FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[McLaren Fan]

From autosport.com:

Ecclestone says India will make 2011 debut

By Michele Lostia and Pablo Elizalde Friday, October 10th 2008, 10:53 GMT

The first Indian Formula One Grand Prix will take place in 2011, one year later than it was originally announced by the local organisers, according to Bernie Ecclestone.

The Indian Olympic Association had announced last year that the first race in the Asian country would take place in 2010.

The Formula One supremo also said Russia was an option for the future.

"Besides Abu Dhabi, we have at least two or three options open in Russia," Ecclestone told Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview. "The first is obviously Moscow. But it isn't time to think about a date yet.

"And then there's India, and I can say that the Grand Prix there will be included in the 2011 calendar."

Ecclestone said that Singapore would again be the only night race on the calendar in 2009.

"The Singapore GP originated from the need of making F1 visible to Europe at an acceptable time that isn't dawn. So this is a matter restricted to the Asian and Oceania races," he added.

"Every GP from that side of the world could in theory be moved to a night slot. But in 2009 it will just be Singapore. As for Europe I see no reason to stage a race after sunset."

Next year's calendar did not include any races in North America, with the Canadian Grand Prix having been dropped.

Ecclestone said the problem in America was that the races were promoted by private companies.

"America works differently. Certain worldwide events, like F1 itself in certain nations or the Olympic Games, are financed by the countries.

"In the American continent, by contrast, they're organised by private companies, who want to make a profit even before the race is staged: that's a bit too much."

Okay, so Ecclestone wants Grands Prix in Russia and India. To do that, he said other Grands Prix must go. Does anybody care to guess which ones will be axed?

[7UpJordan]

Oh terrific, another round of the Formula One Asian Championship on the calendar. This one will be to kill off the British Grand Prix if Donington isn't ready in time.

[EwanM]

Come on Donnington

[scotty]

He's going for the short term money inflow before he retires (ie, countries paying him massive one off fees to stage races), rather than doing the long term thing of building up F1's presence in North America, a much, much more lucrative market.

So basically, he's raping people of as much money as he can before he pisses off. That's the way i see it.

[andydumi]

Well, we will either start seeing more races on the calendar, or we will start losing European races. There is no way he will cut the Middle East races, as those are the most profitable to him and the FIA.

[8-ball]

European races will have to go as I cannot see an increase in the amount of races staged.

Watch out:

British GP - Bernie has been itching to get rid of this
German GP - No Michael Schumacher, no problems
Hungarian GP - Never liked this place anyway

Two of those three are going to go depending on contracts

[f1maniac95]

Oh wonderfull! Another race in Asia and then a decent track will go again.

[McLaren Fan]

In my view, Ecclestone knows fine well that the British Grand Prix moving successfully to Donington had little chance of succeeding. Where are they getting the money from? Are the builders going to work through the night, on holidays and in poor weather? Are they giving brown envelopes of cash to the council's town planning committee? Still, it works out well either way. If Donington do manage to get things sorted, he can cash in on the Hamilton-factor and take the moral high ground for saving the British Grand Prix and giving it a wonderful venue. And, if Donington can't get a venue for the race ready on time, Ecclestone can plant another Asian Gran Prix on the calendar.

The German Grand Prix is dying a death. Hockenheim lost £3,000,000 this year. The stands aren't full and Ecclestone's immoral costs for holding the Grand Prix are crippling. In the West, people are too liberal-minded to back motorsport; why spent £10,000,000 on Formula One when it could build two hospitals? Asia, however, is growing economically and wants to show this by having major sporting events, such as the Olympics and Grand Prix racing. And the money they are prepared to spend on these things is sinful, not least when the countries' own peoples are starving to death.

[Denthúl]

In my view, Ecclestone knows fine well that the British Grand Prix moving successfully to Donington had little chance of succeeding. Where are they getting the money from? Are the builders going to work through the night, on holidays and in poor weather? Are they giving brown envelopes of cash to the council's town planning committee? Still, it works out well either way. If Donington do manage to get things sorted, he can cash in on the Hamilton-factor and take the moral high ground for saving the British Grand Prix and giving it a wonderful venue. And, if Donington can't get a venue for the race ready on time, Ecclestone can plant another Asian Gran Prix on the calendar.

The German Grand Prix is dying a death. Hockenheim lost £3,000,000 this year. The stands aren't full and Ecclestone's immoral costs for holding the Grand Prix are crippling. In the West, people are too liberal-minded to back motorsport; why spent £10,000,000 on Formula One when it could build two hospitals? Asia, however, is growing economically and wants to show this by having major sporting events, such as the Olympics and Grand Prix racing. And the money they are prepared to spend on these things is sinful, not least when the countries' own peoples are starving to death.

Hey, we don't spend the £10,000,000 on two hospitals either.

[darwin dali]

Aussie GP has been on BE's list for a while.
I could imagine some creative calendaring such as alternating Hungary with Moscow or Bahrain with Abu Dhabi and Barcelona with Valencia. Alternating the French GP (wherever that might be) with Donnington is another option. Spa could alternate with Monza. The only 'safe' GP in Europe is probably Monte Carlo, but who knows...

[digitaleye]

In the West, people are too liberal-minded to back motorsport; why spent £10,000,000 on Formula One when it could build two hospitals? Asia,

So true, now that Montreal is a bust it looks like I'll be keeping the thousands I used to spend on the US and Canadian GP's and buy something theraputic. Perhaps a bigger flat-screen to watch the races I'm not at. Or maybe just some new guitars, who knows.

[nish2280]

But u guys have to think of it as an investment.
The GP will bring attention to india and wiht that will come more investors which will boost the economy and one day rid it of poverty!

India knows what they can do and what they cant do. They cant feed every single hungry person BUT they can get every hungry person to feed themselves.

[EwanM]

Wow well this is old...

[headless]

Wow well this is old...

I just twigged to check the dates when you putt this.
I was like "wtf well confused"

[burt estep]

a story on the web. a child in india has a tooth growing through his upper lip. so the family married him to the dog next door. believeing that this would keep him safe from wolves. that place has got to get it's own house in order before it thinks of a g.p. burt.