Future Grands Prix?

[chunterer]

Hey i know build a new venue in Germany that is very similar to the Istanbul track!!

Job done! 😆

[Rob29]

Think Germany has enough circuits? Not sure why Turkey needed one having no previous interest in the sport and no drivers

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Rob29

Think Germany has enough circuits? Not sure why Turkey needed one having no previous interest in the sport and no drivers

I think Mr. Ecclestone figured he could make some money, if they had one.

[S griffin]

Bernie always was looking for ones that were government funded to line his already big pockets

[bjohnsonsmith]

Horner seems to think a London GP is a possibility.

http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/137211

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Horner seems to think a London GP is a possibility.

http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/137211

After the success of the pre British GP last season, I am not surprised

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Horner seems to think a London GP is a possibility.

http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/137211

A race around the streets of London is totally unrealistic, just as it has been for the last 50 or so years that the same subject has been discussed. And nearly always on the pages of Autosport.


The rate payers (local taxes in the UK) of Greater London would not look kindly on their hard earned money being wasted on a frivolity when other basic services are being starved of cash. And Central London's roads are almost at a standstill as things are without closing for at least a week a "circuit" of more than 3 kilometres plus all the other infrastructure requirements of a modern Grand Prix.


Furthermore, even the Formula E race in London wasn't wanted or appreciated and that was held south of the river.

[Rob29]

Not sure why London is any more unrealistic than any of the many cities that now have a race? Certainly Batersea Park was a disaster being in a park and not the streets-in fact the first park I ever visited at about 5 yrs of age! Can we have a race in Lincoln? Anything to get rid of Silverstone which should only be used for testing having no access by public transport.

[S griffin]

The closest thing we have had to a London GP is when we used to run races around Crystal Palace

[coppice]

More ..ahem..mature readers may recall that the late Nick Brittan , the scamp , plotted a London GP route but also drove it , in 1968 I think . The story-in colour !-was featured in CAR magazine . He drove a Lotus 51 FF1600 with wings and flower power livery - I seem to recall he hit the rev limiter in 3rd at one point before being invited to join a discussion with the police - who were probably in an Escort Mk 1 Panda car.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Rob29

Not sure why London is any more unrealistic than any of the many cities that now have a race? Certainly Batersea Park was a disaster being in a park and not the streets-in fact the first park I ever visited at about 5 yrs of age! Can we have a race in Lincoln? Anything to get rid of Silverstone which should only be used for testing having no access by public transport.

The problem with London is there is a population of over 10m and running a GP would mean stopping access to central London for the best part of week, including the weekend. Plus there would have to be a very high level of security.

I live in Battersea and the FE race was a disaster, partly because of the NIMBYs on Prince of Wales Drive and because Carriage Drive, which is the ring road in the park that became the race track, was narrowed so much by track side barriers overtaking was virtually impossible.

[Sodemo]

The thing is, London isn't exactly struggling to attract tourists. I don't really know why they would be wanting to host it. Usually these venues are wanting to host in order to drive tourism.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

The thing is, London isn't exactly struggling to attract tourists. I don't really know why they would be wanting to host it. Usually these venues are wanting to host in order to drive tourism.

Very true and I think having a GP would be more of a hindrance than an asset to tourism.

If there were to be a GP it would have to be as least disruptive as possible and that would limit the location.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

The problem with London is there is a population of over 10m and running a GP would mean stopping access to central London for the best part of week, including the weekend. Plus there would have to be a very high level of security.

I know it's not quite the same - but Londoners seemed to cope well enough when everyone came to watch the Olympics in 2012?

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

I know it's not quite the same - but Londoners seemed to cope well enough when everyone came to watch the Olympics in 2012?

Track and field events, along with swimming and cycling took place over in Stratford, in purpose built venues. Many other events, took place outside London. A GP would be quite different, as the whole F1 circus would be in central London. Just think of all those team hospitality suites. Getting them in would be a nightmare and then where do they go?

[wnut]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Track and field events, along with swimming and cycling took place over in Stratford, in purpose built venues. Many other events, took place outside London. A GP would be quite different, as the whole F1 circus would be in central London. Just think of all those team hospitality suites. Getting them in would be a nightmare and then where do they go?

Hyde Park.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by wnut

Hyde Park.

Hyde Park will never happen. The major issue would be getting The Royal Parks to agree to upgrade West Carriage Drive, which includes the bridge going over the Serpentine and North Carriage Drive, which has pedestrian crossing islands along its length.

[S griffin]

Hyde Park has been suggested many times before. Not sure if it will ever happen

[bjohnsonsmith]

Renault Sport F1 boss Cyril Abiteboul believes F1 would benefit from an "aggressive" cull of races, reducing the calendar to as few as 15 GPs.

http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/137455

[ASCII Man]

It would also benefit from an aggressive cull of Renault.

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by ASCII Man

It would also benefit from an aggressive cull of Renault.

Quote of the year!

[S griffin]

Personally I think they could do with cutting a couple of races, as there looks to be a bit many IMHO

[BSchneiderFan]

The problem with cutting back to 15 or 16 is that you would inevitably lose some iconic races which don’t bring in the cash. I hope that Abiteboulis just generating column inches in the long summer days.

[EffectiveSprinkles]

I do love that expression and how it even holds up in the modern age

[P38 in workshop]

It sort of amuses me that Liberty are so intent on a race in Miami.No apparent demand from the locals for such a thing and I don't think the demographics of the nation would justify it if they cant even ensure a race in Germany,given the run of recent German champions and the number of car companies based there.On the other hand I suppose Liberty ,being based where they are, might then follow on with races in Chicago,California,Seattle,New England and New York just to be sure the whole world is included.