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[vlad]

F1 : Returning French Formula 1 Grand Prix could alternate with Belgian round
Monday, 06 June 2011 10:35

Spa Francorchamps could be the key to France's return to the Formula One calendar.

The French Le Journal Du Dimanche newspaper reports the possibility of the famous Belgian race alternating annually with a circuit in France.

"I've been asked about it earlier this year by French officials," admitted the Belgian promoter Andre Maes.

"This may be interesting, so I am waiting for further news," he said.

The Belgian Formula One Grand Prix has admitted to worrying about being priced out of Formula 1 due to rising race sanctioning fees.

French Grand Prix host Magny-Cours dropped off the calendar after the 2008 season due to "economic problems".

[LewEngBridewell]

[vlad]

I love Spa like I love beer!!!


[youtube]S2RTPF8UnGo&feature=share[/youtube]

[The Ram]

Yeah, we are going to lose Spa like we do every year right?

I swear claims of Losing spa pop up every year.. I think somebody is paying somebody for promotion.

[darwin dali]

Yeah, we are going to lose Spa like we do every year right?

I swear claims of Losing spa pop up every year.. I think somebody is paying somebody for promotion.

We lost it once.
With the albeit rumored price hikes coming in the next few years, with France longing for their own GP again and the F1 calendar already full, I wouldn't be surprised if something like this happens...

[myownalias]

Magny-Cours versus Spa-Francorchamps... it makes no sense whatsoever to remove the fans favourite, the drivers favourite track for a track that no-one has missed, crazy !

[darwin dali]

Magny-Cours versus Spa-Francorchamps... it makes no sense whatsoever to remove the fans favourite, the drivers favourite track for a track that no-one has missed, crazy !

Not Magny-Cours - just the French GP wherever that may end up being.

[What's Burning?]

Here's an idea, and I do apologize to Bernie if it makes too much sense. With the demise in popularity in Spain, let's just move the European GP to France. That would kill two birds with one stone.

[myownalias]

Magny-Cours versus Spa-Francorchamps... it makes no sense whatsoever to remove the fans favourite, the drivers favourite track for a track that no-one has missed, crazy !

Not Magny-Cours - just the French GP wherever that may end up being.

It's going to be Magny-Cours; I can't see it being held at Paul Ricard; are there any other French GP circuits that are capable of hosting a F1 race?... unless it's going to be a new Tilke track?

Here's an idea, and I do apologize to Bernie if it makes too much sense. With the demise in popularity in Spain, let's just move the European GP to France. That would kill two birds with one stone.

Oh, stop being so silly, move away from a place where F1 is not popular... that's simply ludicrous...

[Big Azza]

Maybe there shouldn't be any contracts for race circuits to hold races year after year.

Perhaps it would be better to go back to having no more than 18 races in a season - perhaps even less - and pick from about 40 or so circuits and announce next season's calender half way through the existing season. It could be 7 in Europe, 7 in Asia, and 4 in the Americas or something like that. Or perhaps 3 in the Americas and have one wildcard - perhaps which fans could vote on. (And also because we could have a race pop up in Morocco again. ).

That way, each year throws up something different, and we could have such a wide variety of circuits each year. Yeah it would be a shame to lose Spa once every while or so, but wouldn't you make that sacrifice if Spa was traded for, say, San Marino?

Perhaps by awarding contracts to a country, instead of a circuit, we could see the Spanish GP always alternating between Catalunya, Valencia, and Jerez. Australia could alternate between Adelaide, Melbourne, and heaven forbid Sydney.

But then - that would be open to so much corruption and rigging....

What are your thoughts?

BTW - Belgium IS my favourite track (close to Suzuka), so I have not entirely expressed my views in this post, rather I'm just suggesting a way for us to combat this situation.

[What's Burning?]

Maybe there shouldn't be any contracts for race circuits to hold races year after year.

Perhaps it would be better to go back to having no more than 18 races in a season - perhaps even less - and pick from about 40 or so circuits and announce next season's calender half way through the existing season. It could be 7 in Europe, 7 in Asia, and 4 in the Americas or something like that. Or perhaps 3 in the Americas and have one wildcard - perhaps which fans could vote on. (And also because we could have a race pop up in Morocco again. ).

That way, each year throws up something different, and we could have such a wide variety of circuits each year. Yeah it would be a shame to lose Spa once every while or so, but wouldn't you make that sacrifice if Spa was traded for, say, San Marino?

Perhaps by awarding contracts to a country, instead of a circuit, we could see the Spanish GP always alternating between Catalunya, Valencia, and Jerez. Australia could alternate between Adelaide, Melbourne, and heaven forbid Sydney.

But then - that would be open to so much corruption and rigging....

What are your thoughts?

BTW - Belgium IS my favourite track (close to Suzuka), so I have not entirely expressed my views in this post, rather I'm just suggesting a way for us to combat this situation.

I think it would be a logistical nightmare in some cases and you'd have to know very far in advance given the amount of equipment that is shipped to a GP.

[Hammer278]

This piece of news is great...after the reinstating the Bahrain GP.

Maybe it's time for the teams to start their breakaway threats again....and DO it. Is Todt doing ANYTHING in that office??

[bud]

FFS this is ridiculous, Get rid of one of the Spanish rounds we dont need 2 for a country that only just recently fell in love with F1! Get rid of Valencia!

Maybe it's time for the teams to start their breakaway threats again....and DO it. Is Todt doing ANYTHING in that office??

This is the work of Bernie and FOM, not the FIA.

[phil12321]

I have an Idea!!! instead of losing Spa lets Lose Tilke!!!

[VOD80]

people need to make money so that is why they have multi-year contracts, they can't randomly choose from a list of tracks every year. If Spa can't pay for it they will lose the GP. I'd be gutted like everyone else, been to the GP there twice and absolutely love the place. Hopefully it won't happen