Time for San Marino to go

[Mike Rotch]

I dont know about you, but yesterdays GP was terrible compared to Bahrain - simply because you could count the number of overtaking incident that occured on the track on one hand. Bahrain had more overtaking on a single lap.

San Marino and other tracks that do no offer overtaking must make way for newer tracks that allow for such action.

 

[Bollocks#999]

Mr.E is feeling the same way I think, may have something to do with the limited amount of room they have there?

Especially with Michael walking away with the championship ATM, the punters want to see some action on the track and as you mentioned Mike, that just isnt happening at Imola

 

[Rocket Punch]

Personally I would hate to see it go, but the lack of passing issue is definitely there. May be some modification to the track can improve that a little.

 

[GilesGuthrie]

The interesting thing is that after the Senna shunt, they put that chicane in between the pits and Tosa, effectively deleting the only passing place on the track.

And yet now each new circuit has to have a 1km straight, with a 1st/2nd gear corner at the end. If you deleted the Villeneuve chicane, you'd restore Tamburello to its former glory.

But I'd go further. I would also delete Variante Alta. That would give you a clear run from Acque Minerale to Rivazza 1, which would make the Rivazza corners a piece of genius.

 

[scuderia229]

I for one find Imola as one of my top three grand prix circuits...next to Monza and Spa IMHO. I love the race and hope it isn't cut, it would be a shame.
i would MUCH prefer to see Magny Cours go which i find very bland and boring to watch, The Hungaroring should be dropped for the same reason.

Hockenheimring could go away too, ever since the chopped it is is rather sad to see.

I am glad to see Spa back and will be happy when the A1 ring returns (I love it for some reason).

Silverstone....i don't like the circuit and never really enjoy the races there but given England's role in F1 i thing the UK should have a grand prix, brand hatch I find much more inspiring though....

 

[Pupik]

As much as Imola is a beautiful place for a racing circuit, and the design is actually quite challenging, it's lack of overtaking locations makes for a boring race.

Like Catalunya, it suffers from winter-test-track-itis, which means the teams do so many testing miles there each year, that racing there's a "given" to the drivers.

I'd rather see Hungary or Mangy Cours disappear, but let's face facts: Since 1981, the San Marino GP = West Italian GP. Bernie wants more locations that don't have EU regulations, and more exotic locales means a wider audience. Especially when Bahrain was such a hit.

 

[scuderia229]

Originally posted by pupik
As much as Imola is a beautiful place for a racing circuit, and the design is actually quite challenging, it's lack of overtaking locations makes for a boring race.

Like Catalunya, it suffers from winter-test-track-itis, which means the teams do so many testing miles there each year, that racing there's a "given" to the drivers.

I'd rather see Hungary or Mangy Cours disappear, but let's face facts: Since 1981, the San Marino GP = West Italian GP. Bernie wants more locations that don't have EU regulations, and more exotic locales means a wider audience. Especially when Bahrain was such a hit.

i sorta agree though I fin the races at Imola very entertaining. I don't mind the lack of passing, I rather enjoy the weekend long positioning and pit strategy you see at Imola.

However Bahrain was amazing, amazing race and amazing circuit. I will be curious to see what china is like. I also thing Russia could host a lovely race.

I am all for exotic locations but would like to see a core of EU circuits remain and Imola is one of them.

 

[Dorifto]

Originally posted by Rocket Punch
Personally I would hate to see it go, but the lack of passing issue is definitely there. May be some modification to the track can improve that a little.

Yes the passing could be improved a little but it makes for a more interesting race when the drivers are forced to squeeze into spaces to pass. I mean hell the first seconds of lap one had me at the edge of my couch. It was actually exciting to watch rather than see the easy overtaking of the other tracks. With F1 having so many restrictions I think it's necesary for there to be some excitment.

 

[millencolin]

i love seeing the cars attack the kerbs......but it was a boring race, and so has the past few imola races. i think that the french gp should be moved to paul ricard

 

[3rdgenracerX]

Even though it would be a shame to loose Imola I think a more up to date track could be found to race on if they had to go to another track. Its true the past few Imola races have been quite boring after the first few laps. Along with the teams not liking the current status of the crew areas and the pits then I think they will go to a bahrain or Malyisa type track where its current as current can get.

 

[Blake]

Yeah, it's been a while since i've seen cars going at it like on lap one.

 

[James1985]

imola used to be a very good back in the day befor it was modified in 1995 with the two chicanes. and the aqua minaliy modified (spelling) i rember seeing cars slipstreaming around the tamberello and then cars 3 a breats going round villnerve corner and breaking for the hairpin amazing but lost forever.

i think the uk grand prix should be moved to brands hatch. but i am sure the drivers and fia would complain about safty and bumps on the track. i would like to see a new track built but berni eccleston is not keen on having tracks that dont want cigerete sponsership.

paul ricard was a great track but i think Dijon-Prenois is a better more exciting track for the french gp

 

[Eagle]

Aqua Minerale.

Yes, the first few seconds of Imola were edge of your seat entertainment. The other 1 hour, 20 something minutes weren't. Everything came down to pitstop strategy - people didn't squeeze into gaps to pass because the aerodynamic disturbance of turbulant air behind a F1 car forbids it.

Hungary and France atm are boring. The A1 ring wasn't bad, I was sorry to see it dropped. It may return. Britain proved last year it can have exciting racing, so I'm sorry to see Silverstone go now. Russia almost hosted a round, a street circuit in Moscow, but the deal fell through so the Iron Curtain round went to Hungary.

In conjunction with these insane rule changes for 2008, they should get building on a few new circuits, and launch a truly revamped 2008 series. Why not go the whole nine yards? Some of the A1 championship tracks may warrant inclusion by then too...