Future Grands Prix?

[NaBUru38]

The return of Argentina has been postponed indefinitely. They can't afford a new racetrack.

[BSchneiderFan]

Originally Posted by Rob29

Understand its contract runs out this year-Berlin as used for FE would be good

Bit Mickey Mouse for my tastes, I’m afraid.

[nickyf1]

I don't think we are suggesting the FE layout is used. There is ample space at Tempelhof for something much more substantial, although I would fully expect Berliners to be very against a Grand Prix in the city - very much in the way the people of Hamburg protested against the Olympic bid. I'd personally like to see a return to the Hockenheim/Nurburgring alternate year arrangement, I quite miss the Nurburgring.

As for a Dutch GP at Assen? Why not? A classic venue (albeit on two wheels), and the Netherlands produces some of the more mental motorsport fans in the world, I think it would work very well. Could very well cater for punters from Denmark and Sweden too (even the UK too via Schiphol train station).

What's Kyalami looking like these days too?

[BSchneiderFan]

Kyalami is owned by the boss of Porsche South Africa. Think they only have a Grade 2 licence, though; I don’t know how much work it would take to upgrade it to the standard that Formula 1 would require. But it’s crazy that a sport that fancies itself as having a global reach doesn’t have an event in Africa.

[chunterer]

Avus or a version of it would be mega!

If there is the money to do a deal Kyalami is fit to host a race as it is.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by chunterer

Avus or a version of it would be mega!

If there is the money to do a deal Kyalami is fit to host a race as it is.

I've raced Avus on rfactor; no way would that ever happen in reality.

[ScotsBrutesFan]

For reference here is the latest FIA circuit grading with expiry dates as of last month....

https://www.fia.com/file/70006/download?token=uPOTejEP

[S griffin]

Good to know Imola and Estoril can return anytime

[Mekola]

It seems Formula One have its "World" Championship in risk.
It means F1 concept could be gone and we could go back
to Grand Prix cars racing, perhaps, the European Championship.

The guys of Formula EuroBOSS could be excellent teachers
of the future times. Tough times.

[Mekola]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

The return of Argentina has been postponed indefinitely. They can't afford a new racetrack.

Thanks. There are some Rules here, that could not to allow some things.

[dsg]

Buriram would be good, for me...

[Mike Harte]

Sorry to be a bit of a doom and gloom merchant, but there might be a problem on the horizon for the Spanish GP at the Catalunya. It's contract ends next year after the race, but the circuit is losing money currently. It's latest results show a €7.4 million loss, and the new regional government have said they are not prepared to write a blank cheque for the privilege of hosting F1.


It does seem as though F1 has priced itself out of the traditional circuits.

[Akrapovic]

You say doom and gloom, but if I'm honest, the circuit is bloody terrible for racing. Whilst it is a shame for any business to be losing money, it doesn't provide good racing. I hope it survives, just without F1.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

Sorry to be a bit of a doom and gloom merchant, but there might be a problem on the horizon for the Spanish GP at the Catalunya. It's contract ends next year after the race, but the circuit is losing money currently. It's latest results show a €7.4 million loss, and the new regional government have said they are not prepared to write a blank cheque for the privilege of hosting F1.


It does seem as though F1 has priced itself out of the traditional circuits.

With the massive sanctioning fee Bernie was imposing on the various venues, is was bound to happen. However, Liberty said from the outset, that the traditional European circuits were at the core of F1, so it will be interesting to see how they will stick to that.

[BSchneiderFan]

Is Barcelona bad for racing per se, or is it just that the teams test there so know the track backwards?

[Purist]

I don't know that it was ever stellar, but it was definitely better for racing prior to 2004. The change at La Caixa and the chicane near the end of the lap make it easier to just straight-line to the next apex, even if you made a mistake in the first part, and the guy behind doesn't have an open line to get by you. And the accordion effect means that all those slower corners in succession in the final sector spread the cars out more heading onto the main straight.

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

Is Barcelona bad for racing per se, or is it just that the teams test there so know the track backwards?

I think you've hit on something here BSF, lets run the circuit in the opposite direction next time, that'll spice things up!

[BSchneiderFan]

Well, they did it at Indianapolis...

[chillibowl]

Just out of curiosity, what are the logistical reasons/difficulties about running a track counter to the usual way around?

It seems like an easy way to add fresh life to an oft used circuit so surely I am missing the thing which prevents it.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

Well, they did it at Indianapolis...

Part of it and they still do.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

Just out of curiosity, what are the logistical reasons/difficulties about running a track counter to the usual way around?

It seems like an easy way to add fresh life to an oft used circuit so surely I am missing the thing which prevents it.

I was thinking the the pit entry and exit would be different.

[EffectiveSprinkles]

And most corners would be deemed 'unsafe'. I do remember Misano used to be run in the opposite direction.

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

Just out of curiosity, what are the logistical reasons/difficulties about running a track counter to the usual way around?

It seems like an easy way to add fresh life to an oft used circuit so surely I am missing the thing which prevents it.

One of many examples is the orientation/position of barriers around the track. If they are not layed out to support both directions it can be a huge safety issue. For example the gaps in barriers used for track access. Those will be designed so that a car at speed (such as being out of control) can’t exit those access points and will be redirected back onto the circuit. If the track is run in reverse, those become unsafe funnels to direct cars off the circuit and into spectator areas. Think of running your hand over scales on a fish or feathers on a bird. Smooth in one direction, rough the other.

Richard

[S griffin]

But in other news Hockenheim's big crowd has boosted it's chances of being back in 2019

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by S griffin

But in other news Hockenheim's big crowd has boosted it's chances of being back in 2019

Except, or so I believe, it is not due to hold the race until 2020. It's contract was for alternating years, which is why there was no German GP last year.