Shanghai 04

[nichosnz 0]

#~<&

I don't know what else to say at this time!

[DJC-Grafix 0]

(*&^

agrreed, lets guess, Monza's straights will be turned into sunday drives in the next year

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

There is a chance that politicians can save the day, by moving the tobacco ban forward to September 2003. The race is on August 31st, therefore it will not be affected. I hope so. Otherwise all I can say is

GOD DAMN YOU FIA!!!!!

[nichosnz 0]

No they won't go that far DJC they will just strike that one off the calender too, they have been trying to as long as I can remember. In fact 2003 is the first time in ages that Monza hasn't been 'subject to FIA approval'!!

[daz 0]

Seriously now - where can I go to lodge my complaint!!!!! I'm really p**sed at the FIA now ... That was about the only really good drivers circuit out there, always with great unpredictable weather, great speed etc... It's one of the few tracks where I think a drivers skill could still be shown off. I really hope those senators in Belgium get of their fat asses now and sort this problem out ASAP.

[DJC-Grafix 0]

Well, back to Shangai now.

Ive seen reports that a CART race will be held ther from 2005.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

I think another track where both F1 and CART run would be interesting for comparison. The CART people were well off the F1 pace at Montreal, but the comparisons would be better if there were several tracks to make them on...

Bad news though, the FIA has apparently said that there is no way that Spa can be back for 2003 even if the Belgian politicians manage to get the law changed

[nichosnz 0]

Although I read today that the Belgians are looking at an excemptment for F1. Both Bernie and Max have stated that if this happens they will be lenient and will consider a return in 2004. So fingers crossed that we will only be screwed for one season.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

I would have hoped that we could have seen it next year as well, though, I guess the decision has been made. I dont understand, if the tobacco ads are the problem, and they get that fixed up, why not?

[daz 0]

You're not the only one that doesn't understand Jens... To much politics and not enough racing left in F1 I guess...

[DJC-Grafix 0]

yea, its turning from a sport into business and cash

[nichosnz 0]

No doubt, one minute the FIA (and others) are complaining about the quality of the show the fans are getting, and try to fix it. Next they are not taking an opportunity to give the fans what we want Belgium, Spa Francorchamps, Eau Rouge, La Source etc.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

And Jackie Stewart fears that Silverstone may be next unless the BRDC get it together.

[nichosnz 0]

Well someone has to go to make way for China, Barhain, and Russia. Apparently. It seems that history is no saviour. I think it should be Hungary (suprise, suprise), Imola, and one of the German ones.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Well, Russia is still not a done deal, so at least Bahrain and China. But if Spa doesn't make it back, then no other race would need to make way for those two as Bernie has said that he is willing to extend the championship to 18 races at maximum. If Russia joins the fray, Belgium has no chance of regaining Spa, and I fear Imola will be the next to go.

[nichosnz 0]

I think Hungary should be the next to go, but actually I don't think it will, just a gut feeling!

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Hungary, as I have said in the past, could be a good track, but it just needs more use and a few changes. I like the track for some reason, but dont think it will go as it generates so much money for FOM and F1.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Somehow it also strikes me as odd that Hungary has a GP, even though the country is not much heard of in the world. Bahrain has that same oddness to it, I have never thought of it this way.

[nichosnz 0]

Yes I think that way too about both those countries. It would be like having a race in Yemen, Mauritania or Papua New Guniea.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

It does bring them onto the map in a good way though. You wouldnt believe the amount of Finns that flock each year to Hungary as it is the closest GP to home, and it helps Hungarian tourism and especially Finnair with the number of flights booked to Budapest!!

[nichosnz 0]

Lucky that Kimi turned up then, as the number would otherwise have dropped with Hakkinens retirement!

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

True, and also with Salo stepping down now. But Kimi is very popular in Finland, simply because people know he will be around for a long time yet. But believe it or not Finland also has its fair share of Schumacher and Montoya fans.

[nichosnz 0]

I'm not too suprised as both MS and JPM are love/hate kind of guys, so the have fans and antifans everywhere.

[DJC-Grafix 0]

i heard that the Russian deal had fallen thru, coz they werent gonna get much from it. Bernie wanted rights to everything, etc, tv rights, hospitality

and wat ever happened to the South African Grand Prix.

[nichosnz 0]

From what I understand (and I may be wrong) of the Russian bid, is that it has not fallen through, but has not yet progressed to the next level, and if it doesn't soon THEN it will fall through. But even if it does apparently St Petersberg is looking to build an F1 standard track.

And about the South African GP, I beleive the biggest hurdle to going there is the undesirability of the South African exchange rate.