It was Canada, Now it's Turkey.. | FerrariChat

It was Canada, Now it's Turkey..

Discussion in 'F1' started by Remy Zero, Dec 19, 2009.

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  1. Remy Zero

    Remy Zero Two Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 26, 2005
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    #1 Remy Zero, Dec 19, 2009
    The Turkish Grand Prix could lose its place on the Formula One calendar in 2011 after F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone doubled the price of hosting the event, according to a local newspaper.

    A report in The Hurriyet Daily News said Ecclestone upped his asking price from $13.5 million to $26 million for the 2011 race. If so, the news adds to the organisers' woes as the circuit has struggled to attract spectators in the last two years, seeing its attendance drop from 200,000 at the inaugural event in 2005 to just 36,000 this year. The report said they have been given until the end of the year to make a decision.

    In response to the new deal a Turkish official claimed the amount being asked was disproportionate. "In countries such as France and Germany, the Formula One CEO is requesting something between $1.5 million and $4 million."

    The British Grand Prix recently came under threat, and again the sticking point between the organisers and Ecclestone was money. To put the Turkish offer into context, it is understood Silverstone settled on a deal to pay Ecclestone $19.5 million to hold the British round in 2010, with the fee escalating by 5% year-on-year.

    Bravo Bernie.
     
  2. ferraridude615

    ferraridude615 F1 Veteran

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    #2 ferraridude615, Dec 19, 2009
    It's all about the money. Bernie would put a race around the South Pole if they could get him $100 million
     
  3. ApexOversteer

    ApexOversteer F1 Veteran

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    #3 ApexOversteer, Dec 19, 2009
    So we lose a Tilke penned snoozefest of a circuit... can't say I'm alarmed.
     
  4. racerx3317

    racerx3317 F1 Veteran

    Oct 17, 2004
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    Luis
    #4 racerx3317, Dec 19, 2009
    Big deal, we don't need so many GPs in that part of the world anyway.
     
  5. robert_c

    robert_c F1 Rookie

    May 12, 2005
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    #5 robert_c, Dec 19, 2009
    To be replaced by another Tilke track.
     
  6. Dodici Cilindri

    Dodici Cilindri Formula Junior

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    #6 Dodici Cilindri, Dec 19, 2009
    You know it has been a constant argument about money ever since Jim Clark died. Yes Bernie has done a great deal to raise the level of the sport in the eyes of the general public. Jackie Stewart did a great deal to raise overall safety within the sport. But the constant *****ing about dollars, pounds, yen or euro's has gotten to the point where I really don't care about F1 anymore. For me, someones priorities are way out of whack!
     
  7. P1-EH

    P1-EH Formula Junior

    Sep 10, 2007
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    #7 P1-EH, Dec 19, 2009
    Having been one of the paltry 20k people who went to the Turkish GP this year (and I traveled from Canada), I have mixed feelings. The track is WAY better than several other tracks on the calendar. It's really pathetic that they tarped over several grandstands to hide the poor attendance. But having walked the track, I must say I liked it.

    Too bad the design was wasted on a country with virtually zero interest in F1. I stayed at the Taksim Hilton, and other than a Hamilton poster in the lobby, there was no indication that an F1 race was happening in Turkey that week.

    If we lose Turkey, and add further longevity to Canada, Spa, and Silverstone I'll consider that a fair trade.
     
  8. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #8 tifosi12, Dec 20, 2009
    Repost. :)

    I predicted that about 18 months ago and started a thread on here: An article caught my eye stating that the contract would expire after 2010. Add to that the abismal showing of fans and you know that next year will be the last running of the GP.

    Unlike Canada, the Turkish GP has no relevance or fanbase in Istanbul and will not be missed by the general population. And the government alone won't be willing to pay for this just for showboating reasons.

    Which is why I'm planning on going there next year to see a European GP before Bernie moves it to some 3rd world country in Asia.
     
  9. Remy Zero

    Remy Zero Two Time F1 World Champ

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    #9 Remy Zero, Dec 20, 2009
    LoL...now i remember :D
     

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