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- actionjeans
The Formula 1 calendar development threadFormula 1
- Thread starter prisonermonkeys
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- 289
Lol maybe in downtown austin, but i highly doubt all hotels would be sold out on race weekend. You forget there are like 3 major cities within 1-2 hours drive from the racetrack with dozens of hotels to choose from. Formula 1 races do not bring out millions of people. There are hotels I can give you that are specifically going to cater to formula 1 fans about an hour and a half drive from the race that will not even raise the regular hotel prices because of this event. Or you can just fly into San Antonio international, get a hotel, rent a car...
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- actionjeans
Yes, in downtown Austin. And you are mistaken, the hotels were almost completely booked in that area around this time. They likely ARE completely booked now, or at the very least, you'll pay a massive premium to get one. I didn't forget anything, I didn't want to drive 1-2 hours to the track, so, hence, I made my reservations in advance.
If you want to make that trek 3 days in a row, be my guest. Myself? I want to get a sunburn watching P3, go to Austin to have a good time, take a cab back to the hotel - repeat for qualifying and the race.
Not making this stuff up here guys...
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I'm heading in Saturday, but I'm waiting for actual ticket prices before I get my hotel. Yeah its like 700 dollars for downtown. How were you able to get a hotel without them not changing the price? Let us know how traffic will be when you go. I'm afraid its going to be a bitch getting into the track from the freeway.
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- actionjeans
I reserved waaaaay early, and used a bundle site for car and hotel. The rates were higher, but only like $199 a night (double the usual). My girlfriend had some credit card points that allowed b1g1f airfair. Cost me about $1200 in total for 3 days including airfair (which I think is pretty good).
As for traffic, that's another reason why I wanted to get a place in Austin - push comes to shove, I rent a bicycle and ride to the track.
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Just a head ups, but most already know..... tickets will be for sale soon ( COTA announcement )
- 33,155
- Hammerhead Garage
- 33,155
- Hammerhead Garage
If the Argentine and French Grands Prix are going to happen, then they need to be announced soon. June is just around the corner, which is usually when the first draft of the calendar is announced; the 2012 calendar was announced on 3 June last year. Since the French Grand Prix is likely to be a mid-year event, and because Argentina will probably twin with Interlagos to become the penultimate or final event of the season, they need to hurry up and announce things because Bernie won't want to make massive changes to the calendar late in the year. It's fussy, time consuming, and the other circuits hate it.
- 33,155
- Hammerhead Garage
The Mexicans claim they will be holding a race in 2013 at Hermanos Rodriguez:
http://www.marca.com/2012/05/29/motor/formula1/1338288393.html
http://www.marca.com/2012/05/29/motor/formula1/1338288393.html
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- Las Vegas UTC-8
- Wardez
- Wardez
As a Mexican, that made me happy, but do you think that old track's up to the challenge of hosting a modern GP? I'm not so sure...
And while I would love to attend a GP in Mexico, I don't think I would, at least not for a good few years. While Mexico City is one of the safer places in the country away from the strong reach of the cartels, Mexico is still quite dangerous, all over, and randomly - especially for tourists, and you can bet they'll target the area knowing F1 was coming. But at the same time, Mexico needs things like this to get itself going faster, so as long as the F1 circus keeps its people in reasonable routes and stays then it should be no problem.
But again, I'm not sure of the state of the track and whether it would meet FIA's top tier grading so I'm looking forward to hearing more about this.
And while I would love to attend a GP in Mexico, I don't think I would, at least not for a good few years. While Mexico City is one of the safer places in the country away from the strong reach of the cartels, Mexico is still quite dangerous, all over, and randomly - especially for tourists, and you can bet they'll target the area knowing F1 was coming. But at the same time, Mexico needs things like this to get itself going faster, so as long as the F1 circus keeps its people in reasonable routes and stays then it should be no problem.
But again, I'm not sure of the state of the track and whether it would meet FIA's top tier grading so I'm looking forward to hearing more about this.
- 33,155
- Hammerhead Garage
The contract will reportedly be signed after the elections in July, and the circuit will be upgraded. Telmex is reportedly behind the project, so money should not be an issue.
- 33,155
- Hammerhead Garage
Chris Pook, who used to organise the United States Grand Prix West at Long Beach, has been sighted in the Montreal paddock this weekend:
http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2012/06/08/pook-takes-a-peek/
This has led to speculation that Long Beach could return to the Formula 1 calendar when the current contract with Indycar expires in 2015.
http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2012/06/08/pook-takes-a-peek/
This has led to speculation that Long Beach could return to the Formula 1 calendar when the current contract with Indycar expires in 2015.
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- Newcastle, NSW, Australia
- mrvajj
At the expense of one of the Tilkedromes in Asia perhaps?
- 33,155
- Hammerhead Garage
Personally, I doubt it will happen. Pook's exact position with the organisers of the Indycar race is a little unclear, and I doubt anyone would be willing to commit to a race before they have seen how the races in Austin and New Jersey go.
Also, if the race does join the calendar, it will replace whichever event is dropped, and Bernie doesn't drop races in the middle of a contract. The most likely candidate to be replaced is any circuit that is up for renegotiation in 2015, regardless of where it is - and I'm pretty sure the only race in the Asia-Pacific region that needs a new contract in 2015 is Melbourne (and even then, it will be a new constract starting in 2016).
Also, if the race does join the calendar, it will replace whichever event is dropped, and Bernie doesn't drop races in the middle of a contract. The most likely candidate to be replaced is any circuit that is up for renegotiation in 2015, regardless of where it is - and I'm pretty sure the only race in the Asia-Pacific region that needs a new contract in 2015 is Melbourne (and even then, it will be a new constract starting in 2016).
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- fps_nilsen
Rumors has it that Formula 1 will travel to Norway, racing at the Tilke designed track Rudskogen. The speculations started after it was made public that the Government Pension Fund of Norway invested 300 million dollars on the Formula One Group.
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- WeaselKing707
- N/A
I think a brand new layout would have to be drafted up if Chris Pook's serious about bringing F1 back to Long Beach... Personally, I think he's trying to make his case about getting a consulting/partnership job with the group responsible for the new US GP East (The street race in New Jersey).
As for the rumors about a GP in Norway, I'd have to see the circuit before I can
judge how strong those rumors really are...
- 2,073
- Newcastle, NSW, Australia
- mrvajj
Did the title of the thread really need to change on the back of some sketchy, Saward-esque speculation?
- 33,155
- Hammerhead Garage
Well, Scandinavia has been missing from Formula 1 for a while, which is a shame given that Finland has produced some fantastic drivers. Norway seems like an odd choice, since the only Norwegian open-wheel racer I can name is Pal Varhaug (though I have no problem naming Norwegian rally drivers).
If true, though, the Rudskogen circuit would definately need to be be extended. It's currently only 1.9km long, so it would need to be at least three times longer to host Formula 1 (okay, twice as long, but then it would only be the same length as Monaco).
Do you have a link for these rumours?
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- Hammerhead Garage
Well, it's evidently been extedned, and Wikipedia hasn't been updated. Nevertheless, it's still a bit short one end. FIA regulations require circuits to be between 3.5km and 7.5km in length.
The circuit could probably be extended out in that clearing in the top-left corner, but that twisty infield section has to go. And I'm not a fan of the way the first two corners and the last two corners are practically identical. Maybe an extension could use elements of Tilke's undeveloped Greek Grand Prix circuit plans; the first sector there looks particularly good.
This isn't the first time rumours of a Norweigan Grand Prix at Rudskogen have come up. They first surfaced back in 2005, though only part of the extension was completed.
The circuit could probably be extended out in that clearing in the top-left corner, but that twisty infield section has to go. And I'm not a fan of the way the first two corners and the last two corners are practically identical. Maybe an extension could use elements of Tilke's undeveloped Greek Grand Prix circuit plans; the first sector there looks particularly good.
This isn't the first time rumours of a Norweigan Grand Prix at Rudskogen have come up. They first surfaced back in 2005, though only part of the extension was completed.
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- Durham, N.C.
- otakukid965
I'm a bit curious about why they picked Sochi for the Russian Grand Prix. Out of all of Russia, why the same place as the winter Olympics?
Cap'n Jack
Premium
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- South of the South
- GoldMineGutted
So they have something to do with the grounds once the Olympics have been and gone. In a way it's kinda similar to the Homebush Street Circuit the V8 Supercars run on but actually pre-emptive.
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- Hammerhead Garage
Because when the Olympics are gone, what the hell do you do with your facilities? The Australian government spent millions developing the Homebush Bay Olympic Precinct, and when the 2000 Games finished, they just sat there. They occasionally got used for football or the Royal Easter Show, but most of the facilities did nothing, and the whole thing was something of a white elephant. It wasn't until about 2008 - eight years after the Games had finished - that V8 Supercars Australia hit upon the idea of setting up a street circuit there to replace Eastern Creek. The state government loved the idea, because they wanted to keep the venue in use, so they agreed to fund the race.
The Russians have been a little bit cannier about it, figuing that they needed to use the venues for something once the Winter Olympics are gone. A few of the stadiums will be converted - I think the speed skating arena will become a market - but they want to make it worth their while since the Games will be more expensive than a Grand Prix.
Also, Russia is a pretty cold country, but Sochi is almost right on top of its southern border, so it's reasonably warm year-round when compared to the rest of the country. It's one of the Black Sea resorts (like Varna in Bulgaria), and very popular with tourists. It's also the playground of the Russian elite - it's more expensive than Moscow, and Moscow is one of the most expesive cities to live in - so it's kind of like a Russian Monaco.
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- Hammerhead Garage
One week after Canada.
The race will probably go ahead. I see no reason why it won't. Sure, Bernie expressed doubts over it, but he's had his doubts about every race to join the calendar since 2009 - Abu Dhabi, Korea, India and Austin. All of them have gone ahead/are going ahead. It's probably just his way of warning New Jersey not to get too comfortable. Especially since he has a problem where he has 21 races under contract, but only 20 available calendar spaces and the likes of Mexico and Argentina wanting in as well.
The race will probably go ahead. I see no reason why it won't. Sure, Bernie expressed doubts over it, but he's had his doubts about every race to join the calendar since 2009 - Abu Dhabi, Korea, India and Austin. All of them have gone ahead/are going ahead. It's probably just his way of warning New Jersey not to get too comfortable. Especially since he has a problem where he has 21 races under contract, but only 20 available calendar spaces and the likes of Mexico and Argentina wanting in as well.
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- Hammerhead Garage
Thailand wants a race from 2014.
Elsewhere, Interlagos is changing. But don't panic - the layout is staying the same. The Brazilians are simply doing what the BRDC did a few years ago and moving their pit building and start line. Reta Oposta is going to become the main straight at Interlagos.
Elsewhere, Interlagos is changing. But don't panic - the layout is staying the same. The Brazilians are simply doing what the BRDC did a few years ago and moving their pit building and start line. Reta Oposta is going to become the main straight at Interlagos.
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- Hammerhead Garage
A bid has been received for a race around the London Olympic Park some time in the future.
