A1 Ring

[pD F1]

Why did it actually go off the F1 calendar?
Will there be a chance of it reappearing?

[BootsOntheSide]

Because it was the only circuit St Michael wasn't any good at [/cynicism]

Seriously, Bernie probably felt it had no economic benefit, with their already being 2 races in Germany, and a decline in Austrian interest since Berger and Wurz dropped off the grid. I can't see it returning either, which is a shame as I like ti a lot more than the new Nurburgring.

[luke]

Welcome to the forum pD! The A1-Ring was originaly taken of the calendar as Bernie didn't want it anymore I think, certainly not to do with money, as I think they offered Bernie alot of money to try and keep it, but he wasn't interested.
I doubt in the next few years there will be an Austrian Grand prix, as new country's as such as India, want a Grand prix, and the schedule is busy as it is.

[pD F1]

Thanks for the welcome. I miss the Austrian Grand Prix, the actual track and race had a character to it and we seemed to often get exciting races. It didn't have the facilities that China had, but IMO the track was more more well designed and not boring, both are reatively new courses, Austria from 1997 onwards. The new Turkish track layout doesn't look fantastic, like Malaysia a bit.

[Super Tourer]

I think DM from Red Bull had plans to re-develop the A1 ring but has changed his ideas recently.

[Kicking-back]

It's rubble, as far as I know.

[pirenzo]

I believe there were plans to extend the track using parts of the old track, but they got delayed/abandoned due to some problem or other.

[StickShift]

They tore up the front straight, first corner, garages, pitbuilding, and front grandstand in preparation to create a western loop. However, a couple of months ago, the local government declined the proposal, and now the track is sort of in limbo.

[MikeHoyer]

Is there any pictures of the A1 Ring in it's current state anywhere?

[mac]

The planned extension had big dramas with local residents - I'm pretty confident we've seen our last Grand Prix at the A1 Ring.

[Steve Wilkinson]

When the original Osterreichring opened it was a tremendous venue, sweeping corners and panoramic views. I loved the place.

Then after some problems with poor driving the Austrian GP was dropped - the reason given was the lack of decent hotels near to the circuit.

After they had butchered the circuit and renamed it the A1 Ring and built a couple of new hotels they returned. It was a shadow of its former self but I agree that it was better than the NEW ersatz 'Nurburgring'.

I suspect there will be no future for F1 in Austrian with the emergence of the Asian and Pacific Rim circuits.

Hopefully they will rebuild the old circuit and maybe A1GP could include it on their calendar?

[Raglanparade]

I doubt the original circuit can be revived.

It would mean the complete remodeling of the last two corners, and turn 4.

[Skam85]

Great track, lots of overtaking. If they got rid of it because of lack of Austrian drivers, ironic now that there are two on the grid, the most since 1997.

[BootsOntheSide]

True Skam - indeed there were never 2 Austrians in the same race since 1997 - the last time there were 2 was Imola 1994, and the less said about that the better.