[Race] No Turkish GP in 2012?

[Marbot]

This years could be the last Turkish GP. Which is a shame, because it's one of Tilke's better efforts.

"It looks like the Formula One race will not be held in Istanbul next year," wrote Yalcintas, following a board meeting about the Istanbul Grand Prix. "Because it found this figure very high it looks like it [finance ministry] will not make the payment. That is why the race will not happen."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/90912

[dyewat808]

Man that's a shame. Of all the Tilke tracks to get rid of.

If only it had been a bit more popular in terms of crowds...

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by dyewat808

Man that's a shame. Of all the Tilke tracks to get rid of.

If only it had been a bit more popular in terms of crowds...

Exactly. Unfortunately, thats what happens when Bernie takes it to a place for the cash, not the fans.

[Marbot]

I don't think that the race organizers were too happy about this years calendar slot either. There's lots of rain and cold temperatures around Istanbul at the moment and the long range weather forecast for the race doesn't look to be much better from a spectator point of view.

[Mr V]

Lucky that there's not likely to be any spectators there then

[Spritle]

Typical Bernie manoeuvre, hype it, get the government to kick in, and pull the rug out from under for more cash once it's established.

Any new venue out there who thinks this won't happen to them is living in a dream world! Somehow I expect MotoGP to be the only thing running in Austin in 10 years or less.

[NaBUru38]

Originally Posted by Mr V

Unfortunately, thats what happens when Bernie takes it to a place for the cash, not the fans.

That's what happens when investors try to build a pyramid from the top to the bottom. You can't expect a country to get a new, big race (or any show) and suddenly fill the stands with knowledgable, avid fans. If investors wanted to have a successful spectator track, they should have started by strengthening karting and development formula racing, then have a nice touring car championship with locally-built cars, then attract regional championships from Eastern Europe, then bring a major touring car championship, then European sports car racing and finally the big show. That's how you build a fanbase.

[Purist]

Except that next to nobody with the cash pools to build that up has the patience to wait it out to make it happen. Too many top businessmen nowadays are prisoners yo quarterly earnings reports (not a good recipe for fostering long-term, well, anything).

[E.B]

What I find odd about this is that Bernie himself is the promoter of the Turkish GP, and he is also the circuit owner (or at least part owner) for the past 3 years.

Unless he has recently flogged his interests in the venue, unknown to me.

[Purist]

If he's really willing to do that, then why the hell don't we have a French GP at Paul Ricard?!

[Andy77]

Originally Posted by Marbot

I don't think that the race organizers were too happy about this years calendar slot either. There's lots of rain and cold temperatures around Istanbul at the moment and the long range weather forecast for the race doesn't look to be much better from a spectator point of view.

Reminds a bit to either the first or second season (I don't remember well) the circuit was used. I remember that a lot of races been pretty much flooded such as lms, wtcc and motogp.

[Andy77]

Originally Posted by Purist

If he's really willing to do that, then why the hell don't we have a French GP at Paul Ricard?!

No grandstands to fill ?

[Born Racer]

Does Bernie care about grandstands though?

[Bononi]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

Does Bernie care about grandstands though?

He doesn't know the meaning of the word, try another...

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

Does Bernie care about grandstands though?

No. That's for the race promoter to worry about. It's their big opportunity to make some money. But I can't help get the feeling that most Turkish citizens would rather be doing something else on a Sunday afternoon.

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by Marbot

But I can't help get the feeling that most Turkish citizens would rather be doing something else on a Sunday afternoon.

I know one Turkish fella and he'd rather be at Silverstone

[stripedcat]

To be honest I won't miss the track. Yes, I admit turn 8 is interesting corner, but the rest of the track is boring.

Ironic that it is still a fairly new track and is going to get dumped from the race calendar. It happened to the A1 Ring, so it is repeated here. I don't think it ever got many of the grandstands very full. Bernie is probably trying to cut his losses on it.

[bjohnsonsmith]

I would have thought that F1 and motor racing in general are fairly alien to Turkish culture, which is why the grandstands have been empty since the first race GP in 2005 and if I was the promoter/owner of the track, I'd get shot of it rather than haemorrhage money.

[Mr V]

Just reading on GPweek that from next year, Bernie wants to double the cost for the organisers to stage the race. From 2012 he'll charge them $26.5 million.

It remains to be seen if the Turks have more money than sense.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Mr V

Just reading on GPweek that from next year, Bernie wants to double the cost for the organisers to stage the race. From 2012 he'll charge them $26.5 million.

It remains to be seen if the Turks have more money than sense.

Ferengi Rule of Aquisition 252: Let the buyer beware