Brit GP for the Chop?
Discussion
The rumours have been flying around with increasing velocity these last few days, and it may turn out that we won't have a British Grand Prix next year. I thought this was the usual hot air until yesterday, but the BBC had it on the lunchtime news and they are usually the kiss of death.
Sad or glad?
Sad or glad?
Facts:
The British GP is a guaranteed loss-maker, wherever it is held. The last estimate based on good weather and good attendance was well in excess of £2,000,000 - circuits get no TV revenue and have to pay a fortune to be granted the race.
Access is outwith the control of Silverstone. Public roads cannot be altered overnight even if the local authorities had the money to do the job (which they haven't).
Every surplus penny made by Silverstone's profitable activities has been ploughed back into the citcuit and into British motor sport since the place was first used for the GP.
Car parks cannot all be covered in tarmac due to cost and subsequent drainage problems. The water has to go somewhere, and the local authorities can't afford a scheme which would be necessary to ensure protection for nearby housing.
Most foreign GP circuits are heavily subsidised by government or 'global' businesses who see a status or commercial advantage in shelling out the cash.
Donington Park and Brands Hatch are simply too small to accomodate the current GP 'circus' and all the spectators. Car parks, pit and paddock facilities, grandstands and viewing areas wouldn't measure up to FIA requirements.
Other parties have a long-term interest in Donington which must affect the owners' thinking on alterations/improvements, and Brands Hatch has a well-publicised planning problem over environmental issues.
Opinion:
There is a lot more behind all this than meets the eye, and rather than bore everyone to death let me just say that while I prefer Brands as a circuit I see no alternative to Silverstone at present.
The outcome is on a knife-edge, perhaps tilted 1% in Silverstone's favour. But I can't see the government doing much to help an already cash-rich sport, nor can I see Octagon (the American Silverstone organisers) accepting a perpetual loss-making situation.
The pity of all this is that Britain's pre-eminence in the sport's infrastructure would gradually slide downhill, and the nation would lose serious earnings and a considerable number of very high-tech jobs as a result. Why give all this away?
Edited by McNab on Friday 7th December 17:17
The British GP is a guaranteed loss-maker, wherever it is held. The last estimate based on good weather and good attendance was well in excess of £2,000,000 - circuits get no TV revenue and have to pay a fortune to be granted the race.
Access is outwith the control of Silverstone. Public roads cannot be altered overnight even if the local authorities had the money to do the job (which they haven't).
Every surplus penny made by Silverstone's profitable activities has been ploughed back into the citcuit and into British motor sport since the place was first used for the GP.
Car parks cannot all be covered in tarmac due to cost and subsequent drainage problems. The water has to go somewhere, and the local authorities can't afford a scheme which would be necessary to ensure protection for nearby housing.
Most foreign GP circuits are heavily subsidised by government or 'global' businesses who see a status or commercial advantage in shelling out the cash.
Donington Park and Brands Hatch are simply too small to accomodate the current GP 'circus' and all the spectators. Car parks, pit and paddock facilities, grandstands and viewing areas wouldn't measure up to FIA requirements.
Other parties have a long-term interest in Donington which must affect the owners' thinking on alterations/improvements, and Brands Hatch has a well-publicised planning problem over environmental issues.
Opinion:
There is a lot more behind all this than meets the eye, and rather than bore everyone to death let me just say that while I prefer Brands as a circuit I see no alternative to Silverstone at present.
The outcome is on a knife-edge, perhaps tilted 1% in Silverstone's favour. But I can't see the government doing much to help an already cash-rich sport, nor can I see Octagon (the American Silverstone organisers) accepting a perpetual loss-making situation.
The pity of all this is that Britain's pre-eminence in the sport's infrastructure would gradually slide downhill, and the nation would lose serious earnings and a considerable number of very high-tech jobs as a result. Why give all this away?
Edited by McNab on Friday 7th December 17:17
Mark, I think the problem here is the sheer size of the F1 'circus' itself. You have to wonder if it needs to be so vast.
Went out to the far end at Brands during practice for the last GP held there, and you could literally look into the cockpits of the cars. Sad, but those days are probably gone for ever.
P.S. The estimated loss was for EACH Grand Prix!
Edited by McNab on Friday 7th December 22:32
Went out to the far end at Brands during practice for the last GP held there, and you could literally look into the cockpits of the cars. Sad, but those days are probably gone for ever.
P.S. The estimated loss was for EACH Grand Prix!
Edited by McNab on Friday 7th December 22:32
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