]

Agree with keep F1 out of Bathurst...who needs the track lined with safety fence.

[Paradise City]

Originally Posted by johntt

Certain tracks are suited to certain cars. Bathurst is a touring car / GT track in the same way that Assen is a bike track and Road Atlanta is a sportscar track.

That, and F1's current track rules would never allow it, resurface or not.

Quite. They'd demand to tear the circuit apart to make it F1 race ready taking a ransom of money in the process. I'd be horrified at the prospect.

I wouldn't mind seeing a NASCAR Nationwide race run there mind you.

[formerf1champ]

Originally Posted by Paradise City

I wouldn't mind seeing a NASCAR Nationwide race run there mind you.

Have you seen this video?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eltKgjVtChc

[gts300]

Well, now that Montreal has given up the Nationwide race, there is an opening on the calendar.

43 Nationwide cars there would be entertaining. Don't know how many finishers there would be though!

[Eff One]

It would be awesome but as has been said would never happen due to the current safety obsession in contemporary F1 that dictates that drivers must be wrapped in cotton wool at all times and never be in any remote danger of any kind. Ever.

[Alan52]

Maybe on a Play Station game.Alternatively why don't you start a thread "MotoGP at Isle Of Man".

[Purist]

You know, the thought that keeps coming back to me is that it's ridiculous that the "sport" of cheerleading could be more hazardous than driving a racing car!

I know it wouldn't happen, but really, Bathurst isn't any more hazardous than the other non-permanent circuits F1 already visits: Melbourne, Monaco, Montreal, Valencia, and Singapore. And Monaco does NOT have a monopoly on danger spots among those five.

Blow a tire heading to Turn 6 at Singapore, and you could nail that concrete wall at ~175-mph! Going more or less straight on at the end of any of the straights of note there could have some nasty results (Turns 1/2/3, 7, 10, 13, 14, 15/16).
Not to mention, if Massa had been put into the wall on the Anderson Bridge, that easily would have been cause for a RED flag, with a blind approach for those coming up behind it.

At Melbourne, the runs between Turns 5 and 6, 7 and 9, 10 and 11, and 12 and 13 have NO run-off to speak of! And those sections are NOT straight.

Montreal has no lack of trouble spots either. Bowing straight off at Turn 1, and interfering with traffic coming out of Turn 2, would be an ugly scene. There have been some nasty incidents in Turn 5 in other series, including a wreck in Star Mazda that wiped out a HUGE part of that field. The kink before Turn 10, though not numbered, has been problematic, as we saw with Kubica in 2007. And finally, there is "Champions Wall" on the exit of that chicane to end the lap.

[louonline]

Originally Posted by Purist

You know, the thought that keeps coming back to me is that it's ridiculous that the "sport" of cheerleading could be more hazardous than driving a racing car!

I know it wouldn't happen, but really, Bathurst isn't any more hazardous than the other non-permanent circuits F1 already visits: Melbourne, Monaco, Montreal, Valencia, and Singapore. And Monaco does NOT have a monopoly on danger spots among those five.

Blow a tire heading to Turn 6 at Singapore, and you could nail that concrete wall at ~175-mph! Going more or less straight on at the end of any of the straights of note there could have some nasty results (Turns 1/2/3, 7, 10, 13, 14, 15/16).
Not to mention, if Massa had been put into the wall on the Anderson Bridge, that easily would have been cause for a RED flag, with a blind approach for those coming up behind it.

At Melbourne, the runs between Turns 5 and 6, 7 and 9, 10 and 11, and 12 and 13 have NO run-off to speak of! And those sections are NOT straight.

Montreal has no lack of trouble spots either. Bowing straight off at Turn 1, and interfering with traffic coming out of Turn 2, would be an ugly scene. There have been some nasty incidents in Turn 5 in other series, including a wreck in Star Mazda that wiped out a HUGE part of that field. The kink before Turn 10, though not numbered, has been problematic, as we saw with Kubica in 2007. And finally, there is "Champions Wall" on the exit of that chicane to end the lap.

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Hi Purist,

Great post, at last someone that that sees what I see regarding track safety!

I have to admit that I'm not a passionate fan of F1 but I'd just like to see how the perceived top formula of motor sport would fare at our iconic Mount.

If it won't happen it'll be for one of two reasons ( or both!); they want too much money or they don't have the balls to take on the challenge of the Mount.

Hell if I was an F1 driver I'd want to come here just for the thrill of it!

I'm sure if they bit the bullet and brought their show here there would be thousands of motor sports fans that are not particularly F1 fans that would flock here just to see them tackle the Mount.

Come on F1, stop hiding behind this safety bull-crap, forget about the big profits, you'll still make money (and gain a few more fans), let your drivers do something they'd like to do, bring your show to the Mount

Actually, on reflection I'd like to think they have the balls, its just a question of money