The Formula 1 calendar development threadFormula 1 

Yeah, they've made their intentions known for a while now. However, the circuit looks intensely fiddly:

veo2.jpg


Like a go-kart track on steroids. However, I also found this, which looks like a Sepang-Bahrain hybrid:

circuitok.jpg


It doesn't look as bad as the first one.
 
A case of "do as I say, not as I do", huh? Despite his dark tidings, Bernie jumped through hoops to give Austin the chance to stay on the calendar, and broke his own rule bout countires not being allowed a second Grand Prix to get a race in New Jersey.

As for the comments about Europe, well, the Euro is in serious jeopardy right now. So maybe he's right about it - the days of Europe as a world power are well and truly over.
 
I remember Bernie also saying some of his Dream GPs like the Vegas strip and the New York one, which is basically what the NJ GP will provide, hence why Bernie probably snatched it up.
 
I think the Argentine circuit has postential. Right now, it looks like a karting track on steroids. But with a few chops and changes, I think it has potential. I would not be unhappy to see the finished version look like this:

dgghi1.png
 
LMSCorvetteGT2
Bernie saying US gp wont be big seems he is looking more forward to Russia and South Africa.
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Something I just noticed about this - the BBC cut a lot of Bernie's comments out, and took a hell of a lot of context out in the process. This is what they have quoted him as saying:
“The US has been slow to get F1 because they want to see a profit before they start.”
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But according to Autosport, this is what he actually said (what the BBC didn't repeat is in bold):
“We’ve got a maximum of two races in America and when you consider the country is as big as Europe and we’ve got several races in Europe, it’s difficult. If we had a lot more races there and a lot more television it would be okay. It’s a bit like the rest of America in that they want to see a profit before they start something and it’s not easy to do that.”
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Bernie clearly says that he feels the race will struggle to make an impression in the public consciousness because he is trying to cover an area larger than Europe (which has eight races) with just two Grands Prix. And when you read the full quote, this makes a hell of a lot of sense. But the BBC article cuts all of that out – once again, Bernie talks sense, but his comments are taken out of context, and everyone assaults him for it.
 
I have no idea. The original contract was for ten years, but it would appear that this may have been changed during the re-negotiations earlier this month because Bernie has said that the race is not guaranteed for the next decade.
 
Yeah, I was confused in all of their going back and forth. Hopefully it's around long enough, and does well enough, that the whole thing will be worth it. I actually think Austin is a good place for it to catch on in the States. New Jersey will be another good one, even on sheer population alone. Will still be tough to get the rest of the country to jump on board though.
 
A standard contract is for seven years. Even with the renegotiated terms, it's unlikely that Austin would be on anything else. And if they are, then all they have to do is build the circuit, be competent in their management, and pay the sanctioning fees on time, and they'll continue to host the race.
 
The official website for Velociudad Speedcity at Zarate has changed. Gone is the go-kart track on steroids, and in its place is the aforementioned Bahrain-Sepang hybrid:

veo2_a.jpg


It's okay, I guess ... but I think that inner chicane would be better with an easier turn-in for the first corner, to make it more like Tamburello.
 
prisonermonkeys
A standard contract is for seven years. Even with the renegotiated terms, it's unlikely that Austin would be on anything else. And if they are, then all they have to do is build the circuit, be competent in their management, and pay the sanctioning fees on time, and they'll continue to host the race.
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Couldn't their contract be in jeopardy like Korea is if there are problems?
 
Of course - but that's what I meant when I said they need to be competent about running the circuit.

I believe that, even before the stop work order, CotA was on-track to be finished in June. The race is scheduled for November, so they have plenty of time.
 
prisonermonkeys
The official website for Velociudad Speedcity at Zarate has changed. Gone is the go-kart track on steroids, and in its place is the aforementioned Bahrain-Sepang hybrid:

It's okay, I guess ... but I think that inner chicane would be better with an easier turn-in for the first corner, to make it more like Tamburello.
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Wow. The layout is better than the previous one because it looked weird. And the track is not a Tilke-designed one I suppose.
 
"Not a Tilke-designed one"? Sure, it's not made by Populous - but it's basically Bahrain plus Sepang, two Tilke circuits.
 
Sorry, that should have read "sure, it's made by Populous". Populous is the British firm that did the Silverstone reconfiguration.
 
prisonermonkeys
The official website for Velociudad Speedcity at Zarate has changed. Gone is the go-kart track on steroids, and in its place is the aforementioned Bahrain-Sepang hybrid:

veo2_a.jpg


It's okay, I guess ... but I think that inner chicane would be better with an easier turn-in for the first corner, to make it more like Tamburello.
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Those esses on the upper left hand side of the track remind me of Suzuka. I see two good DRS zones as well.
 
I've found a high-res picture of the Velociudad Zarate:

1324490104-populous-velociudad-speedway-aerial.jpg


And some concept art:

1324490120-populous-velociudad-speedway-in-car-track-1000x622.jpg


Nice to see that they've got the funky architecture down. Populous (the design firm responsible) reckon it will be ready for a Grade-1 certification by 2014.
 
prisonermonkeys
I've found a high-res picture of the Velociudad Zarate:

And some concept art:

Nice to see that they've got the funky architecture down. Populous (the design firm responsible) reckon it will be ready for a Grade-1 certification by 2014.
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That track is beautiful
 
Actually, I think it's way too compact at 4.7km. It might be better with an extra kilometre of length, but I think it's just going to feel like a glorified go-kart track. Especially with that chicane and the switchbacks on the far side of the circuit (which feel like they were added to pad the length out, but the designer didn't have much space to work with).
 
Yes, it looks like a real "Mickey Mouse" design (and I hate that term so much). It just doesn't look like a suitable design for Formula One racing, I'd imagine the racing wouldn't be too exciting.
 
Cap'n Jack
Yes, it looks like a real "Mickey Mouse" design (and I hate that term so much). It just doesn't look like a suitable design for Formula One racing, I'd imagine the racing wouldn't be too exciting.
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But club racing would be pretty good, as they don't need enormous straights.
 
Jimlaad43
But club racing would be pretty good, as they don't need enormous straights.
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Definitely. It's not a horrible looking circuit, just maybe not a great one for Formula One. The fact that they hope for it to be a Formula One grade circuit, to me, suggests that Formula One racing is a goal of theirs.
 
Cap'n Jack
Definitely. It's not a horrible looking circuit, just maybe not a great one for Formula One. The fact that they hope for it to be a Formula One grade circuit, to me, suggests that Formula One racing is a goal of theirs.
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Yeah, most circuits good for f1 are bad for club racing, but ones not good for f1 usually end up brilliant for club racing.
 

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