RE: Is Texan US GP hanging in the balance?
Thursday 17th November 2011
Not quite a GP track yet...The builders of the new Circuit of the Americas track near Austin, Texas, have stopped construction after it was revealed that the deal to hold the 2012 United States GP there has not actually been done.
Is Texan US GP hanging in the balance?
Work stops at Austin circuit as F1 deal falters
Not quite a GP track yet...
It seems that the race's promoters, Full Throttle Productions, have actually yet to ink a deal between themselves and Bernie Ecclestone's Formula One Management, despite the race featuring on the official 2012 World Championship calendar.
More concerning still for the circuit's owners, the MotoGP contract has not yet been signed off either. And work won't start again until a contract assuring the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix will be held at Circuit of The Americas in 2012 is complete.
"We have spent tremendous resources preparing for the Formula One and MotoGP Championship races, but the failure to deliver race contracts gives us great concern," says Bobby Epstein, founding partner of Circuit of The Americas. "We believe the United States is vital for the future of Formula One and its teams and sponsors. Given the purpose-built Tilke design, creating a unique fan experience and iconic challenge for drivers, we hope that Texas will not be left behind."
Discussion
I thought i read that there's a deal between the promoters and FOM, but not the promoters and the track - Bernie's quote having been "they forgot to talk to eachother".
Personally i don't really care if there's a race in America, but the Austin track with it's elevations did look like it was going to be a good one.
Personally i don't really care if there's a race in America, but the Austin track with it's elevations did look like it was going to be a good one.
the midget was always after a race in/around NYC, so he bluffed the NJ race organisers with the prospect of a race in texas. then, true to form and right at the critical moment, he announced the deal with NJ which - as far as i understand - set the alarm bells ringing with the texas state authorities who, fearing a lack of attendance if there were 2 races in the USA, pushed the panic button. this triggered a reaction from the race organisers and track owners who suddenly felt vulnerable and fell out. hey-presto, bernie gets his NYC race, gets the texas race canned and ensures it was all somebody elses fault. genius!
shame really, the texas track looked really nice. let's hope the MotoGP race can save it from remaining just a paper exercise.
shame really, the texas track looked really nice. let's hope the MotoGP race can save it from remaining just a paper exercise.
JJ78 said:
looks like donington all over again, I hope they get it sorted... and sort the drainage... a watersplash would be exciting for f1 though! lol
Slightly different in that Donington was an existing track that had to be upgraded to meet F1 aspirations. Given the track records of the participants (pun intended) one being to shaft Silverstone and the other to acheive fantasy over reality (parking being No.1 problem) we have Donington repaired and back in action. Austin remains a muddy field / money pit.sumpoil said:
the midget was always after a race in/around NYC, so he bluffed the NJ race organisers with the prospect of a race in texas. then, true to form and right at the critical moment, he announced the deal with NJ which - as far as i understand - set the alarm bells ringing with the texas state authorities who, fearing a lack of attendance if there were 2 races in the USA, pushed the panic button. this triggered a reaction from the race organisers and track owners who suddenly felt vulnerable and fell out. hey-presto, bernie gets his NYC race, gets the texas race canned and ensures it was all somebody elses fault. genius!
shame really, the texas track looked really nice. let's hope the MotoGP race can save it from remaining just a paper exercise.
Hmmm that sounds a credible scenario.shame really, the texas track looked really nice. let's hope the MotoGP race can save it from remaining just a paper exercise.
sumpoil said:
the midget was always after a race in/around NYC, so he bluffed the NJ race organisers with the prospect of a race in texas. then, true to form and right at the critical moment, he announced the deal with NJ which - as far as i understand - set the alarm bells ringing with the texas state authorities who, fearing a lack of attendance if there were 2 races in the USA, pushed the panic button. this triggered a reaction from the race organisers and track owners who suddenly felt vulnerable and fell out. hey-presto, bernie gets his NYC race, gets the texas race canned and ensures it was all somebody elses fault. genius!
shame really, the texas track looked really nice. let's hope the MotoGP race can save it from remaining just a paper exercise.
Nail firmly hit squarely on the head, its a damn sad state of affairs if true - not that we're ever likely to get the real reasoning. He gives every impression of being a truly vile creature, I feel sorry for anyone who tries to do business with him.shame really, the texas track looked really nice. let's hope the MotoGP race can save it from remaining just a paper exercise.
How on earth does Tilke get the monopoly to design every single GP track in living memory? Is he secretly Bernie's secret love child?
It's not as if his designs have been praised for creating interesting racing, they've had to resort to gimmicks like KERS and DRS to attempt to do that.
It's not as if his designs have been praised for creating interesting racing, they've had to resort to gimmicks like KERS and DRS to attempt to do that.
clonmult said:
sumpoil said:
the midget was always after a race in/around NYC, so he bluffed the NJ race organisers with the prospect of a race in texas. then, true to form and right at the critical moment, he announced the deal with NJ which - as far as i understand - set the alarm bells ringing with the texas state authorities who, fearing a lack of attendance if there were 2 races in the USA, pushed the panic button. this triggered a reaction from the race organisers and track owners who suddenly felt vulnerable and fell out. hey-presto, bernie gets his NYC race, gets the texas race canned and ensures it was all somebody elses fault. genius!
shame really, the texas track looked really nice. let's hope the MotoGP race can save it from remaining just a paper exercise.
Nail firmly hit squarely on the head, its a damn sad state of affairs if true - not that we're ever likely to get the real reasoning. He gives every impression of being a truly vile creature, I feel sorry for anyone who tries to do business with him.shame really, the texas track looked really nice. let's hope the MotoGP race can save it from remaining just a paper exercise.
Bernie's definately outsmarted someone there. With his track record, surely people (investors, lawyers, track owners etc) should know not to do anything until the deal is concrete?
Interesting biography on Bernie out at the moment "No Angel" by Tom Bower. Yes he's screwed a lot of people over, but you have to admire his genius in consistently manipulating situations to his favour. Not just 'shame on him' but shame on everyone else for getting caught out by him time and time again.
Interesting biography on Bernie out at the moment "No Angel" by Tom Bower. Yes he's screwed a lot of people over, but you have to admire his genius in consistently manipulating situations to his favour. Not just 'shame on him' but shame on everyone else for getting caught out by him time and time again.
Ok, on Tilke, I have it on good authority that Bernie owns a large slice of that pie, someone should maybe do some research on that topic. Then again what pie does Bernie NOT have a slice of?
On the Texas GP I was very much looking forward to it and enjoying the legendary hospitality of Texas. I will be seriously p***ed off if it's binned.
On the Texas GP I was very much looking forward to it and enjoying the legendary hospitality of Texas. I will be seriously p***ed off if it's binned.
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