German GP in doubt after 2009?

[pchall]

link (http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/244044,germany-could-disappear-from-f1-map-in-2010.html)



Germany could disappear from F1 map in 2010

Hamburg - Germany could be without a Formula One race for the first time in half a century in 2010 for financial reasons, it emerged on Sunday. Officials from the Nuerburgring said they would be unable to stage the 2010 German Grand Prix if the original cash-strapped host Hockenheim had to withdraw.

"We can not afford that," Nuerburgring general manager Walter Kafitz told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

Hockenheim and the Nuerburgring currently share the German Grand Prix, with this year's race in Hockenheim and the 2009 edition on the Nuerburgring.

Hockenheim's ability to stage the 2010 race came under threat when the state of Baden-Wurttemberg, where the track is located, announced on Friday that it will not provide funds for the troubled organizers.

"There will be no more Formula One in Hockenheim without state funds," Hockenheim boss Josef Schmidt told Sunday's edition of Der Tagesspiegel paper.

Can you imagine an F1 season without the French and German GPs?

[oddlycalm]

Can you imagine an F1 season without the French and German GPs?
I'm currently imagining F1 without the Canadian, US, French, German, Spa and likely the British GP as well. Anyone think the Donington dreamers will get that albatross off the deck by 2010?

oc

[RusH]

I can imagine myself watching less racing. It's already happening.

[Methanolandbrats]

The common theme in all the abandonments of traditional tracks is money. F1 is supposed to be controlling costs according to Max and Bernie. Of course the only aspect of Formula One not subject to cost control is the Evil Little Prick's sanction fee. Disgusting.

[Michaelhatesfans]

Anyone think the Donington dreamers will get that albatross off the deck by 2010?


I predict a malfunctioning catapult that sends the plane cartwheeling off the end of the ship where it is then run over by the carrier and ground up in the props.

[Gnam]

With fewer GPs will the remaining tracks have to pay Bernie more?

[eiregosod]

Max V Bernie.

Slutivaca V Bernie

CVC versus the Banks

These guys make FTG look like chess grandmaster :tony:

[Andrew Longman]

What I think is pretty clear that Bernie isn't getting is that the Bahrains and Singapores of the world are only going to pay the ridiculous fees they pay if the series is also racing in GB, France and Germany (and USA).

Their government are buying credibility for their nations to lift them out of developing-nation status. That only works if the series runs predominantly in developed nations.

[Fio1]

In 10 years there will only be 4-5 European GP's; Monaco, Italian, GB (maybe), Spanish and a European round.

[Methanolandbrats]

What I think is pretty clear that Bernie isn't getting is that the Bahrains and Singapores of the world are only going to pay the ridiculous fees they pay if the series is also racing in GB, France and Germany (and USA).

Their government are buying credibility for their nations to lift them out of developing-nation status. That only works if the series runs predominantly in developed nations.
Maybe, but the way things are going, there is a chance that the East will become the financial center this century as the West goes in the tank. In that case Bernard is ahead of the curve.

[Insomniac]

They are going to turn F1 into ChampCar after they dumped Milwaukee.

[oddlycalm]

The thread regarding the Tasman series revival at Eastern Creek really drove home (yet again) how much great racing their used to be. In addition to the European races and the US and Canadian GP's there was the Tasman series in while the season was dormant in the Northern hemisphere. How did we ever manage without the massive commercialization of the sport....:shakehead The logical question is what has that massive commercialization actually brought us? Fewer races, much fewer interesting races, and fewer teams participating.

oc

[Andrew Longman]

Maybe, but the way things are going, there is a chance that the East will become the financial center this century as the West goes in the tank. In that case Bernard is ahead of the curve.

There is little doubt that the economic center is moving East, but the economic premium for associating with a Western racing series will diminish if they don't sustain a facination with the series in the West.

[pchall]

http://www.yican.com.au/1935/images/rickshaw.jpg

[oddlycalm]

Drop the races in Europe and the Americas, introduce spec engines and bring in the ride buyers. Seems like Bernie didn't notice how things worked out for formula :tony: when the racing had no credibility.

oc