Sydney Conspires to Steal Australian Grand Prix

[prisonermonkeys]

Every year, there's talk that the Australian Grand Prix will be leaving Albert Park. We had it this year with talk that the race would head to a permanent circuit at Flemington, and this year that it was going to another prmanent raceway, this time at Avalon. These are often politically-motivated because the Victorian taxpayer is the one who foots the bill to set the circuit up. But now, a new contender has emerged: Sydney, trying to catch Bernie Ecclestone's attention with promises of a night race.

Sydney enters race to host Australian GP

The NSW government says it is serious about snatching the Australian Grand Prix away from "arrogant, complacent" Melbourne and says it has already approached the sport's promoters about a bid.

Initial costings and plans are already underway for hosting a night grand prix, most likely at Homebush in the city's west, from 2015.

Premier Kristina Keneally and major event minister Ian Macdonald, who both admitted to never having been to a grand prix, outlined the plans on Saturday, saying the sport's powerbrokers are interested in talking.

"I've already started to make contact with the F1 promoters, we're already having a good look at the facilities and infrastructure that we have available for such an event," Mr Macdonald told reporters in Sydney on Saturday.

"They can rest assured down in Melbourne that they're going to have a hard time, they haven't got this event to themselves.

"They're complacent, they're somewhat arrogant and we believe we can offer a night grand prix, which is something the promoters we know need to service their European viewership."

The state opposition criticised the plan for being uncosted and "uncontemplated", estimating it would cost $100 million to secure the rights from F1 for three years and $30 million a year to host.

"It's pretty scandalous, the government just seems to have come up with this based on a very flimsy plan," shadow major events minister George Souris told AAP.

He admitted a Sydney grand prix would be good if the figures stacked up, but cast doubt on them doing so.

Victorian major events minister Tim Holding also responded to the announcement, labelling the NSW government "the nation's biggest blowhards".

Mr Macdonald admitted the sums of money needed to host the grand prix were "vague at the moment".

But he says it is being costed and that F1 is interested in listening to a Sydney bid for the race.

The Australian Grand Prix, which like other F1 races attracts huge television audiences, gets underway on Sunday at Albert Park, Melbourne.

But the city's deal with F1 ends in 2014, potentially opening the door to another location.

Ms Keneally argued Sydney already has a great track record hosting major sports events, including motor racing.

But she was also vague about the potential financial outlay needed to host the grand prix and the net potential benefit for the state.

"I"m not going to sit here and put a dollar figure on it, these sorts of big events are big for the city, good for our economy and that's why we're in the game of major events," she told reporters.

Melbourne have naturally hit back at this:

Melbourne to fight Sydney scheme to steal the Australian Grand Prix

MELBOURNE will fight a Sydney scheme to steal the Australian Grand Prix.

With the eyes of the world fixed on Melbourne this weekend, the New South Wales Government on Friday set the scene for an epic cross-border battle, confirming that it would consider bidding for a night race.

It came as 68,000 punters poured through the gates for the second day of the Albert Park spectacle.

The figure, up almost 4000 on last year, has buoyed organisers who've faced increasing criticism that the event is a major disruption and a waste of taxpayer funds.

NSW Major Events Minister Ian Macdonald said Sydney was "better placed" than Melbourne as an international city to host the event.

"There are a few hurdles we will need to overcome to get the track here in Sydney, but I am confident we can work through these challenges," he said.

"Formula One motorsport is a major international event and there is no doubt the Telstra 500 V8 Supercar race in Sydney last year was a huge success.

"It demonstrates that there is strong community support for motorsport in Sydney and we would consider bidding for this event in the future."

Aussie GP driver Mark Webber returned fire, saying it would be wrong to move the signature Victorian event.

"Everyone from Europe loves coming to Melbourne, not just because of the track, but because they can enjoy the city," Webber said.

"Melbourne is the home of sport in Australia so the AGP belongs here."

Grand Prix chief Ron Walker said the NSW Government lacked the focus, passion or drive to seek major events.

"Ever since the Olympics finished the NSW Government has been in hibernation because instead of capitalising on the Olympics they did nothing," Mr Walker said.

"There is not one single sporting event in NSW today that commands a free-to-air audience in the world like this event - that is complacency at its worst."

He said it took an enormous amount of planning and investment to deliver a world-class event.

"We plan years in advance, and you can't just snap your fingers and expect it will work," he said.

"One of the key things that makes Melbourne appealing is its dynamic, exciting street circuit, just 3km from the city centre. It's hard to see how Sydney could replicate Melbourne's winning formula."

Victorian Major Events minister Tim Holding said an interstate event was out of the question.

"Frankly, the NSW Government has again proven they are our nation's biggest blowhards," Mr Holding said.

I'e heard the suggestion that the race could be held at Homebush Bay. There's already a circuit there:

But it's not suitable for Formula 1. Not without a major upgrade, and probably a re-route of some kind because some sections are simply too narrow.

 

[zed300]

Those track suggestions are an improvement no doubt. The current layout is just plain boring.

Still, Sydney needs to do better than Melbourne on paper to gain the win. Equalling it won't be enough for a change.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Those track suggestions are an improvement no doubt. The current layout is just plain boring.

It's good for touring cars, bu not much else. It's far too narrow around Acer Arena; you can barely fit one car through there. Still, the left-hander where Dawn Fraser Avenue meets Edwin Flack Drive (first corner after the second chicane) is a great corner.

That said, I don't think it can match Albert Park. Sydney is desperate for headline events, especially since any of the performing arts stuff - theatre productions, concerts, etc. - are heading to Melbourne exclusively or to Melbourne first (I saw Them Crooked Vultures at Hordern Pvaillion back in January, but they'd done a show in Melbourne before Sydney).

 

[Peter]

Why not just have it at Bathurst?

But seriously though, another night race? We have Singapore and Abu Dhabi, that's enough. Any more night races and the term, night race will become less special.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Why not just have it at Bathurst?

Way too dangerous. And inaccessible.

But seriously though, another night race? We have Singapore and Abu Dhabi, that's enough. Any more night races and the term, night race will become less special.

It's not intended as a gimmick. It's designed as a way to get greater audiences by running at a time that is better-suited to Europe, which is where the traditional fanbase is. After all, most of the drivers are European.

 

[Lizard]

that track is boring i wish the race went back to adelaide

 

[prisonermonkeys]

that track is boring i wish the race went back to adelaide

Yeah, you kind of need to see it. It migh not look like much, but there's a lot of altitude changes and interesting cambers and even the odd change in surface. Of course, the Grand Prix wouldn't be held on that exact circuit - rather, Homebush Bay has been touted as a location.

And Adelaide was just the epitome of everything wrong with street circuits: most of it was ninety-degree bends.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

that track is boring i wish the race went back to adelaide

I have to disagree with that, despite the fact that I live in Adelaide. I like the Adelaide street circuit but Albert Park works so much better as a Grand Prix circuit. What would be nice if the whole of Albert Park was air lifted to Adelaide.

 

[Ian Poole]

They should send the Aussie GP to Surfer's Paradise

 

[Roo]

I'd rather it stayed at Melbourne. Albert Park is a lot like the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve - for seemingly no reason it always creates drama, and the racing is usually fairly good, despite the apparant lack of overtaking opportunities.

 

[Ardius]

Leave it at Albert Park and re-instate it as the first race of the championship, at least it used to supply a good 1st race, Bahrain has never and will never do the job. I know its a money issue, with Bahrain probably paying extra so it can be an Arab sandwich with Abu Dhabi, but I would rather have Albert Park and Interlagos as the season opener and finisher, respectively.
Adelaide was fun too, I want more punishing street circuits like that.

Add Hungaroring to the list of "races that randomly provide drama". People always go on about how the Hungaroring is a boring track, but it has some weird effect of providing bizarre results, and we haven't seen many repeat winners there.

 

[Sureboss]

I(I saw Them Crooked Vultures at Hordern Pvaillion back in January, but they'd done a show in Melbourne before Sydney).

*sobs

 

[Ian Poole]

Adelaide was fun too, I want more punishing street circuits like that.

Which is why i suggested Surfer's Paradise

 

[SaberFire]

Albert Park is in my opinion, the best street circuit on the calender. Yes, there's Monaco, but this is my opinion. Sometimes, I like a little bit of run off. It keeps from having the entire course blocked because of a narrow street. And almost every race I've seen at Melbourne has been exciting; it has all the ingredients of a great spectacle. Last lap battles, first corner crashes, great atmosphere, everything really.

It's just a shame these days that where the races are held usually end up going to the highest bidder. Hence people racing on pieces of crap like Abu Dhabi and Bahrain.

 

[Ian Poole]

Albert Park is in my opinion, the best street circuit on the calender.

That is like saying that the facilities at Interlagos are better than Abu Dhabi, just isn't happening

 

[yeti]

The man is allowed to have his opinion... and I can definitely see where he's coming from...

Monaco isn't about overtaking - it's all about "no mistakes"... Recently the attrition rate hasn't been as high as the past... I don't know whether this is because the cars are "easier" to drive now - or the circuit has changed a bit over the years?!

C.

 

[Peter]

I don't think Albert Park can be compared to other street circuits. All of the other street circuits are city circuits. As in, they are situated in the middle of a city with buildings and structures all around the edge of the track. Albert Park seems more permanent course-like. It has runoff, gravel traps, and tire barriers situated at the end of them. And it's much wider that Monaco or any of the others.

 

[Ardius]

I don't think Albert Park can be compared to other street circuits. All of the other street circuits are city circuits. As in, they are situated in the middle of a city with buildings and structures all around the edge of the track. Albert Park seems more permanent course-like. It has runoff, gravel traps, and tire barriers situated at the end of them. And it's much wider that Monaco or any of the others.

It still has fairly close barriers at key points though, it has a constantly-changing track surface and it has many rough bumps too. Its only difference is that it has run-off.
Circuit de Gilles Villenueve is also a street circuit by the way and thats not a "city circuit".

 

[Shoogar]

Albert Park isn't as much as a city circuit. But as PJ said, it is more of a permanent course. Mark Webber qualifying first though, has given the race a lot more hype than usual though. I think there will be a lot more people at this years race then in recent years.

As people have said though, the Sydney track looks dull, and the race has been in Victoria for a while, so why bother moving it again?

 

[mafia_boy]

They should send the Aussie GP to Surfer's Paradise

It would go broke it did when IRL/CART was there, and A1 didn't even want to go there, that shows how "great" the circuit really is.

However, there are some decent circuits that if they were upgraded would be good. Tracks like Eastern Creek (which was originally designed as a full FIA course) just need their facilities upgraded. Queensland Raceway is another choice but that track is BOOOOORING!!

 

[Casio]

The issue is that a lot of the permanent circuits in use in Australia are in the middle of nowhere, or painfully inaccessible for the amount of people who come. The only other place I can think of would be cool for F1 (Not street) is Phillip Island. However, anyone who has attempted to go to Phillip Island during MotoGP/V8 Supercars know how much of a bitch it is. 4 hour queue to get into an Island on a 2 lane bridge.

Avalon isn't a bad option because it's next door to an airport, however, it's 45 minutes from the CBD and anything else for that matter. (For internationals, Avalon is literally just an domestic airfield 45 minutes from anywhere).

There as a proposal a few years ago to move the F1 to Flemington Racecourse. Don't know if anything has come of that though.

 

[mafia_boy]

That bit's true there. If Eastern Creek had decent public transport facilities then they might not have lost out so much. That's why Homebush was perfect for the V8's, because every drunk bogan could just catch a train back home after watching the race plastered, can't do that at Eastern Creek.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I'd rather see Formula 1 return to the ninety-degree bends of Adelaide before it goes to Surfers' Paradise. Surfers' is a rubbish circuit; it's all chicanes. They're cutting it back for the V8 SuperCARnivale this year, but they're still keeping all of the chicanes. It's far too narrow, and open-wheel racing outgrew it back when Chrisian Fittipaldi had his massive wipeout.

There as a proposal a few years ago to move the F1 to Flemington Racecourse. Don't know if anything has come of that though.

No, nothing came of it. The "proposal" would have required half the stables at Flemington to be destroyed.

You have to take all these reports with a cellar of salt; most of the outlets that publish these stories come from Rupert Murdoch, and he seems to be thoroughly invested in one side of Victorian politics. Because the Australian Grand Prix is so expensive and it's usually the taxpayer who pays for it, Murdoch is not-so-subtly trying to influence things - if the race moves to a permanent venue, it cuts out the long-term costs of setting up and removing the circuit each year.

 

[zed300]

. Surfers' is a rubbish circuit; it's all chicanes.

I think the drivers might disagree and the number of different winners throughout the Indy cars coming , tends to lead to a circuit that is tough on machine and driver. The T.V. spectator is blessed with high speed low traction action. This also leads to an unpredictable race. This all just what we want.

 

[Paulie]

Errgh, don't go to Homebush, that was a fairly average track. There are supposed to be plans to build a permanent Grand Prix circuit at Bathurst. You'd have to convince Bathurst residents to close their streets for yet another week for another motorsport event. I think it can stay at Melbourne for now.👍

 

[Ian Poole]

And if Surfer's is a rubbish circuit as you put it ludes, explain the fact that there were sixteen different winners in the first sixteen years of the circuit and all but one year has been a different winner?

 

[mafia_boy]

Look at the amount of people that were taken out, including ex-race winners. Happened every year that the previous years winner got taken out by something very trivial, and the chicanes for Turns 1 & 2 were some of the worst corners on any race circuit in Australia.....how no one died during some of those crashes (Fittipaldi was one straight to mind!) was amazing in itself.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

And if Surfer's is a rubbish circuit as you put it ludes, explain the fact that there were sixteen different winners in the first sixteen years of the circuit and all but one year has been a different winner?

Because of the cars, not the circuit. With each passing year, Indycar became more and more of a spec series. How often did the chassis get modified in comparison to Formula 1? Surfers' Paradise is too narrow, too slow, too dangerous and inferior to Albert Park.

 

[Ian Poole]

Because of the cars, not the circuit. With each passing year, Indycar became more and more of a spec series. How often did the chassis get modified in comparison to Formula 1? Surfers' Paradise is too narrow, too slow, too dangerous and inferior to Albert Park.

It's a heck of a lot wider than some street circuits out there

 

[machschnel]

Eastern Creek is a big possibility. Last I heard their budget was $200 million for renovations - which include reversing the track (this is to meet FIA grade 1 standards, first corner is much too fast), new stands, upgraded pits etc. I remember reading they were looking at putting in lights as well. I just hope the NSW government pours money into fixing a permenant track, instead of some crappy street circuit.