Spa F1 race is off the schedule!

[Dino Scuderia]

Ecclestone 'pulls plug' on Spa GP
Bernie Ecclestone
Ecclestone had seemed keen to preserve the race
The Belgian Grand Prix at Spa has been cancelled after Bernie Ecclestone pulled out of a bid to try to promote the race, say reports in Belgium.

Formula One chief Ecclestone had been in talks to take over promoting the race after its promoters went bankrupt.

A former local government minister told politicians that sources close to Ecclestone had confirmed the news.

The cancellation leaves little time for track improvements to take place before the proposed race date of 17 September.

Initially, Ecclestone had seemed enthusiastic to save the race, saying "we need to keep Spa alive, don't we?".

If the race is dropped, the 2006 season would be trimmed to 18 races.

[lightweight]

Is this official? I haven't read anything yet on the internet.

Circuits must prove every year that they are worthy, not rely on their former glories.

I have the feeling that in the following days, press releases will be praising Eau Rouge and the "brave drivers who pass flat out".

[drakkie]

I have the feeling that in the following days, press releases will be praising Eau Rouge and the "brave drivers who pass flat out".

true :) its like that every year.maybe because only 10-15% of the drivers dares to :D

[Dino Scuderia]

Is this official? I haven't read anything yet on the internet.

Circuits must prove every year that they are worthy, not rely on their former glories.

I have the feeling that in the following days, press releases will be praising Eau Rouge and the "brave drivers who pass flat out".

The above article is from BBC news.

[jorismo]

Yep, F1 is officially f**ked up from now on...

[Zytek_Fan]

What about the LMS race at Spa?

[Piacki_117]

horreur et damnation !

[MrKipling]

If the article is from BBC, please write that at the bottom of your post.

[dydzi]

no, it was my absolutely favourite track of all! :(

crap.

[RacingManiac]

What about the LMS race at Spa?
They use different pit, and probably a lot less demending in its quality....

Not the first year Spa have been taken off for some stupid reason....and their regional government is dumb enough to have done this to themselves repeatedly....

[m5child]

it's a shame.... that is a really awesome track... i wonder what's gonna happen with it after the season starts? or next year for that matter?

[MrKipling]

Don't forget that Silverstone is the only F1 circuit that receives no government funding whatsoever - and they have managed to survive.

[Fluppe]

Don't forget that Silverstone is the only F1 circuit that receives no government funding whatsoever - and they have managed to survive.

I think that you have a point there that it's a matter of good management.
BUT nobody will deny that F1 is turning about big money and every year less and less about the sport, and that's a shame.
Bernie is the one to blame, he's asking so much money from the organization that they have to charge to much for the tickets... and this is scaring off the F1 enthousiasts.

The circuit of Spa-Francorchamps is without any doubt the most beautiful in the world, it's in the middle of the woods and it has the most challenging corner on the planet, eau rouge.
Every race driver loves this circuit, why the hell does Bernie turn his back on Francorchamps...

[RacingManiac]

Its call commercialism.....and it can't be stopped. The fact that there are enough countries lined up with the necessary fund to compete for a GP means nostolgic and driver preference takes back seat....besides, the track might be exciting to watch race on and drive a car on, the logistic of running a GP weekend for the teams means older facility is less "work friendly" to the mechanics....that BTW is the problem preventing most tracks from being used as a F1 Venue....and why the older tracks are constantly being taunted to upgrade....

[forza_autodelta]

horreur et damnation !
youhou:cool: !!he canceled the only interesting Grand Prix of the 2005 season , now F1 is really bullshit for me:)

[nota]

The circuit of Spa-Francorchamps is without any doubt the most beautiful in the world, it's in the middle of the woods and it has the most challenging corner on the planet, eau rouge.

Spa is very pretty, eau rouge is great and understandably you're very patriotic about it all. But it's a big world and to proclaim the above you would have to be familiar with every track on the planet. I'm sure not, and doubt you are

[Street_Dreamer]

Yep, F1 is officially f**ked up from now on...
:mad: stupid bernie! ^ you're right my good man :( ^

[henk4]

Spa is very pretty, eau rouge is great and understandably you're very patriotic about it all. But it's a big world and to proclaim the above you would have to be familiar with every track on the planet. I'm sure not, and doubt you are

I have seen quite a few tracks. Spa stands out indeed, when Eau Rouge and the Raidillon were still public road, I took my car there a couple of times. It really looks like a vertical wall when you arrive at the lowest point after the crossing of Eau Rouge river.

[m5child]

Ecclestone has billions of dollars at his disposal, i dont think its about the money, but more about the increasing cost of promoting and bringing these events to life... but still, $200 per ticket (for a decent seat) def. takes some of the opportunity away

[scubasteve87]

Don't forget that Silverstone is the only F1 circuit that receives no government funding whatsoever - and they have managed to survive.

not for certain but I'm relatively sure that Indianapolis Motor Speedway recieves not funding from the government. Tony George finances everything from revenues from the 500 and *sigh* NASCAR

[Dino Scuderia]

(GMM) Reports that formula one supremo Bernie Ecclestone has called off the 2006 Belgian GP may have been premature.

Adding to the governing FIA's refusal to confirm the claims of local opposition politician Serge Kubla, minister Michel Daerden says the French speaking Wallonian government is still in talks with 75-year-old Bernie.

However, the news that Ecclestone is demanding some $18m in renovations to the ageing Spa Francorchamps circuit is less disputed, as is speculation that time is running out for the new paddock complex to be ready in time for the race on September 17.

http://formula-1.updatesport.com/news/article/1137999634/formula_one/F1headlines/Spa-survival-still-possible/view.html

[Dino Scuderia]

(GMM) A local government minister has added another nail to the coffin of the seemingly doomed Belgian grand prix.

Jean Claude Marcourt, economy and employment minister in the historic Spa Francorchamps circuit's region of Wallonia, told parliament on Thursday that the race will indeed be axed by F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

He said the main problem was making Bernie's requested circuit modifications in time for the scheduled September race.

For whatever reason, however, the grim messages coming out of Belgium about the race do not match up with what Ecclestone himself, and the sport's governing FIA, are saying on the matter.

75-year-old Bernie explained in the 'Het Niewsblad' newspaper: ''The Belgian grand prix can take place in 2006.''

http://formula-1.updatesport.com/news/article/1138344291/formula_one/F1headlines/More-confusion-in-Spa-axe-saga/view.html

and....

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=26961

[Zytek_Fan]

When the FIA released their '2006 FIA Formula One World Championship Circuit and Lap Information' there was one thing in particular which was important to note, the inclusion of the Spa.

After a long debate as to whether it would make it or not the circuit has been included and Belgian GP will take place on 17th September 2006.

Eccelstone had promised to save the event from a possible cancellation but what has transpired is really anyone's guess.

There are 20 races listed on the calendar beginning in Bahrain on 12th March and ending on the 22nd October.

[MrKipling]

20?! That's ridiculous.

[jump15vc]

prices of everything f1 have gotten so bad that im getting to the point where id rather watch the crappy SPEED broadcast than shell out the ridiculous amount of money bernie expects us too
and now they go and take away the best track of the season, the apocalypse is here.

[fpv_gtho]

Dude, look 2 posts ahead of yours

[Zytek_Fan]

20?! That's ridiculous.
That's what most drivers and teams think

[MrKipling]

I would be happy seeing one every single week, from a selfish point of view. But, the FIA have to appreciate the amount of time that has to go into F1 now and, therefore, respect the fact that you cannot be travelling constantly, in that kind of environment for two thirds of the year! It's unhealthy!

16 races with rotating venues. That saves money, 'keeps 'em keen' and will allow the (almost non-existent now) small teams to spread their development over a longer period of time. Again, saving costs.

F1 needs to learn that by trying to please everyone all the time, it is pleasing no one at any time.

[Matra et Alpine]

The flip side MrK is that sponsors want as much exposure as possible.
If they could get weekly TV coverage they'd want it in return for the $$$ they plough in :(

[RacingManiac]

20 races....which one is new?

[magracer]

Obvioulsy Ecclestone and Mosley are keen on milking the cow these days. I guess they are trying to show the new owners how good they are at this bussines.

20 races, and no revenue to the manufacturers! So they are actually increasing their revenue (TV rights) and giving less share of it to the F1 teams (and I assume, giving the same to the track owners, while expecting ridiculous investment on them). How smart they are... NOT!

With the proposed number of races, I guess teams will have to have two complete sets of team personnel, so expenses will sky rocket, plus no reveneue for the manufacturers. They sure are trying to get them out of there quick...

If we take Renault's president words literally they must be packing right now. He said they would stay in F1 as long as the return on investment was good, and without TV revenue, there is basically no return -I'm assuming in most cases sponsors share the cost but provide no profit-.

[Matra et Alpine]

The return for the manufacturers is the exposure.

A team normally has a sponsor who provides most of the private funding.

Manufacturers are their own sponsors and dont' have the overheads concerned with having major sponsors ( they clearly still have sponsors, just not as large as a private team needs ) so the theory goes they don't need the support from the organisation as much as a private team.

If F1 is only going to be afforded by manufacturers it will be a pointless exercise and make it as interesting as NASCAR :( It NEEDS the return of the Tyrrels, Williams, Lotus, McLaren, Matra et al of old.

The smaller teams need more assistance, so only fair they should GET more assistance ( it's like income support, children support, etc :) ) BUT suggesting the big boys get NOTHIGN is untenable.

Dont know why Mosley is sayign this as he's ALREADY been told to keep his nose out of the finances of the F1 organisation :D

[MrKipling]

^^ Agreed.

It's very difficult to get emotionally attached to a corporation. Williams and the like, despite the enormous budgets and undoubted 'corporate status', still maintain a cottage industry, underdog quality that is hard not to love! It's easier to believe it's all born out of passion (rather than money) when there's less of an alterior motive in their other interests.

I'm a huge fan of Honda (and Button) for the same reason that Ferrari attract so many fans, they really seem (that's the operative word here!) to care more about making really good stuff than they do about making money. Even from a corporate policy point of view.

[magracer]

The return for the manufacturers is the exposure.

Time will tell if Carlos Ghosn thinks the same way you do. :rolleyes: ;)

Most manufacturers are on a tight financial situation these days, so it might be a case of reducing all expenses, as Ford did.

As for Red Bull, it's clearly is an investment :rolleyes: , so this is good news for them as they might be able to buy 5 new licences in the future. :D :D :D

[fpv_gtho]

As for Red Bull, it's clearly is an investment :rolleyes: , so this is good news for them as they might be able to buy 5 new licences in the future. :D :D :D

Theyre already a huge organisation though, although theyre forever trying to appeal more to the American market. Theres a local financial services company that since becoming involved with V8 Supercars in 2004 has had such a drastic increase in company turnover that they entered Champ Car last year and are now looking at NASCAR supposedly

[Lagonda]

Eau Rouge :D
http://be.ahrendonline.com/pictures/Hr/AHRX3534.JPG