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[McLaren Fan]

From autosport.com:

Qatar plans to modify track for F1

By Alan Baldwin Wednesday, March 26th 2008, 16:50 GMT

MotoGP riders test the floodlights at Qatar in late 2007Qatar plans to modify its Losail MotoGP circuit to cater for Formula One cars, the Gulf country's motor and motorcycling federation president Nasser Khalifa al-Attiyah confirmed on Wednesday.

"We are planning a massive upgrade of the Losail circuit to make it possible to host Formula One races when the time comes," he told Qatar's Gulf Times newspaper on Wednesday.

"We will be shortly inviting tenders for the job and once we decide on whom to award the contract, work will start soon," he added.

Losail hosted MotoGP's first night race earlier this month but may have to wait many years for the chance to stage an F1 event, with Bahrain already on the calendar and Abu Dhabi making its debut next year.

"You cannot say what is going to happen in the future," al-Attiyah said.

"F1 teams can use the track for testing which will put Qatar on the map and also help us earn good revenue."

Bahrain hosts the only Middle Eastern Grand Prix next week at its Sakhir circuit.

Given the wealth in Qatar (like other countries in the Middle East) and the amount of cash they are prepared to pump into Formula One, this may interest Ecclestone considerably.

[Denthúl]

But at what cost? Albert Park? Spa? Silverstone? I doubt he'll make the calendar longer for it.

[130R]

But at what cost? Albert Park? Spa? Silverstone? I doubt he'll make the calendar longer for it.

Albert Park is on borrowed time anyway isn't it... as the Ozzies refuse to shift the race time - or make it a night race for us 'europeans'...

And if Spa goes, I'll be personally hunting BE out for a good @rse kicking!

[Denthúl]

They shouldn't have to alter the time of their race. And as far as I'm aware, a World Championship generally consists of more than Asia and Europe...

[130R]

They shouldn't have to alter the time of their race.

I agree with that... but I read recently BE has been winging about it...

[deMuRe]

I'm wondering if Bernie is trying to get tobacco companies to come back into the sport with all these new tobacco friendly countries.

Would that be allowed or is Philip Morris seeing out the end of an existing contract?

[8-ball]

As long as Bernie is still alive F1 will go where the money is and that is in the oil rich nations of the middle east. Australia, Britain etc are at threat by these new races and I am sure Bernie would set up a Grand Prix in Iraq if it meant he could make money.

[onelapdown]

Does anyone else see the contradiction in Max trying to cut costs in F1 while Bernie reduced the number of races F1 teams can drive to in favour of flyaway races? Barmy.

[8-ball]

Bernie wants to make money and Max wants to make his legacy by saying he introduced green technology to F1 and cut costs. In the end it is the fans across the world that lose out