Bahrain GP in 2004

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Bernie Ecclestone and the crown Prince of Bahrain (Salman bin Hamed al Khalifa) announced Saturday that Bahrain will join the F1 circus in 2004. Though there is not circuit yet in the country, construction has already started on the world class facility. Russia is still expected to host a GP starting in 2004, meaning two current races may be in trouble to keep their slots on the calendar.

[nichosnz 0]

Is Russia still expecting 2004 even after all their problems, they had better hurry up and sort them out, they are running out of time.

[rodders47 2]

Well Bahrain to host a GP !!! Hey they have the necessary Dollars, thats not the problem, but having been there many times for study, I, for the life of me don't know WHERE they could build a track, sure hope it's not another STREET circuit.. Anyway the need to create SAND traps will not be any problem as that is all the island is made of

[nichosnz 0]

Kind of cramped for space is it?

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Hahhah no sand traps shouldnt be a problem ! Its not a street circuit, its going to be a world-class racing facility as they called it.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

It seems Moscow has dumped their plans for the Nagatino circuit, and Russia's chances now lie with St. Petersburg. That wouldn't be a half bad place to have a race, I'd bet you my every penny that it would have at least 25% of the spectators be Finnish! (see theres a one and a half hour boat ride from Helsinki, so you can guess how many would want to go)

[nichosnz 0]

At Kimi's rate of improvement, I'd say quite a lot would want to go.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

And there is another rising Finnish star in F3, Heikki Kovalainen, who is doing quite well. There's a bit on the Bahrain GP in the newest Wrap which should be out shortly, most of my views on that race are negative. I honestly dont see why Bahrain should host a Grand Prix, Ive never even heard of the country before yesterday!

[nichosnz 0]

No, it's not a well known country is it, may fall by the wayside though lost of countries have gome this far (or further) and not materalised.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Well I think that countries such as the Czech Republic with the Brno circuit would draw way bigger crowds than Bahrain will. As would Russia. I dont think many people are going to start traveling to the Middle East especially in these times with all the unsettling news.

[nichosnz 0]

Istanbul would have been alright, a mix of Middle East and European cultures.

[rodders47 2]

Hi my 2 chat friends , Nichos and Jens,

Well no Bahrain is not short of space but is a small Island and one thing for sure there will be no GRADIENT changes in the track LOL flat flat flat :-) SAND and mosques as I remember the place with a very good assortment of hotels :-) and well some of the MOST expensive car dealerships you are ever likely to see in such a small place.

Hey Jen where abouts do you live ? seems like a scandanavian country to me ? Finland maybe ? been there and loved the place although a bit on the EXPENSIVE side :-) Loved Santa Claus land at Rovenemi Great Time.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

I am from Finland, but still stuck here in California until hopefully Christmas I will go back to Espoo (next to Helsinki) where I am from. I was at Santa's shed in Rovaniemi when I was little, I think it was Christmas 92 or something like that

But anyway, as nichosnz said, Istanbul would've been cool! What about a street race, and it would go partly in Asia and partly in Europe?!

[nichosnz 0]

Really can't understand the logic of Bahrain. In the middle east there is always someone fighting each other, In the last 25 years or so there have been conflicts including Bahrain, Golan Heights, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudia Arabia, Syria, West Bank. Practally the whole region it is hardly a stable area.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

And it is smack dab in the middle of the Persian Gulf, so I dont think many people from other countries will be visiting to see the race.

[nichosnz 0]

Unless they want to see some 'fireworks' to the north.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Post race celebrations, huh? I think the GP will break a record for greatest amount of Bahrainese (?) spectators!

[nichosnz 0]

And that is probably the only spectator records that will be beaten.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

They are expecting a record breaking crowd at Indy this year, so we will have to see what happens.

[nichosnz 0]

It was a bit subdued there last year, I suppose ther is good reason for that though.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Subdued or not they still had one of the largest F1 crowds in 2001. I think 2002 will be even better considering F1 and IndyGP have gotten much more publicity.

[nichosnz 0]

I don't doubt that, more publicity that has got to be good. And the alterations that were talked about to include more of the oval, and therefore more seat sales, what has become of that. Is it yet another proposal dead in the water.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

No, those plans are still possible for the 2003 race Ive heard. The new track would have the old turns 1,2, and 3 from where it would turn back on the oval and the back straight of the oval. Then turn back into the midfield, go around the lake and rejoin the old track at the second of the two hairpins.

[nichosnz 0]

So do I understand you correctly, 2 infield and 2 oval sections.

[rodders47 2]

I doubt that Bahrain will have any problems getting a VERY large crowd.. A lot of the Arab countries are very INTO racing and fast cars etc.. They change em over when the ash trays get full Plenty of money.

And well Qatar host a round of the Golf Campionships and get huge crowds same as Abu Dhabi..with Horse Racing..

Also Bahrain is the only neighbour to Saudi Arabia and is also a WET island ( meaning you can buy alcohol there ) so the Saudi's will be coming across the causeway in their droves LOL