from autosport early this morning Europe and San Marino dropped for 2007 The FIA have confirmed that the San Marino and European Grands Prix will be dropped from the Formula One calendar next year. The sport's governing body published the list of dates for next year's schedule on Tuesday following a fax vote of the World Motor Sport Council. The 17-race calendar is widely as had been expected, starting in Australia on March 18 and finishing in Brazil on October 21. The return of the Belgian Grand Prix on September 16 had been expected to force one race off the calendar, but it appears that both the San Marino and European events have gone. Imola had needed to upgrade its facilities to have a chance of hosting the fourth race, while the European venue has been dropped after Nurburgring and Hockenheim organisers decided that it would be best to alternate one race in Germany. The FIA has however left a one-month gap between the third and the fourth race, allowing for a possible reinstatement of the San Marino Grand Prix. There will be five back-to-backs on the schedule. Malaysia and Bahrain in April, Canada and the United States in June, France and Britain in July, Italy and Belgium in September and China and Japan in September/October. Australia 18 March Malaysia 08 April Bahrain 15 April Spain 13 May Monaco 27 May Canada 10 June United States 17 June France 01 July United Kingdom 08 July Germany 22 July Hungary 05 August Turkey 26 August Italy 09 September Belgium 16 September China 30 September Japan 07 October Brazil 21 October - - - - - Carol
well, i have been expecting this, but not so soon announcement. http://www.f1racing.net/en/news.php?newsID=128490 also : The 2007 calendar counts a total of 17 races. And surprisingly there is a four-week gap between the Bahrain Grand Prix and Spanish Grand Prix. If the Imola track would come up with an upgrade the race could be reinstalled two weeks ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix. The approved 2007 Formula 1 calendar; Australia March 18 Malaysia April 08 Bahrain April 15 Spain May 13 Monaco May 27 Canada June 10 United States June 17 France July 01 United Kingdom July 08 Germany July 22 Hungary August 05 Turkey August 26 Italy September 09 Belgium September 16 China September 30 Japan October 07 Brazil October 21
I hope Imola gets stuck back on as we have everything in order for that weekend. Made arrangements for Spa this morning. Le Mans 24 hour conflicts with the USGP. It will be interesting to see what other conflicts exist - most especially LMS and ALMS. Carol
Looks like the same situation that prevented me from going to Indy in 2005 (lucky me) will also occur in 2007: Father's Day.
For us it's the 24 Hours of Le Mans - a far better place to be in my view of things. This will be the 75th running of Le Mans. Several other conflicts on F1 calendar too - France conflicts with America's Cup in Valencia - first one in Europe in 130 years. - - - - Imola still not out of question . . . San Marino Grand Prix bosses have not given up on being reinstated to the Formula One calendar next season, despite being omitted from the schedule issued by the FIA on Tuesday. The event's future has been in doubt for some time and it appeared that it would be dropped in 2007 when the FIA published a 17-race calendar of dates. But a statement issued by SAGIS, the owners of the Imola circuit, claims that the venue has the promise of a race next season if improvement work is completed. "SAGIS points out that Mr (Bernie) Ecclestone confirmed to SAGIS president Federico Bendinelli that the Grand Prix of San Marino at Imola's Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari will be added to the calendar on 27-28-29 April 2007 when the World Council meets on 18 October 2006, provided that the agreed fulfilments regarding the renovation of the site will be carried out before the scheduled day of the race," said the statement. The Italian circuit is set to be updated in a 10 million Euro project supported by the Italian government. The changes will include a revised layout as well as a new, larger paddock space and improved facilities. - - - - Carol
http://www.formula1.com/news/4863.html Spa made it back! 17 total: Australia, March 18 Malaysia, April 08 Bahrain, April 15 Spain, May 13 Monaco, May 27 Canada, June 10 United States, June 17 France, July 01 United Kingdom, July 08 Germany, July 22 Hungary, August 05 Turkey, August 26 Italy, September 09 Belgium, September 16 China, September 30 Japan, October 07 Brazil, October 21
I posted this in the thread I started this morning reflecting the schedule: Imola still not out of question . . . San Marino Grand Prix bosses have not given up on being reinstated to the Formula One calendar next season, despite being omitted from the schedule issued by the FIA on Tuesday. The event's future has been in doubt for some time and it appeared that it would be dropped in 2007 when the FIA published a 17-race calendar of dates. But a statement issued by SAGIS, the owners of the Imola circuit, claims that the venue has the promise of a race next season if improvement work is completed. "SAGIS points out that Mr (Bernie) Ecclestone confirmed to SAGIS president Federico Bendinelli that the Grand Prix of San Marino at Imola's Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari will be added to the calendar on 27-28-29 April 2007 when the World Council meets on 18 October 2006, provided that the agreed fulfilments regarding the renovation of the site will be carried out before the scheduled day of the race," said the statement. The Italian circuit is set to be updated in a 10 million Euro project supported by the Italian government. The changes will include a revised layout as well as a new, larger paddock space and improved facilities. - - - - Carol
I just made my travel arrangements for Hungary. Can't wait to see the action there. PS: Threads merged.
Thanks. I didn't know the other thread existed. I didn't know what "sked" meant so I never opened it.
I figured, which is why I edited the title as well. BTW: This is a good way of the FIA to exert pressure on Imola to get their act together and bring that gokart track into the 21st century. Beautiful ambiente, but facilities from yesteryear (or none at all).
Thanks Andreas - "sked" is abbreviated for schedule - sorry but a carryover from airplane/ham radio times. Hope everything works out for you Andreas with Hungary - is doesn't seem like there should be any reason not to, but then who knows ! I made reservations for Spa - I hope it doesn't get screwed with again. I hate to even think of the monetary contribution to Bernie's F1 Circus that we've doled out over the years - it's a scarry thought. Carol
Say what you want about the track, but at least the hotel managers in Budapest aren't behaving like e.g. the bastards in Indianapolis: You can still get a room for the GP weekend, whereas that has become impossible for Indy downtown. It ticks me off to no end that they block reserve their entire hotel. I can live with jacked up prices, but it is immensely frustrating when you can't even get a room. And I'm sure come June 07 they will realize that they won't sell out their hotels and start unblocking their rooms again.
I'm ok with the Nurburgring and Hockenheim switching for the German GP every year, but I wish they would keep the San Marino GP. I was really considering going to that race next year. The race this year was great, especially with Yuji Ide causing that huge wreck(hehe). It will be interesting to see the F1 race at Fuji, though. It's great to see Belgium back on the schedule!
It sucks? Hmm, let's see which was the most amazing race in the 06 season? Of course in general you're right. But does that really matter to the visiting fan? Probably everybody on here would say Silverstone and Monza are fantastic tracks etcetc. Yet as a spectator I totally hated them. Indy is a Mickey Mouse track with one cool turn, yet as a spectator it is hard to find a better one. So dunno yet how Hungary will be, but the racing and the spectator's experience are two different pair of shoes.
...except if you are trying to find the very few place where you don't have to shoot through the fence. This happened to me the last 2 times I went.
I hear ya. To amateur photographers like us that is crucial. USGP has of course the famous "photographers' hill" at the slowest infield turn. Aside from that being high up in the banked curve helps. Or VIP tickets on top of the pits. For that reason I always try to get tickets high up in the stand so I can shoot over the catch fences. My 750mm lens brings the action right back where I want it.
Yep. Photog's hill is where I had to shoot qualifying at the '07 USGP. As you know, EVERYBODY was trying get a good spot there to get some good shots. On my left, some guy had a Nikon D2x, but on my right, the guy had a little Sony Cybershot. Like I said, EVERYONE crowds around there. VIP tickets would be nice to get, and money would be nice to have in a big amount.
You probably saw me. I was all the way in the front at the fence. Got there over an hour early to have that spot. Edit: Nevermind. I went there for practice. Shot qualifying from the grandstands. Got lucky in 2001 and had VIP tickets. A VERY different experience. Unreal. Meeting drivers became routine.
I was also at the VERY front on the fence at Friday and Saturday practice. It's a small world. I'll probably see you next year, too. I should have my D200 by then with some nice glass on it.
You can't miss me. I have the longest. Lens that is. BTW: Did you see that guy on top of the hill with a dual tripod and dual cameras? It looked very weird as if he was trying to shoot stereoscopic pictures. I asked my neighbour what he thought of that. His answer was simple: Show off.
