FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[newtransistorhero]

Hey

Does anyone know why Formula One has never gone to Laguna Seca? I can only think that it's the Corkscrew.

On that note, where else would you like Formula One to go?

[FIAarri]

As I grew up with the sounds of F1 engines nearby, Brands Hatch

[IceManpjn]

Hey

Does anyone know why Formula One has never gone to Laguna Seca? I can only think that it's the Corkscrew.

On that note, where else would you like Formula One to go?

Hmm. At 2.238 miles (3.6 kilometers), it would be the second-shortest F1 circuit behind only Monaco, I think, but since they do race at a course that's just over 2 miles and one that's 2.6, it would seem that's not the problem. I would then suppose that it's an issue of facilities. From what I've read, it was considered as a possible location back in 1989, but was passed up in favor of Phoenix because Laguna Seca was too small for an F1 crowd and too remotely-located.

I would still like to see them race at Mid-Ohio (2.25 miles / 3.62 kilometers), but it only has grandstands for a mere 10,000 people and sitting on mounds ups that to just 75,000. I'm not sure that it would be "remote", though, since even though it's just near a town of 4,165 people it's within about an hour's drive of the state capital Columbus (population 711,470) and of Cleveland (478,403, but had a metropolitan area consisting of over 2 million back in 2000).

[vindicator86]

Hey

Does anyone know why Formula One has never gone to Laguna Seca? I can only think that it's the Corkscrew.

On that note, where else would you like Formula One to go?

Because Bernie would never allow it...



Personally, id love to see F1 there, or Elkhart Lake .

[Fred_C_Dobbs]

F1 has gone to Laguna Seca.

[McLaren]

Hey

Does anyone know why Formula One has never gone to Laguna Seca? I can only think that it's the Corkscrew.

On that note, where else would you like Formula One to go?

Theres nowhere to park the poison dwarfs boat for a start

[suitcase]

I'd like to see F1 anywhere near me - looks like that's going to be New York City. (Hoping! Praying it will all work out!) There's a NASCAR track that's about an hour away from where I live, and it would be amazing if it could be accomodated for Formula 1, but it would be extremely difficult. It's probably never going to happen.
But it would certainly be interesting to see F1 in NYC/New Jersey. God that would be exciting

Because Bernie would never allow it...

I'm nearly choking from laughing so hard. Oh my god.

[Flux]

the paddock is pretty small considering how much it is used, like alot of tracks it would require a major overhaul facilities wise.

[darwin dali]

F1 has gone to Laguna Seca.

In 1988, in the hope of attracting Formula 1 racing after the demise of the Detroit Grand Prix, SCRAMP agreed to lengthen and upgrade the circuit from 1.9-miles to the present 2.2. This was done by creating an infield area which did away with the daunting old Turn Two. In the end F1 never went to Laguna but it still remains a popular track for racers and spectators. The access roads are not great and it is a long way from major population but it is a place where racing cars can be seen at their best. There is a 300-ft change in elevation which includes the infamous Corkscrew, an incredible curling downhill series of turns. It was exiting the Corkscrew in 1996 that Alex Zanardi pulled off a breathtaking overtaking maneuver on the last lap of the race to beat Bryan Herta. The death of Gonzalo Rodriguez in 1999 led to major safety changes at Laguna and a naming rights deal with Mazda has provided the funding for other development including new access routes and proper pits.

[Fred_C_Dobbs]

F1 has gone to Laguna Seca.

In 1988, in the hope of attracting Formula 1 racing after the demise of the Detroit Grand Prix, SCRAMP agreed to lengthen and upgrade the circuit from 1.9-miles to the present 2.2. This was done by creating an infield area which did away with the daunting old Turn Two. In the end F1 never went to Laguna but it still remains a popular track for racers and spectators. The access roads are not great and it is a long way from major population but it is a place where racing cars can be seen at their best. There is a 300-ft change in elevation which includes the infamous Corkscrew, an incredible curling downhill series of turns. It was exiting the Corkscrew in 1996 that Alex Zanardi pulled off a breathtaking overtaking maneuver on the last lap of the race to beat Bryan Herta. The death of Gonzalo Rodriguez in 1999 led to major safety changes at Laguna and a naming rights deal with Mazda has provided the funding for other development including new access routes and proper pits.

The Pacific Grand Prix was contested at Laguna Seca from 1960-1963. It was a non-championship race of the sort that was common in F1 before 1983 but it was a sanctioned event none the less. Sterling Moss came first in 1960 and 1961 in a Lotus-Climax.

[darwin dali]

F1 has gone to Laguna Seca.

In 1988, in the hope of attracting Formula 1 racing after the demise of the Detroit Grand Prix, SCRAMP agreed to lengthen and upgrade the circuit from 1.9-miles to the present 2.2. This was done by creating an infield area which did away with the daunting old Turn Two. In the end F1 never went to Laguna but it still remains a popular track for racers and spectators. The access roads are not great and it is a long way from major population but it is a place where racing cars can be seen at their best. There is a 300-ft change in elevation which includes the infamous Corkscrew, an incredible curling downhill series of turns. It was exiting the Corkscrew in 1996 that Alex Zanardi pulled off a breathtaking overtaking maneuver on the last lap of the race to beat Bryan Herta. The death of Gonzalo Rodriguez in 1999 led to major safety changes at Laguna and a naming rights deal with Mazda has provided the funding for other development including new access routes and proper pits.

The Pacific Grand Prix was contested at Laguna Seca from 1960-1963. It was a non-championship race of the sort that was common in F1 before 1983 but it was a sanctioned event none the less. Sterling Moss came first in 1960 and 1961 in a Lotus-Climax.

The first races at Laguna Seca took place in 1958. They were local events and truly international racing did not appear until 1960 when Stirling Moss won the Pacific Grand Prix sportscar race in a Lotus. He won again the following year but in 1962 victory in the event went to the Zerex Special driven by Roger Penske. In 1966 CanAm arrived and Laguna Seca was one of the big races of the series: the early winners including Phil Hill, Bruce McLaren (twice), Denny Hulme and Peter Revson. The track also hosted a variety of SCCA open-wheeler series in the late 1960s and in the 1970s was an important track in Formula 5000, the winners including David Hobbs, Brian Redman and Mario Andretti. TransAm, Formula Atlantic and SuperVee were all regularly held at Laguna.

[Gaz]

They put a toyota F1 car around it a few years back and it set a record.

Besides the fact its remote and dosn't have the facilities to support an F1 crowd, Its sponsored by Mazda and they are not in F1.

So i doubt it would be avalible on that account.

I'd love to see a F1 race there though.

[myownalias]

I'd love to see 26 F1 cars racing around this track despite it's hospitality shortcomings. The racing is almost guaranteed to be better than any Tilke designed Austin, TX track!

Is it a pre-requisite that any new track to the calendar must be be designed by Hermann Tilke? I can't remember the last time a existing track was added to the calendar!

[racechick]

Laguna Seca is just ACE with motorbikes. Id love to see the F1 cars go through the cork screw. Its 'hairs up on the back of the neck' stuff when the bikes go through..amazing!! (specially an injured Rossi!!!!)

[7UpJordan]

Besides the fact its remote and dosn't have the facilities to support an F1 crowd, Its sponsored by Mazda and they are not in F1.

Cue the track being decorated in horrible Santander red.