Canadian GP dropped from the 2009 Calendar

  • Thread starter Thread starter TheCracker
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Canadian Grand-Prix will be missed...

Just a thought, even if the track conditions in general may have been decisive, isn’t the "bad" timing regarding European broadcasting schedules also a possible cause of this?:irked:
 
FoolKiller
I'm actually trying to think of what would be a good GP course in the US.
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Having just been to Road Atlanta, do you not think that would make a decent F1 circuit? I've always enjoyed watching races from there and Road America, they seem to have enough overtaking opportunities. and are certainly more scenic then most modern circuits.
 
Soundtrack
Just a thought, even if the track conditions in general may have been decisive, isn’t the "bad" timing regarding European broadcasting schedules also a possible cause of this?:irked:
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Indeed... it clashes with the Strictly Come Dancing results show, and we simply cannot have that now, can we?

Hun200kmh
"Gilles Duceppe, MP (born July 22, 1947) is a Quebec nationalist and social democratic politician in Canada. He is a Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons and the leader of the sovereigntist Bloc Québécois. He is the son of a well-known Québécois actor, Jean Duceppe."

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilles_Duceppe


:D
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👍 I wonder if that was a deliberate joke, a Freudian slip, or a genuine mistake? I sincerely hope it was the former!! :p
 
TheCracker
Having just been to Road Atlanta, do you not think that would make a decent F1 circuit?
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It might. It is definitely a beautiful course.

I'm just used to seeing it used for sports cars and superbikes, so I am having trouble visualizing F1 cars on the track. That's an issue I keep getting stuck on with a lot of US courses. There are a number that I think could work, but I am just having trouble picturing it in my head.

Then of the ones I like it is picking one. If Road Atlanta were on the list I would be biased towards it just because it is the most likely one for me to attend.
 
I'd love to see either Watkins Glen or Infineon, but both would need major facilities upgrades before F1 could come.
 
Both Watkins Glen and Road Atlanta are tracks I only know from playing games (Watkins Glen = GP Legends ... Road Atlanta = Le Mans 24 Hours), and I like them both, a lot. But they are "fluid" tracks, great for race series where cars actually overtake each other (like the F1s of old or sports cars), I don't think they could provide exciting races with modern F1 cars.

In general, tracks like this (another example: Zandvoort = TRD3 :D ) are beatiful and made for brave drivers and well-balanced cars. Nowadays F1 tracks are made for cars with engine power, great top speed and great braking power.
 
Autosport
F1 teams working to reinstate Canada

By Jonathan Noble Thursday, October 9th 2008, 10:30 GMT

Formula One team principals are set to hold talks about ways to get the Canadian Grand Prix back on the calendar in 2009, autosport.com has learned.

The race in Montreal was dropped from the schedule earlier this week, meaning F1 currently has no race in North America for the first time since the world championship came into existence in 1950.

Although there are suspicions that F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone could be using the Canadian GP situation to improve the financial terms of holding the event, both from the promoters and the teams, there is genuine concern in the paddock about the impact of losing the race from the schedule.

Honda Racing CEO Nick Fry told autosport.com: "I don't think it is a short-term problem, but it is a problem that does need to be addressed. We are a global series and not to be performing in one of the major continents is a serious problem - even more so because it is a continent that is very important for the motor manufacturers who are involved in F1.

"We need to look at the north American continent situation from a more strategic point of view and work out how we increase our popularity. I don't think you can just look at one race – you have to look at the whole situation there and put together a package which increases our appeal in North America. Then, the financial problems we have appearing at just one race in the continent, will go away."

BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen added: "I haven't got any explanation of the decision and how it came about, so I think we will discuss it."

The decision to drop Canada and hand its June 7 date to Turkey was prompted by the teams' desire to have a summer break inserted into next year's calendar.

It is understood that one solution being looked at now is for Canada to return to its original date, and the Turkey event to then switch to early August, just one week after the Hungarian GP.
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Looks like the fans aren't the only ones who would miss Canada, albeit for different reasons. Here's hoping we get it back, there's rarely a dull race at Montreal.
 
I hate that they are taking away the Canadian GP. I hope they come back to North America soon. I think Miller Motorsports Park might be a nice track for F1.
 
F1 ceased to be the "pinnacle of motorsport" when the FIA thought that they should decide the outcome of races instead of the drivers. They screwed Lewis at the Belgian GP even though he shortcut the chicane to avoid crashing into Kimi and gave the position back before trying to pass him again. Where's the sport in motorsport?

The FIA has also shown that they don't care about fans. If they actually cared about the fans, then they wouldn't be dropping good races and charging us insane prices for tickets.

And F1 won't be the pinnacle of technology anymore if Bernie and Max get their way and force the teams to run spec engines.

I encourage my fellow race fans to check out the IRL IndyCar Series. Now that's a major open wheel racing series that treats its drivers and fans fairly. And the IRL IndyCar Series is the only series in the world that challenges its drivers with a balanced mix of oval, road, and street racing. Their last race of this season will be held on the streets of Surfers Paradise, Australia on Sunday, October 26th.

And to my Canadian neighbors: The IRL will run 2 races in Canada next year at Toronto and Edmonton! You'll get a better fan experience (getting closer to the drivers, teams, and cars) for a cheaper price!
 
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VNAF Ace
I encourage my fellow race fans to check out the IRL IndyCar Series. Now that's a major open wheel racing series that treats its drivers and fans fairly. And the IRL IndyCar Series is the only series in the world that challenges its drivers with a balanced mix of oval, road, and street racing. Their last race of this season will be held on the streets of Surfers Paradise, Australia on Sunday, October 26th.
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Which is all well and good, but not much use to anyone outside North America. This season has two races outside the USA and Canada, one of which is non-points, and next season just one. You can't expect many Europeans to seriously get behind the IRL (as opposed to just watching the races on telly) when the nearest race is 3,000+ miles away. North America has the IRL, which is why F1 doesn't make much impression there. Europe has F1, which is why the IRL doesn't make any impression there; the reason F1 abandoned America is the same reason the IRL never comes to Europe.
 
Roo
Which is all well and good, but not much use to anyone outside North America. This season has two races outside the USA and Canada, one of which is non-points, and next season just one. You can't expect many Europeans to seriously get behind the IRL (as opposed to just watching the races on telly) when the nearest race is 3,000+ miles away. North America has the IRL, which is why F1 doesn't make much impression there. Europe has F1, which is why the IRL doesn't make any impression there; the reason F1 abandoned America is the same reason the IRL never comes to Europe.
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Not to mention it lacks the variety of chassis, engines and manufacturer support, with only 2 chassis and 2 engines used by the entire field.
 
Roo
Which is all well and good, but not much use to anyone outside North America. This season has two races outside the USA and Canada, one of which is non-points, and next season just one. You can't expect many Europeans to seriously get behind the IRL (as opposed to just watching the races on telly) when the nearest race is 3,000+ miles away. North America has the IRL, which is why F1 doesn't make much impression there. Europe has F1, which is why the IRL doesn't make any impression there; the reason F1 abandoned America is the same reason the IRL never comes to Europe.
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It's not even that easy to watch it on TV. I can and often do watch F1, Moto GP, BTCC, WTCC, WSB, BSB, DTM, V8 Supercars, GP2, British F3, Superleague Formula, LMS, ALMS, FIA GT, British Rallycross and the Ford XR Challenge. I could pay extra to watch NASCAR if i was inclined to do so, but i can't remember even seing the IRL on any TV listings.

To most Europeans, oval racing is a turn-off and the IRL is just another form of 'one-make' racing.
 
TheCracker
It's not even that easy to watch it on TV. I can and often do watch F1, Moto GP, BTCC, WTCC, WSB, BSB, DTM, V8 Supercars, GP2, British F3, Superleague Formula, LMS, ALMS, FIA GT, British Rallycross and the Ford XR Challenge. I could pay extra to watch NASCAR if i was inclined to do so, but i can't remember even seing the IRL on any TV listings.

To most Europeans, oval racing is a turn-off and the IRL is just another form of 'one-make' racing.
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Wow, do you spend all weekend watching motorsport on TV. I often watch as many races as I can but I can't say I have ever been able to follow all of those for the whole season. The only motorsport I can follow is F1, and even then I sometimes have to miss or video races.
 
TMM
Wow, do you spend all weekend watching motorsport on TV. I often watch as many races as I can but I can't say I have ever been able to follow all of those for the whole season. The only motorsport I can follow is F1, and even then I sometimes have to miss or video races.
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No no, i do have a life ;) - but i have watched at least one race from each of the series mentioned at some point this season.
 

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