GP of Iran?

Don't forget china. Oh wait, nevermind.

 

Hi,

One thing you guys aren't taking into account are the stats. After football (soccer) auto racing is the most highly watched spectator sport in Iran. Most events at the Azadi stadium track are attended by 10-12 thousand spectators and most local events are broadcast live on TV. Two weeks ago, a simple drag racing event attracted over 5,000 spectators. While Iranians are car crazy in general, demographics has a lot to do with it as 70% of the population is under the age of thirty. Don't forget, most of this population will be at their peak purchasing power by the year 2040. One thing you may not be aware of is that both men and women race in Iran meaning a higher target audience.

These stats are all buoyed by a growing car industry that is expected to churn out 1.8 million cars this year, ranking Iran as a leading auto manufacturing country and the market is expected to grow to three million cars per annum within the next five years.

With these demographics and a ingrained car culture (the second highest circulation magazine in Iran is "Machine Magazine" translated it means "Car Magazine" ) a GP makes a lot of sense.

Just my two cents (Rials)

Ramin

 

I don't believe the BBC is allowed into Iran.

 

I think you may be right. I seem to recall this from the Top Gear Christmas special. Not that anyone would want to go to Iran if they didnt have to.

 

Not to turn this into a P&R thread... but most American's don't know much about Persian culture. I'm getting a crash course as I'm dating a girl from Iran now (smokin' hot, mind you... I'd post a pic if this was in Silver).

The problem is not Iran, but rather the current regime as noted above. He came into power like Obama, ran on rich vs. poor. Many Iranian's HATE Ahmadinejad...

My sister recently was on a flight from Dubai to London. Sitting next to her was a woman in a full burka.. I'm talking all blacked out, only a slit with the eyes showing. As soon as the plane took off she went to the bathroom. Not paying much attention, my sister was dumbfounded when a gorgeous women in a mini-skirt and high heels sat back down in the seat ready for London.

Give it time... once they get the internet, MTV, and the E! Network over there... it will be a different world.

 

I can verify that with a Iranian friend of mine, he wants me to go with him to Iran asked me loads of times, to go skiing there...added bonus would be a GP there, that would tip it I reckon.

But he tells me similar things about Ahmadinejad, I can believe all you say.

But I may need a picture..

 

I doubt Bernie is real hot on a GP in an unstable region after the whole Bahrain debacle but who knows. Just leave Spa alone...

 

Nonsense. There are lots of tourists going there all the time. Even from the USA.

 

True but so what?

They're fed the same TV pics like everybody else and can comment from their booth in the UK

 

Bernie doesn't need to axe Spa. It will fall on it's own sword simply by not having enough spectators as eg this year. A few more years and they go bankrupt.

 

How will you have the grid walk?

 

If you say so. You know theyve been holding 2 American hikers for over 2 years.

I dont think anyone is slamming the Iranian people (at leasr I am not), just their wacked out government.

Regardless, from an F1 perspective, I highly doubt Iran could sustain a GP if even Turkey couldnt when they are far larger, wealthier, and more stable.

 

Legally visiting a country and sneaking across a border are two different things. Just ask people in Southern Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.

 

Convicted spies...... Don't want this to go all P&R, and we may not not like their system, but they were convicted in an open court. [Were the charges BS? Possibly. Same as we see some BS charges here.] Incidentally, just today I read a bail agreement has been reached, so hopefully they'll be home soon. (Same kinda deal as already done for the 3rd guy (gal?))

I believe you may want to check your facts on the above...... The CIA's world fact book is a pretty good source. They're actually (surprisingly) close together in terms of population, GDP etc etc. Further, Turkey is in a *world* of hurt right now (Interest rates ~20% etc) and is not the most "stable" nation around......

Iran is slowly joining the mainstream.

Cheers,
Ian

 

Speed TV sends in Windsor. Without a bullet proof vest.

It all depends on whether the government thinks spending $ 25 million a pop is worth the PR exercise or not.

In Turkey soccer is king, so subsidizing a race nobody cares about is hard to justify. Apparently in Iran there is a big following of motorsports so the government would have much less difficulties justifying the expense. Besides: Ahmudinajab doesn't strike me as somebody who feels he needs to justify a "minor" expense like that anyhow.

 

I thought the attendance seemed pretty strong this year?

 

Nope.

 

Slowly? Like in glacially? Like in geologic eons?

 

That I agree with. I have been there a few times and it is a wonderful country. Full of history, things to see and beautiful people. Sorry, I just had to speak up on this one !

 

anyone see that nut talking at the UN today?

unreal.....

no F1 in Iran with that looney in charge

 

If the goal is to make a road course in the spirit of SPA, how, in the middle of a dessert, are they going to create such inclimate weather?

 

Oh, that's easy:

Add sprinklers.

 

Can't see it happening as Iran is far too unstable (as is it's leader), and is currently shunned (officially at least), by just about every nation (apart from Russia).

 

Meanwhile business folks from every company but the US are doing deals with Iran.

$ rules.

 

I'm pretty certain you can rule out any British companies too.

The company I work for has recently discovered that one of our machines has turned up in Iran when it should be in Germany and We have been "advised" by certain parties that we should not provide any parts, services, support or information to the machines new owners.

There is also an on going company investigation to discover how the machine in question got to Iran.

Despite what business might be being done with Iran, the public image of the country makes it impossible for F1 to go there.

As it stands at the moment, I'd go so far as to say that there is more chance of a Cuban GP than there is an Iranian GP!.
(however, with Bernie you just never know!).