Rome sign F1 race deal

jab · 20 Dec 2009, 18:56 (Ref:2602830)

Being reported by the AP and also Sky Sports that the organisers of the proposed Rome GP have reached agreement with Ernie Becclestone to hold a race. No info on when it will begin but I wouldn't be surprised if it's replacing Turkey

Sideswipe · 20 Dec 2009, 19:04 (Ref:2602834)

Surely as European/Mediterranean GP rather than Italian?

JeremySmith · 20 Dec 2009, 19:14 (Ref:2602839)

I think jab is right here...

Marbot · 20 Dec 2009, 19:35 (Ref:2602853)

Bernie is charging Turkey twice as much as usual to host GP events beyond 2010!

Link for conformation of possible 2012/2013 Rome race.

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpa...s_art_id=39703

Burnsie · 20 Dec 2009, 19:37 (Ref:2602854)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sideswipe

Surely as European/Mediterranean GP rather than Italian?

I sincerely hope so, Monza is irreplaceable.

Sodemo · 20 Dec 2009, 19:54 (Ref:2602862)

Anything is better than that grim Valencia track.

nickyf1 · 20 Dec 2009, 20:33 (Ref:2602873)

amen to that

Marbot · 20 Dec 2009, 20:37 (Ref:2602878)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sodemo

Anything is better than that grim Valencia track.

But it's Turkey (Tilke's best track!) that's likely to get the boot.

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/formula-1-...h-gp-race-fee/

In fact, the fee is doubled for 2010!

Pingguest · 20 Dec 2009, 20:53 (Ref:2602880)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marbot

Bernie is charging Turkey twice as much as usual to host GP events beyond 2010!

That's outrageous! The Turkish Grand Prix already lacks popularity, the circuit was nearly empty during this year's race weekend. Doubling the charge will undoubtedly force the organisation to raise the entrance fee, making the event even less accessible and hence less popular.

skells22 · 20 Dec 2009, 21:05 (Ref:2602890)

if this is true then that is two races in Italy again

m1fcf · 20 Dec 2009, 21:26 (Ref:2602898)

Quote:

Originally Posted by skells22

if this is true then that is two races in Italy again

Mmmm....two races in italy announced shortly after the man who has Ferrari red paint for blood takes over at the FIA? What are the chances of that coincidence happening!!

I knew I should have brought lottery tickets...

Sodemo · 20 Dec 2009, 21:44 (Ref:2602912)

Whats the reason he is doubling the race fees for Turkey?

Jamesy-18 · 20 Dec 2009, 21:54 (Ref:2602920)

To be honest, I don't even see why we are going to Turkey. When the interest clearly isn't there and the track is a ghost town for the whole weekend, clearly it isn't working and there are many other countries that would pain for a race. For me, it is simple. Whilst I think that Istanbul is a good track and it is by far and away one of Tilke's better tracks that he has designed, I'd happily see it off the calendar for Rome.

To be honest it would be good if we had a race in all the major cities, Rome, Paris, New York, etc. Of course for the latter two, it is very unlikely and I don't suddenly want an influx of boring street tracks other than Monaco and Singapore (Singapore as a novelty factor for the season) but Rome would espacially nice.

Like others have mentioned though, I hope it doesn't come at the expense of a traditional track like Monza. Whilst it's all fine and good going to these new places and having races, we must, MUST protect the classics of Monaco, Silverstone, Monza, Spa, etc.

jab · 20 Dec 2009, 21:55 (Ref:2602922)

The Rome GP organisers have always said from the beginning that they want a 2nd Italian race rather than to replace Monza, so this will be a Rome/Vatican (1982 official review...) GP on its own

duke_toaster · 20 Dec 2009, 23:02 (Ref:2602964)

This could be a nice track. Yes, Turkey is one of Tilke's best, and I'd rather it was at the expense of Bahrain or China. However,

With regards to the name, I hope they don't call it the Vatican GP for Herr Ratzinger. They could call it the Mediterranean Grand Prix, Gran Premio di Roma, European GP if they do some name jiggerypokery in Spain (or, ideally, dropping both of those races and going somewhere else for Spain, either Motorland Aragon or Jerez).

Marbot · 20 Dec 2009, 23:56 (Ref:2602996)

I think that the Vatican is actually a small stand alone state, much in the same way that San Marino is.

Whatever, it seems that we will once again have two races in Italy and also two in Spain, when the world champions are based in a country that nearly didn't have a GP at all!

Chatters · 21 Dec 2009, 04:46 (Ref:2603050)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marbot

I think that the Vatican is actually a small stand alone state, much in the same way that San Marino is.

Whatever, it seems that we will once again have two races in Italy and also two in Spain, when the world champions are based in a country that nearly didn't have a GP at all!

Better then having a Abu Dhabi - Bahrain - Qatar - Saudi Arabia - Bahrain - Abu Dhabi - Qatar - Saudi Arabia - Abu Dhabi - Qatar - Bahrain - Saudi Arabia - Qatar - Abu Dhabi - Bahrain - Saudi Arabia calender...

duke_toaster · 21 Dec 2009, 10:02 (Ref:2603106)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marbot

I think that the Vatican is actually a small stand alone state, much in the same way that San Marino is.

Whatever, it seems that we will once again have two races in Italy and also two in Spain, when the world champions are based in a country that nearly didn't have a GP at all!

A second Grand Prix in the British Isles would be a nice idea, but the challenge is finding a venue. It would have to either be new, pretty much new, or a temporary circuit. Donington, Mondello, Brands, Kirkistown, wherever, would be wholly inadequate. Without wanting to provoke car theft jokes I think Liverpool might be a possibility. It may be difficult, but perhaps the car track at Aintree could be brought back.

I hope the calendar starts moving in the right direction, this is certainly a nudge to it. Ideally the next race to be announced would be the USA ...

Pingguest · 21 Dec 2009, 12:41 (Ref:2603166)

Formula 1 is a world championship and should have a healthy mix of both traditional venues and new venues in Asia and the Middle-East. Sadly, due to Ecclestone's hunger to money Formula 1 has been unable to find that mix.

JamesRamone · 21 Dec 2009, 19:32 (Ref:2603336)

Turkey is a reasonable circuit but with taking into account that Cowdenbeath probably get more fans for their Scottish Football Division home games then I think it should lose it's slot.

NaBUru38 · 21 Dec 2009, 19:42 (Ref:2603339)

Gran Premio di Roma was used for races at Vallelunga.

MrTTraces · 21 Dec 2009, 19:48 (Ref:2603347)

So we get a Roman Chariot (with double diffusers) race.

Its clear the calender cannot go on expanding without others being lost. Just not possible, i'd say the odds on favourite to go is Turkey.

Marbot · 21 Dec 2009, 19:57 (Ref:2603354)

It's Christmas, and yet here we are, talking about no more Turkey. It's sad.

And what have the Romans ever done for us?

duke_toaster · 21 Dec 2009, 20:03 (Ref:2603357)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pingguest

Formula 1 is a world championship and should have a healthy mix of both traditional venues and new venues in Asia and the Middle-East. Sadly, due to Ecclestone's hunger to money Formula 1 has been unable to find that mix.

I agree that the balance has been tipped too far towards Asia, and to the detirment of Europe and North America. Ideally there would be quotas as follows.

The Big Eight (Britain, Monaco, United States, Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, Japan) - Eight Grands Prix
Europe (EEA + European Microstates) - Four races (incl. Spain, Finland and Portugal)
North America - One race (Canada)
South America - One race (Brazil)
Pacific and Asia - Four races (Singapore, Australia)

For a total of 18 races.

MrTTraces · 21 Dec 2009, 20:07 (Ref:2603361)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marbot

And what have the Romans ever done for us?

They invented sandals

(the Germans later adapted their design with socks

)

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