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Nick_L

By Nick_L
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gone fishin

gone fishin

Posted
Posted

I can actually see Bernie's point in all of this. He's kept very quiet, but the Silverstone guys are trying to make it out that he is the only "bad guy" in all of this. The reason he took the British GP away from them was due to the lack of money they spent on infrastructure- in particular for the fans. I haven't been there, but I've heard it's a bit of a shit-hole if you're just a "punter" going for the weekend. And I'm sure that government money the group spent on improving hospitality infrastructure a few years ago didn't exactly endear them to ol' Bernie.

So you had Silverstone saying "fuck you, we're the only place that can host the British grand prix, and you aint gonna take it, Bernie". Except he did. And now we're in the position (from what I'm reading) that Silverstone can host it next year, but are demanding that Bernie signs a long term agreement- instead of going to Donnington (which would mean Bernie would have to pay a shit load to Donnington on reneging on the contract).

Unless Silverstone accept that they're only going to host it for one year, and drop this whole "long term" agreement point of view- I can completely understand why Bernie's telling them to piss off.

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Sidewaysbob

Sidewaysbob

Posted
Posted

To be fair, Silverstone wanted a nice long contract to run the race, But Bernie would only give then a year or two here and there. Whilst he kept doing that no one would invest in silverstone becuase they couldn't garantee the jewel in the crown. Even Donnington with a 17 year contract couldn't raies the money. They want a long contract to upgrade the place. Because it isn't like singapore and Turkey and China which all have wounderful purpose build corporate hospitality grand stands and fuck all for the punters in the cheap seat. actually they have no punters in the cheaps seats. Now silverstonne doesn't have the best cheap seat either, but it's tried to improve those bits instead of just building more and more hospitality suits for bernie and his fat bankers fuckers.

And why should the government stump up for the British GP ? they don't have to pay for wimbledon or the Grand nationanal or the FA cup. All of which could go to another country for a shit load of money. The Government organises our taxes and fughts illigal wars. It doesn't pay for sporting events. If the goivernment of China want to bung Bernie a fat check let them do so, they also kill vagrants and mandate that couples can opnly have one child. Oh and they don't pay their citizens enough mopney to actually afford a ticket to the F1 race .. but that's by the by.

We'll be all off to India next year, just wait and see. More empty stands and wonderful glass airconditioned hospitality suits and dull racing. He's killing the sport, he really is. It's just about the money now.

Anyway, more Trulli entertainment.

FIA press briefing, Trulli (JT) and Sutil (AS) "discus" what happen in Brazil

Q: (Ian Parkes – The Press Association) Question to Jarno and Adrian: I’m just wondering if

you two guys have settled your differences after your exchange of words following your

first lap accident in Brazil?

Page 4 of 5

JT: I think we’re going to discuss it probably tomorrow in the drivers’ briefing and in the GPDA

briefing. Obviously it was very disappointing to end the race like that, especially on the first lap.

Obviously I think I had every reason to be extremely furious. I’ve got all the evidence to show that I

was there, I was next to him, so I think tomorrow we are going to discuss it.

AS: I think there’s nothing to discuss. It was a quite obvious incident. In the end it was very

disappointing for myself, even more, I think, because I was the one who was just driving and he

lost control of his car and crashed in my back, so it was not my problem, it was his problem. I don’t

know why he’s freaking out like that, to be honest.

JT: (Laughing) If you want, I can show you some pictures. I don’t know if you’re blind but they

clearly show you that my front wing is next to your front wing, so…

AS: Yeah, but you’re trying to overtake me on the outside on the kerbing. There was not a

problem…

JT: So you mean… you didn’t move there…

AS: No, you were just not going off the power. The same happened in Barcelona where you lost

control again and crashed again into a Force India car. You just have to sometimes also…

JT: I just lost…

AS: ...expect the limits of the car. If there’s no way to go, you have to back off, that’s how racing is,

and I don’t know how long you want to learn it.

JT: In Barcelona I spun and he hit me because he tapped the kerb, he completely cut the circuit

and he didn’t slow down, so basically… Anyway, I think it’s better…

FA: (to KR) Shall we go?

AS: No, no. Watch the race in Barcelona. I didn’t hit you, you hit me. I don’t know what’s the

problem, but maybe your eyes are a problem.

JT: I don’t have any feeling about him.

AS: I don’t understand, really, sorry.

Q: (Alan Baldwin – Reuters) I was actually going to ask a similar question, but maybe the

two of you can agree on what you said after the incident in Brazil, because obviously Jarno

was seen to be gesticulating and saying quite a few things. Could you just tell us what was

said at the time?

JT: I was furious because I said ‘didn’t you see me?’ I mean, I was next to him and he kept

pushing me going outside until I was obviously on the kerbs. I couldn’t believe…

AS: …the kerbs, not a problem to be on the kerb, I think. Where’s the problem?

JT: Ok, no problem, it’s OK. As long as we know the rules.

AS: I know the rules.

JT: Fantastic.

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Dudley

Dudley

Posted
Posted
Bernie has just confirmed that Donington isn't goin gto happen.

I hope Simon Gillett is happy tonight. Not only has he failed, and quite spectacularly. But he's given Bernie eactly what he wanted, a way out of the British GP that isn't going to cost him a penny. in fact he'll now sue Gillett for breach of contract no doubt. He's now free to go and get some ratty tilk hole put on the callender with more enmpty stands and dull as fuck racing.

Can you see him giving in to the BRDCs demand for a 17year deal ? no me neither, he'll offer 5 years, which isn't enough time to raise the money and redevelope silverstone. So he'll claim it isn't up to scratch and take circus off to some desert in the middle of umbungodingo land with 4 spectators and tent after tent of fat suited banker fucks watching football on widecreen TVs whilst they complain about the noise those damn cars are making.

Once more the paying public who actually make this sport tick over, get told to fuck off and just watch it on TV. Which bernie will be charging a gazillion Euros for as more people watch, as less see it live.

The Odious little money grabbing senial old dwarf.

RIP the British GP

You know what, I'm not sure I care, Silverstone had priced normal people out of the race, is a fairly unpleasant place to be (especially when compared with say Brands Hatch) on a normal race weekend and rarely if ever latterly produced races as good as those we get in Turkey or Malaysia.

And if you're not actually GOING to the F1, does it really make that much difference whether it's 50 or 5000 miles away from you?

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Sidewaysbob

Sidewaysbob

Posted
Posted

oh i agree, when it went from Brands to silverstone it was the worst thing ever. Silverstone is a nasty cold windy hell hole. But at least it was a British GP, i'd love it to go back to Brands but that'll never happen.

It's got expensive becuase Bernie is bleedoing the place dry. He's hiked the prices sky high, to pay his Bar bill with CVC so he has to pass that on to the circuits who have to raise the ticket prices.

But you could get to it for the day without too much hassle. Spa is a fine except it takes a day to get there and there's no where to stay when you're there. and it's full of Belgians.... never a good thing

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Christoph84

Christoph84

Posted
Posted
It's got expensive becuase Bernie is bleedoing the place dry. He's hiked the prices sky high, to pay his Bar bill with CVC so he has to pass that on to the circuits who have to raise the ticket prices.

This.

Everyone is very quick to blame the circuits for ticket prices. Do the maths, the big venues can fit circa 100,000 people in on race day. It costs circa £15m for the privillege from BE of hosting the race, that's an average ticket price of £150 to just break even!

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gone fishin

gone fishin

Posted
Posted

The Abu Dhabi track looks nice, but so far it just seems so "clean"- like all of the new tracks and just lacks some soul. Also, it seems to be really quiet!!!

Interesting point that they've spent £30bn on the track- that's what Silverstone are up against. Although if it keeps on going the way that it is, I'm expecting a shitstorm from the teams with all the travelling that they're doing, and to tracks that, frankly, are shit in comparison to the older ones.

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gone fishin

gone fishin

Posted
Posted
This.

Everyone is very quick to blame the circuits for ticket prices. Do the maths, the big venues can fit circa 100,000 people in on race day. It costs circa £15m for the privillege from BE of hosting the race, that's an average ticket price of £150 to just break even!

But then you've got practise and qualifying sessions- plus you've got the corporate hospitality (which is going to be significantly higher than £150). So it should average out at a bit lower than that.

What doesn't add up is that you can pick up a ticket to the Australian GP for not that much (when I was last there, it was about £50 for a weekend ticket, yeah, cheap seats.. but still).

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Christoph84

Christoph84

Posted
Posted
But then you've got practise and qualifying sessions- plus you've got the corporate hospitality (which is going to be significantly higher than £150). So it should average out at a bit lower than that.

What doesn't add up is that you can pick up a ticket to the Australian GP for not that much (when I was last there, it was about £50 for a weekend ticket, yeah, cheap seats.. but still).

The problem is FOM take a big chunk of the corporate revenue and sponsorship. Believe me, it's not an easy event to make money on. That average ticket price simply covers the sanction fee, no other costs at all. I don't know what all the prices are but a 3 day General Admission in Australia this year was 118 Euros, against £109 (early price) and £125 for Silverstone.

I don't want to go on and on about it, but the circuit is doing everything it can to please everyone.

Abu Dhabi's facilities do look lush don't they?

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gone fishin

gone fishin

Posted
Posted
And Ferrari landed a Basestar in the middle of it

79704-Ferrari_World_Abu_Dhabi.jpg

Man, that is fucking disgusting.

But then this shows why the races (as dull as they are) aint going to be leaving these types of new tracks soon- the infrastructure is too much to let go of. Bernie must be rubbing his hands- it's the template for all of these new countries. Build a load of crap that can't be used for anything else, so when it comes to renewing your contract, you'll pay whatever I ask. Except he'll probably be dead in 5 years.

I didn't realise it was £30billion for the island, but even then- it shows what people are willing to spend to get a GP.

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JohnC

JohnC

Posted
Posted

But the island isn't just F1. It's a massive entertainment complex with 3 theme parks, supermall and loads of hotels. It will be residential too. It's got enough of a draw to exist without F1. Up the coast, Dubai are also making artificial islands with similar stuff, but without F1 being involved.

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