Future Grands Prix?

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Saint Petersburg F1 race “is going to be mega” – Kvyat

The Igora Drive circuit near Saint Petersburg has been tipped to take over from Sochi Autodrom as the home of the Russian Grand Prix.

FIA licenses Igora Drive racing track near St. Petersburg to host F1 Grands Prix
The International Automobile Federation (FIA) has issued a license for the Igora Drive circuit outside the country’s second largest city of St. Petersburg, acknowledging the track as suitable for hosting Formula One races, the press service of Igora Drive said in a statement on Wednesday.

Just looking at the aerial shot, I thought Tilkedrome. I subsequently read the TASS article and low and behold it says: ''The Igora Drive was designed by Hermann Tilke''.

I think St. Petersburg in Florida might very well produce a better race, but we can dream.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

I think St. Petersburg in Florida might very well produce a better race, but we can dream.

Could the F1 world cope with two St. Petersburg races in different countries?

Could they be billed as the great East vs West battle of venues?

I think the Russian St. Petersburg is closer to being an F1 option than the American course due to FIA grading.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Could the F1 world cope with two St. Petersburg races in different countries?

Could they be billed as the great East vs West battle of venues?

I think the Russian St. Petersburg is closer to being an F1 option than the American course due to FIA grading.

Those are some interesting marketing ideas but in all seriousness you're right about the FIA's grading. The US course would never meet their exacting standards. Shame, as I think St. Pete is more interesting than a Tilkedrome.

[NaBUru38]

Bell Canada, the telco that owns F1 broadcaster TSN, bought Canadian Grand Prix promoter Octane.

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Those are some interesting marketing ideas but in all seriousness you're right about the FIA's grading. The US course would never meet their exacting standards. Shame, as I think St. Pete is more interesting than a Tilkedrome.

Also I don’t think F1 sees it as an ideal location for an American race like Austin or Miami or New Jersey

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Also I don’t think F1 sees it as an ideal location for an American race like Austin or Miami or New Jersey

An hour from Tampa and Clearwater. Why wouldn’t F1 want that?...

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Also I don’t think F1 sees it as an ideal location for an American race like Austin or Miami or New Jersey

New Jersey never happened and that was largely due to location.

[S griffin]

I know, but at least it made the calendar twice, so it was a serious consideration

[el_cat]

I always thought an Igora Drive/KymiRing would make a nice double header; they are only about 3hrs drive apart

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by S griffin

I know, but at least it made the calendar twice, so it was a serious consideration

It was a pipe-dream Bernie had, which started in 1983.

[crmalcolm]

IIRC - the proposed race(s) at Flushing Meadow made it onto the official calendar from '83-'85. The proposed New Jersey circuit at Port Imperial only made it onto the calendar once in 2013, and then was only ever a provisional for 2014?

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

IIRC - the proposed race(s) at Flushing Meadow made it onto the official calendar from '83-'85. The proposed New Jersey circuit at Port Imperial only made it onto the calendar once in 2013, and then was only ever a provisional for 2014?

I remember the 1983 Flushing Meadow race suddenly being cancelled, with Brands Hatch stepping in with the European Grand Prix, which I went to but I don't remember Flushing Meadow reappearing on the calendar for '84 and '85.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

I remember the 1983 Flushing Meadow race suddenly being cancelled, with Brands Hatch stepping in with the European Grand Prix, which I went to but I don't remember Flushing Meadow reappearing on the calendar for '84 and '85.

According to motorsport magazine:

The races that never happened

'Yet for three years in a row, from 1983 to ’85, one got so far as the F1 calendar.'

RacingCalendar.net also list it as having been on the 1985 schedule:

7 APR Suzuka International Racing Course, Japan
Cancelled Japanese Grand Prix
23 JUN Dallas Fair Park, United States
Cancelled Dallas Grand Prix
22 SEP Népliget Park, Hungary
Cancelled Hungarian Grand Prix
23 SEP Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, United States
Cancelled New York Grand Prix
13 OCT Circuito dell'EUR, Italy
Cancelled Rome Grand Prix
13 OCT Fuengirola street circuit, Spain
Cancelled Spanish Grand Prix

Which if accurate, means that Queens has been a more likely venue than New Jersey?

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

According to motorsport magazine:

The races that never happened

'Yet for three years in a row, from 1983 to ’85, one got so far as the F1 calendar.'

RacingCalendar.net also list it as having been on the 1985 schedule:

7 APR Suzuka International Racing Course, Japan
Cancelled Japanese Grand Prix
23 JUN Dallas Fair Park, United States
Cancelled Dallas Grand Prix
22 SEP Népliget Park, Hungary
Cancelled Hungarian Grand Prix
23 SEP Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, United States
Cancelled New York Grand Prix
13 OCT Circuito dell'EUR, Italy
Cancelled Rome Grand Prix
13 OCT Fuengirola street circuit, Spain
Cancelled Spanish Grand Prix

Which if accurate, means that Queens has been a more likely venue than New Jersey?

Thanks for that.

New Jersey hosted the Meadowlands Grand Prix during the CART era from 1984 - 1991.

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

It was a pipe-dream Bernie had, which started in 1983.

No I was talking about the New Jersey GP that appeared on the calendar in 2013-14, but never happened. And the point I was making was why St Petersberg, Florida has never been considered as a GP, compared to others

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by S griffin

No I was talking about the New Jersey GP that appeared on the calendar in 2013-14, but never happened. And the point I was making was why St Petersberg, Florida has never been considered as a GP, compared to others

It's not FIA grade 1 or long enough?

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Just looking at the aerial shot, I thought Tilkedrome. I subsequently read the TASS article and low and behold it says: ''The Igora Drive was designed by Hermann Tilke''.

I think St. Petersburg in Florida might very well produce a better race, but we can dream.

The layout looks quite short?

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by chunterer

The layout looks quite short?

4.005 km - so a bit shorter than Estoril, a bit longer than Valencia.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by S griffin

No I was talking about the New Jersey GP that appeared on the calendar in 2013-14, but never happened. And the point I was making was why St Petersberg, Florida has never been considered as a GP, compared to others

I know you were and as I said it was a pipe-dream which Bernie had back in 1983, of holding an F1 GP with the Manhattan skyline as a backdrop, which nearly came to fruition in 2013.


As others have previously pointed out St Petersberg FL, has never been considered as a GP, because it would never comply with the FIA's exacting track grading for an F1 GP.

[coppice]

Layout looks quite short ? Spelling mistake ?

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by coppice

Layout looks quite short ? Spelling mistake ?

Lol!

[billy bleach]

So Toto Wolfe is calling for a London Grand Prix? And who exactly would fund this? Maybe in his Gold plated World he hasn't noticed that Citys like London are on their knees and it will take years to recover TFL alone has a bigger debt than some Countries!The "creative" accounting showing £illions flowing in is tosh. A purpose built track like Silverstone struggles let alone Central London. Nice idea but just fantasy

[S griffin]

The London Grand Prix idea has been floated around for years, but it’s never happened and I can’t see any reason why that would change

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by S griffin

The London Grand Prix idea has been floated around for years, but it’s never happened and I can’t see any reason why that would change

It might not appear to be any more likely now than it has in the past - but there is one difference:

'Sadiq Khan wants to push ahead with his ambition of making London the sporting capital of the world during his second term as Mayor with aspirations for big events, including the Olympics returning as early as 2036.'

[S griffin]

Yes, but that doesn’t mean F1 is on his radar. The only person mentioning a London GP is Toto