The end for F1 ??

[Matra et Alpine]

Two tracks tied up in controversy over F1 racing

Could THIS be the start of the end of F1 and maybe even "real" motor racing ( Except Le Mans, who will ALWAYS make up their own local rules - French are best at it , closely followed by the Isle of Man )


MONZA UNDER THREAT OVER NOISE ROW
Last Updated: Friday, 18, November, 2005, 11:52

The future of the Italian Grand Prix is under threat after a local court enforced noise restrictions on motorsport activities at Monza.

Following a formal complaint by a group of residents, Milan magistrate Marco Manunta ruled on a court order outlawing motor races at Monza for vehicles which don't have adequate silencers, according to Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport.

Manunta denounced F1 as "an unnecessary activity, dangerous and without any social benefit and which has a considerable impact on the environment."
Monza's managing director Enrico Ferrari admitted that the situation was very serious.

"At the moment we are not going to be in a position to host F1," he said.
Thanks to the lengthy Italian legal process, Ferrari must now wait a month for his appeal to be heard and hopes that the verdict rules in the venue's favour.

"Otherwise we will be forced to close Monza," he added.
Noise restrictions already exist for the track, which is situated in the Royal Park of Monza in northern Milan.
But it currently receives 37 days annual dispensation of which it used 33 in 2005.

The Italian Grand Prix could be hosted at other venues if Monza was struck from the list.
Imola for example could be given a stay of execution should San Marino be dropped from the calendar, while Ferrari's test track of Mugello in Tuscany is F1-standard and hosts a round of the MotoGP world championship.

But Monza is F1's longest standing venue and first hosted an Italian Grand Prix in 1922.

The loss of such a significant stop on the tour could be ominous for other venues situated close to residential areas.
( there are noise restrictions on a number of the classic tracks in the UK already. So much so that a number of venues do not allow A110s )

SPA HANGS IN THE BALANCE
Last Updated: Saturday, 19, November, 2005, 14:17

The future of the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps is hanging in the balance after efforts to secure a new promoter appear to have reached a stalemate.

The 2005 race went ahead after the regional Walloon government lent promoter DDGP (Didier Defourney Grand Prix) 15 million euros to pay Formula 1 commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone.

DDGP has fallen by the wayside and no new private investors have yet been found, while the government has indicated it is not in a position to underwrite the event this year.

A spokesman for Walloon’s economy minister told Reuters: “We are searching for a solution for the grand prix, but not at any price. There are two possibilities: either we organise it, or we don’t.”

One solution would be for Ecclestone to replace DDGP as the race promoter and organiser.

The Walloon government began talking to Ecclestone earlier this month, but has since found itself at the centre of a political row over the likely cost of doing business with the 75-year-old.

Local politicians are not convinced that spending millions of euros on the grand prix is a justifiable use of taxpayers’ money in Belgium’s poorest region.

A spokesman for the dominant Socialist party said: “The government has agreed that the course in Spa is one of the most beautiful, but the priority for the government is the creation of wealth to improve the life of its citizens.”

Spa remains the ultimate circuit for F1 drivers and fans and its loss would be a massive blow to the sport.

Despite the current problems in finding a promoter, the Belgian GP has been included on the 2006 calendar with a September 17 date


So it looks like all future F1 races can only be hosted by dictatorships and non-democratic countries

[ScionDriver]

Suck.

[jorismo]

If they both disapear it's a VERY big loss. I'm not sure it's fatal, but this sucks for sure.

I think we're getting in a new era of F1 wich only has indeed place for F1 races hosted by dictatorships and non-democratic countries

[Jack_Bauer]

Well Spa has regularly been in trouble with attracting sponsorship for the event. I think one of the problems is that although it is one of the great circuits and one of the showpiece events of hte F1 calendar, there are no Belgian teams or drivers involved in F1 and haven't been for a long time. Attracting Belgian sponsors to an event with no Belgian talent must be a nightmare.

The same could DEFINITELY not be said about the Italians! Grand Prix racing is as important to the Italian public as Bolognese and football (well, almost! ) If the event was to be seriously under threat I suspect there would be a MASSIVE outcry from the Italian public. There's no way it'd be allowed to be scrapped IMO. As to the charges of being, "superfluous, dangerous and socially useless," then the very same things could be said of Football. Can you imagine what would happen if they tried to ban football in Italy!!!

[Quiggs]

<whiny Italian home owner> I moved into a house 3 miles from a race track that's been around for a long time and now I'm mad that they actually use it and it makes too much noise. Waa. </whiny Italian home owner>

Same thing happened to Nazareth Speedway in Pennsylvania. And the residents of Englishtown, NJ tried to get the drag strip there shut down because they host test and tune days every Saturday, and their brand new $400,000 homes were being disturbed by the 50 year old race track. Get over it. They were there before you.

[magracer]

I always thought racing has to evolve into a less noisy sport.

Would F1 be less of a success if noise levels were to be controlled and silencers made their way into the cars? I don´t think so.

[RacingManiac]

To slience something that'll rev to 22K next year will be a hard thing to do....

[Zytek_Fan]

I would hate to see Spa shutdown

[Zytek_Fan]

How about make the people who are complaining about Monza move. It was their choice to live there.

[Forever92]

What people growing a conscious rather than only seeing $$?? that's a first.

[:Exige:]

Right ... so they're putting nice V8s in F1 cars ... but they have to sound like Lada's? Hmmm. I wouldn't get in a fuss if F1 came to an end ... but not if other motorsport is going to be affected by it.

[forza_autodelta]

hey matra , don't worry , F1 sucks at everytrack apart Turkey and Shangaï...
they'll discuss about shutdown Spa and Monza 10 years or more , remind you Monthléry , they wanted to close it since 1980/1981 , and it closed only in 2004 , and there 've been one or two minor events yet this year , it won't close before ages

[Matra et Alpine]

Originally Posted by forza_autodelta

hey matra , don't worry , F1 sucks at everytrack apart Turkey and Shangaï...

disagree. F1 was great at MANY MANY older tracks but they woulnd't bow down to the great Bernie and so lost out
I don't like the modern tracks as they are built with safety at the forefront and that means they try to avoid nasty surprises on the track - drains excepted
Many of the odler traditional tracks have the drivers constantly adjusting the car and the line to try to get the best times. Modern tracks are more like driving scalextric

they'll discuss about shutdown Spa and Monza 10 years or more , remind you Monthléry , they wanted to close it since 1980/1981 , and it closed only in 2004 , and there 've been one or two minor events yet this year , it won't close before ages

Which is more proof on my comment about France
The French always find ways to "implement" laws that allows it to continue !!!

[forza_autodelta]

Originally Posted by Matra et Alpine

Which is more proof on my comment about France
The French always find ways to "implement" laws that allows it to continue !!!

wrong , the UTAC had to open it for a day 'cause it was the national day of the heritage those ****ers just want to destructe it to build up buildings
you don't know french people , they're so...annoying , except somes

[Matra et Alpine]

I know plenty - can't avoid it trying to get bits for Matras and Alpines
I've also worked with government and companies in France. Hence my comment about avoiding laws - especially eureopan and international agreements and international standards !
My main comment on sport WAS aimed at Auto CLub l'Ouest who do it their way and only there way