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[andrew]

Iran to build Formula One track near Tehran

Iran has emerged as the unlikely latest prospective destination for Formula 1.

The local Mehr news agency said officials have decided to build a circuit 35 kilometres south of the capital Tehran, with Apex Circuit Design assigned the contract.

“Planning and construction would follow all formula one standards,” Mehr, reporting that the track will be the first of its kind in Iran, quoted Apex’s Martin Baerschmidt as saying.

“We were really surprised after seeing the landscape,” he said.

The circuit will reportedly be inaugurated within six months, with the cost totalling $85 million.

The project’s executive manager Alireza Sabbagh added: “Iran has so many young people and there is an increasing tendency for them to drive. Formula one has a great future in the Asian country.”

Oil-rich Iran is bordered by Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq.

Iran has announced plans to build a Formula 1 circuit in Parand City, 35 kilometres (28 miles) south of capital Tehran. The construction project, as reported by news agency MNA, will be overseen by Apex Circuit Design.

“We were really surprised after seeing the landscape,” says company Director Martin Baerschmidt. “We want to improve the level of immunity and excitement as well.”

It is believed the track will measure around five kilometres (3.1 miles) in length and cost approximately $88 million (£55m) to complete. Plans state that the facility, which would be the country’s first motor racing venue, will be ready within six months.

Alireza Sabbagh, Executive Manager of the project, adds:

“Iran has so many young people and there is an increasing tendency for them to drive. Formula 1 has a great future in the Asian country.”

Obviously early days but a surprise all the same. However, I have the feeling that this could end up like Turkey with Iran appearing to be more of a footballing nation. Time will tell of course.

[LewEngBridewell]

Time indeed will tell.

If the circuit is built, I hope it's a thumpin' good one.

As a fan, my head is spinning with all these new countries banging on about trying to obtain a slot on the F1 calendar! Very worrying with regards to the European heartland... F1's traditional and true home.

Asia is seemingly the one continent not to have fully caught on to F1, yet more and more races are being drawn up there.

[racechick]

Oh here we go!!! let me guess...Who is designing it???

[LewEngBridewell]

Oh here we go!!! let me guess...Who is designing it???

Ooooo now that is TOUGH! Wow, what a difficult question. Will have to sleep on it, and hopefully maybe I'll have a stab at a guess tomorrow...

[andrew]

Oh here we go!!! let me guess...Who is designing it???

Ooooo now that is TOUGH! Wow, what a difficult question. Will have to sleep on it, and hopefully maybe I'll have a stab at a guess tomorrow...

Apex Circuit Design. You're hinting at Herman Tilke but this is a different company I think. Tilke is MrE's choice designer but this track is being built independant from F1 and MrE. From what I've read so far it look like they are basically going to build a facility which needs no input from MrE as it will meet all requirements straight out the box. Less faffing around later and probably saving a few quid.

Incidently, the next MotoGP race is at a Tilke track. The race last year made me change my opinion of the Tilke tracks. It's the cars that are the problem. The Tilke tracks have what he is instructed to put on them as advised I think by the FOTA based working group.

[andrew]

As a fan, my head is spinning with all these new countries banging on about trying to obtain a slot on the F1 calendar! Very worrying with regards to the European heartland... F1's traditional and true home.

Asia is seemingly the one continent not to have fully caught on to F1, yet more and more races are being drawn up there.

F1 is a global sport but as you say Asia has not yet fully caught on but they are nearly there with Japan, China, Malaysia, Korea, India and Russia. There is even rumour of a Thai GP after Red Bull carried out a demo run there.

Asia has a lot of emerging economies, in particular India. These countries are keen to break into the western side of things so they will bend over backwards to attract major sporting events like an F1 race. It is the same with the 2018 world cup being held in Russia and the Sri Lanka is looking to attract the 2018 Commonwealth Games. I think over teh coming years we will see a lot of major sporting event being held in Asian countries.

As for the possibility of the Iranian GP, the biggest sticking point for me is the political relationship between Iran and the likes of the UK, US and other western countries that have been quite vocal on Iran over the past few years. I hope it does develop in a GP but I have my doubts.

[bud]

Iran? No thanks

[vlad]

Iran? No thanks

I couldn't agree more!

[Crawf]

Afghanistan, Iraq and Saudi Arabia are also set to make a bid for F1....

Rumors about Antarctica making a bid too...

[Hammer278]

If Iran's making a bid, it wont be long before Iraq voices up as well...and then all hell breaks lose.

[andrew]

Rumors about Antarctica making a bid too...

They could have the race in Scotland around July. Much the same weather as Antartica.

[FRAFPDD]

Why not?

[andrew]

Why not?

What do you mean why not? Not the most politically stable country I don't think.

However, at the moment this is just Iran are building a track to attract F1, not F1 telling Iran to build a track. There is no guarantee about an Iranian GP yet.

[FRAFPDD]

Why not?

What do you mean why not? Not the most politically stable country I don't think.

However, at the moment this is just Iran are building a track to attract F1, not F1 telling Iran to build a track. There is no guarantee about an Iranian GP yet.

Sport should have nothing to do with politics, whats politically unstable anyway?

our country couldnt even get a majority vote without two completely different ideological parties merging together, thats politically unstable.

Then the countrys national governments in scotland are goverened by a party thats sole purpose is to get scotland out of it, thats politically unstable.

[andrew]

Why not?

What do you mean why not? Not the most politically stable country I don't think.

However, at the moment this is just Iran are building a track to attract F1, not F1 telling Iran to build a track. There is no guarantee about an Iranian GP yet.

Sport should have nothing to do with politics

Couldn't agree with you more there Fraff. Sport and politics should not be linked but they often are.

whats politically unstable anyway?

our country couldnt even get a majority vote without two completely different ideological parties merging together, thats politically unstable.

Then the countrys national governments in scotland are goverened by a party thats sole purpose is to get scotland out of it, thats politically unstable.

Ok the counrty itself is probably stable but what about their relationship with the West? Not exactly rosy is it?

Don't get me wrong, I'd like to see a GP here, I think a track in Iran could be quite spectacular depending on the location and new tracks are always keenly anticipated. Going by what I've read, Iran is predominantly a football nation so is the demand for a GP there? No one wants to see another country spend millions on a total flop, like what happened in Turkey.

Hopefully my concerns (like they matter in MrE's grand scheme for the world) are proven to be unwarranted and a GP is awarded and it is a huge success.