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The Formula 1 Thread

Nick_L

By Nick_L
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ryodi

ryodi

Posted
Posted

I'd say after 2015 when their current contract ends, the Australian GP is pretty much doomed.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/feb/29/bernie-ecclestone-australian-grand-prix

Bernie Ecclestone, the Formula One commercial rights holder, appears ready to axe the Australian Grand Prix unless it becomes a night race. The 81-year-old is prepared to honour the contract with the organisers at Melbourne's Albert Park that runs through to 2015, but beyond that the stakes are likely be raised.

Ecclestone said the race is "probably the least viable of all the races we have" given the time difference to the European market, and with other venues waiting in the wings. "We have a contract which we will respect, so up until 2015 we are in good shape," Ecclestone said. "

"After then, we really don't know. If we were to have a divorce from our friends in Melbourne we would probably be walking away from Australia. Because I can't see how Adelaide could make it [a night race] happen, or anywhere else, if Melbourne can't.

"We have other races ready to take the place of Australia, which we don't want to happen. But it would be wrong of me to have to report to our board: 'Terribly sorry about this but we have to walk away from wherever to retain Australia.'"

Ecclestone's posturing could be the final straw for Melbourne in particular as city officials have long complained about the financial losses incurred in recent years.

Given the additional costs required to install lighting, such as that currently used in Singapore, it is likely that would be too much for taxpayers to absorb.

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kiroquai

kiroquai

Posted
Posted

The Ferrari IndyCar that Enzo had built because he was pissed off with proposed V8 engine rules! 637. Lovely looking car, but ultimately one of Mr. Ferrari's grand sweeping gestures to guilt-trip the FIA into changing something he didn't like ;).

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Meers

Meers

Posted
Posted

The Ferrari IndyCar that Enzo had built because he was pissed off with proposed V8 engine rules! 637. Lovely looking car, but ultimately one of Mr. Ferrari's grand sweeping gestures to guilt-trip the FIA into changing something he didn't like wink.png.

Christ, is there anything you don't know about F1?

Here's one for you:

How many Dutch drivers have there been in the history of F1, and what were/are their names?

And for bonus points:

Which Dutch tracks have hosted an F1 race before, and when?

:P

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kiroquai

kiroquai

Posted
Posted

Christ, is there anything you don't know about F1?

Here's one for you:

How many Dutch drivers have there been in the history of F1, and what were/are their names?

And for bonus points:

Which Dutch tracks have hosted an F1 race before, and when?

tongue.png

Dutch circuits: Zandvoort and... er... Zandvoort! 1950s through to 1985, minus a few years when it was getting tidied up.

Dutch drivers: Erm... Jan Lammers, Christijan Albers, Jos Verstappen, Ben Pon, Huub Rothengatter, going back a bit there was de Beaufort (really interesting character, died at the 'Ring sadly), van Lennep and Roelof Wunderink, who had badass sideburns. Oh, and Jeroen Bleekemolen's dad Michael too. EDIT: Oh, who could forget Robert 'Doorknobs' ;)

Probably some others, but they were the important ones ;).

And Dudley, hah - yeah!

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kiroquai

kiroquai

Posted
Posted

Heh!

It's pretty much the only thing I have a proper memory for. Used to drive my parents mad - I was okay but a bit lazy through school and when I should have been doing my homework I was instead to be found reading Bernd Rosemeyer's biography or something similar.

Had a meet-and-greet with Murray Walker back in 2004 and had a wicked little chat with him about pre-war Grands Prix. He was slightly taken aback that someone my age was going on about Caracciola, Rosemeyer, Lang, Auto Union etc when he was expecting me to talk about Damon Hill and Jenson Button :lol:

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kiroquai

kiroquai

Posted
Posted

Amazing thing was that he was actually 100% sharp and on the ball! We had a conversation about the 1938 Record Week in which Rosemeyer was killed (can you believe they used to shut the Autobahn and run special speed record streamline cars down them for a whole week?) and he was totally 100% on who was running, why Rosemeyer had his accident and all that.

Very, very nice guy. Should be given a knighthood for his services to sport and broadcasting in my opinion.

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SF-02

SF-02

Posted
Posted

Word on the street, Valencia is yet to pay its race fees.

fingers crossed they fail to find the money.

I was in Valencia a couple of weeks ago. Saw some violent protests kicking off, and upon googling what it was about found out that Valencia has the biggest debt and financial problems in Spain, a country with big enough problems as it is, and they were downgraded to junk status by the markets. They havn't been able to pay for things like heating in schools, and there's a big corruption scandal in politics there right now, so I did wonder how long they can keep paying Bernie.

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