No More Spa Francorchamps ??

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N2O Predator

N2O Predator

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N2O_Predator
The FIA is going to have a French / Belgian GP.
What they mean by that is, every year theyre going to switch, 1 year Spa and the next (probably) Magny-Cours.
This has nothing to do with my nationality, but in my eyes Spa is the best GP. Compared to Magny-Cours its much better, so why change?
 
This is old news, since then there was a new president in france and he said he was against F1 beeing back in France. So I doubt this still hold. And if F1 is coming back to france it has a lot more chance of coming back to the Castelet (where Clarkson filmed a part of his last movie). But atm with Hollande as president the chance is pretty low.
 
RX-7_FD3S
This is old news, since then there was a new president in france and he said he was against F1 beeing back in France. So I doubt this still hold. And if F1 is coming back to france it has a lot more chance of coming back to the Castelet (where Clarkson filmed a part of his last movie). But atm with Hollande as president the chance is pretty low.
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I know, but Ecclestone didnt confirm anything ATM, so nothing is sure :(
All I want is confirmation of Spa being a GP for as long as I live :dopey:
 
Way old news.

Spa is alternating with the French GP simply because Spa has no freakin money. They can barely afford to alternate.
 
Rumor has it that it'll be held at Paul Ricard, get ready for a borefest everyone.
 
N2O Predator

All I want is confirmation of Spa being a GP for as long as I live :dopey:
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If they remain an annual GP there probably won't be.

Spa is like an old car, as much as you'd like to drive it every day, you have to limit how much you drive it or it won't last long.
 
Tom
Rumor has it that it'll be held at Paul Ricard, get ready for a borefest everyone.
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Quote from EPSN website:

"The deal is done," he told L'Equipe. "We agreed the financial terms with the sports minister David Douillet, in my office on Tuesday. We are still discussing a few things about money: 'You give me this, I want that'. But, for me, there is no doubt, we will sign it now."

The Ecclestone-owned Paul Ricard circuit is expected to share an annually-alternating grand prix date with Belgium's Spa-Francorchamps, beginning in 2013.
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The problem for Ecclestone is that his agreement was done days before Nicolas Sarkozy lost the French presidential election and his successor, Francois Hollande, is less impressed with the idea that central government should fund the plan.

Asked about the impact a change of government might have, Ecclestone said: "Whatever the outcome, I don't care. That's a local issue that doesn't concern me."

But he might be wrong. Speaking immediately before his election, Hollande said: "There will be a review [of the proposal]. They were too eager to back the French Grand Prix. I do not think the French state should be responsible for any financial outlay.

"There are enough issues to consider without spending tens of millions of euros on a grand prix."
 
Why not do Zolder instead? Swap Belgian GP's instead?

Paul Ricard is a horrid track. Additionally, they have no seats, since it's a Test track. Remember the ELMS race which apparently sucked?

Then fanboy in me thinks F1 should go to La Sarthe. Probably nowhere near the safety requirements for the 24 Hour course... but maybe some adaptation of Bugatti Circuit+ Indianapolis/Porsche Curve?
 
Furinkazen
Or Dijon-Prenois?
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Here's some inspirational footage of Arnoux lapping a Ferrari 430 Scuderia at the Dijon-Prenois circuit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EA7NTDa8P3k&feature=related

The circuit looks like a lot of fun for a driver, but primitive otherwise. It's bloody fast, short and narrow, with no place to pass. The elevation change is excellent! I'd personally love to race there.

Way back near the dawn of racing, over a hundred years ago in 1906, LeMans was the venue of the first French Grand Prix. It would be no bad thing for it to visit there again, as it has before at the Bugatti circuit in 1967.

Respectfully submitted,
Steve
 
Dotini
Here's some inspirational footage of Arnoux lapping a Ferrari 430 Scuderia at the Dijon-Prenois circuit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EA7NTDa8P3k&feature=related

The circuit looks like a lot of fun for a driver, but primitive otherwise. It's bloody fast, short and narrow, with no place to pass. The elevation change is excellent! I'd personally love to race there.

Way back near the dawn of racing, over a hundred years ago in 1906, LeMans was the venue of the first French Grand Prix. It would be no bad thing for it to visit there again, as it has before at the Bugatti circuit in 1967.

Respectfully submitted,
Steve
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I thought Bugatti was a bit small for F1...
 
hawkeye122
Why not do Zolder instead? Swap Belgian GP's instead?

Paul Ricard is a horrid track. Additionally, they have no seats, since it's a Test track. Remember the ELMS race which apparently sucked?

Then fanboy in me thinks F1 should go to La Sarthe. Probably nowhere near the safety requirements for the 24 Hour course... but maybe some adaptation of Bugatti Circuit+ Indianapolis/Porsche Curve?
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What are you talking about? The ELMS race at Paul Ricard was excellent.

Zolder is not suitable to aero downforce cars. To many ups and downs.
 
Tired Tyres
Zolder is not suitable to aero downforce cars. To many ups and downs.
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Say what? Zolder has hosted many F1 races. I've been to quite a lot of races at Zolder last year, many single seater racers out there with extensive aero.

For spectators Zolder is difficult. The fences and armco take away the view of the track.

Zolder =/= Spa. Never ever will be.
 
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MarcoM
Please stop discussing an alternative for Spa. There is none.
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Spa does not have the money to host a Grand Prix every year. I agree that no other track could replace it in quality terms as a track.

MarcoM
Say what? Zolder has hosted many F1 races. I've been to quite a lot of races at Zolder last year, many single seater racers out there with extensive aero.

For spectators Zolder is difficult. The fences and armco take away the view of the track.

Zolder =/= Spa. Never ever will be.
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Zolder has not hosted an F1 Grand Prix for a very long time in current aero terms. Do not confuse today's cars with the F1 cars of the last time F1 raced at Zolder.

ELMS teams have said that they were relieved about not having to go to Zolder because they thought the strong downhill section would make their cars flip.

It is okay for GT cars. It is not okay for a proper aero car. Less than F1 single seaters are not in the same league as F1.

Don't double post. The Mods don't like it. Use the edit button.
 
Superleague Formula race at Zolder. Boss F1 races at Zolder. Drivers just have to adjust.
 
The problem is not Spa or the Nür or any circuit.

The problem is Eccelstone's mentality for sucking Circuit financial situation dry.

1 million just to have the right that the F1 comes to you, dents every circuit financial situation.

But how on Earth could Eccelstone otherwise pay for his own little circuit at home?

I blame this old, greedy person, which admittedly has done a good job in Motorsports, but also killed of a lot of the motorsports with his hillariously fees

And the whole "Save Spa / Nür" is good to raise awarness but those two circuits will survive because of the sheer awesomness of both tracks and the undisputable love from fanatics all over the world. Last resort, ask Quatar for money ;)
 
Allthough that might be true, fact is that many F1 circuits have been struggling for more than 10 years now. The discussion about money always comes back.

Agreed the crisis does not help.
 
Spa was taken out in 2006 because the organiser went bankrupt, it was then saved by the belgium governement but still it's not new that Spa have financial trouble.
 
I'm aware of that. But far too many people are quick to criticise Bernie's business practices as the enemy of circuit orgainsers when it is painfully obvious that the delicate state of the economy during and in the wake of the recession is the bigger culprit.
 
Silverstone?

They've never struggled for money. They were briefly taken off the calendar and replaced by Donington Park, but that had nothing to do with money and everything to do with the way Bernie had been trying to get them to upgrade their pits for years and they stubbornly refused (when the circuit seriously needed it - Formula 1 teams used to bring their own floors to the British Grand Prix because the pits leaked). The fact that you think that this particular episode was driven by money demonstrates how little you actually know.

Also, you missed the point of my question. I didn't ask you to name a circuit with financial troubles. I asked you to name a circuit that had chronic financial troubles before the recession.
 
Spa and that's my last post in here. I do not like angry reactions for no reason.
 
prisonermonkeys
Silverstone?

They've never struggled for money. They were briefly taken off the calendar and replaced by Donington Park, but that had nothing to do with money and everything to do with the way Bernie had been trying to get them to upgrade their pits for years and they stubbornly refused (when the circuit seriously needed it - Formula 1 teams used to bring their own floors to the British Grand Prix because the pits leaked). The fact that you think that this particular episode was driven by money demonstrates how little you actually know.

Also, you missed the point of my question. I didn't ask you to name a circuit with financial troubles. I asked you to name a circuit that had chronic financial troubles before the recession.
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So then why did the BRDC sell off part of the Silverstone estate 3 or 4 years ago?
 
I'd be fine with Magny-Cours. But why not Pau? That was a great track, by unfortunately it seems like it has died out. The WTCC isn't goin there anymore. Just lower ladder single seaters.
 
Spa and Nür have financial or other trouble since more then 10years. Gouverment or private investors always backed up.

It's not like these fees would be the only or the biggest income for the Fia and Eccelstone, but those that do the most damage to the sport in hard times
 

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