SPA--On again Off again

"The FIA dismissed widespread reports the 2006 Belgian Grand Prix was about to be canceled. The speculation was started by Serge Kubla, an opposition spokesman in the Walloon regional government in whose territory lies the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. The leader of the Reform Movement party, Kubla claimed that sources close to F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone confirmed the cancellation. Kubla accused the Wallonian government of acting too slowly, saying it should have responded when the former race promoter's financial problems first became apparent at the start of last year."

SOURCE: Autoweek January 30, 2006

Ladies and gentlemen buckle your seat belts it's going to be a bumpy ride especially when the politicians get involved.

 

How can a place like Spa-Francorchamps (one of the best circuits) stuggle to have financial problems, dont they have big crowds? how $$$ is it to get in the circuit? it couldnt be too much?

 

I think all GP organizers are struggling because they have to fork over so much cash to Bernie for him delivering the field of 20+ cars.

Spa being an older track doesn't really have the great stadium seatings all around. Many areas are just standing and that doesn't sell for much $$$.

 

Actually, last year the attendance at SPA was minimal at best. Hence the bankruptcy declaration by the promoter. In addition the weather did not help matters much. The entire Saturday practice was rained out. I heard--do not know for a fact--that the ticket sales for the Sunday race last year were only about 6K tickets. Couple that with the expensive ticket prices that many of the European races enjoy and "VOILA" the problem compounds itself.

 

Time to organize an F-Chat pilgrimage to Spa this year if it goes off. Anything to help it stay on the calendar. Some of these new circuits are so bland you don't know which one it even is that you are looking at.

 

China and Bahrain are the worst of the newly built ones.

OTOH Turkey IMHO is one of the best tracks of all times. Already.

But the plans for Mexico don't impress me much.

 

Just checked out an article in Fox Sports website that listed that Spa made it on the calendar for 2006. It was released an hour ago. Don't know how much faith I'd put in that but I wish they would make a final decision so we can make or not make our travel plans. Nugget

 

The most recent press release (3 February) on the FIA site has the listings of all events, # laps, etc. and includes Spa. I hope it makes it. As far as making plans, it never hurts to make hotel reservations way ahead of time (made ours for Spa this year when we checked out of hotel in Bastogne last year). Just guarantee via cc for 4 pm hold (or whatever hotel policy stipulates), don't secure payment in advance. I got curious and checked several sites in the event friends were going also and found a couple locations in Liege in Belgium, Aachen in Germany with room availability. We've also stayed in Luxembourg City and Valkenburg, Netherlands - all easy drives. If you are flying in and out of Brussels (BRU), suggest staying at the Sheraton at the airport - talk about convenient - always turn rental car in Sunday night after race, make short walk to Sheraton and extremely short walk to terminal next morning for flight.

If Spa doesn't make it this year - this year is the celebration of 100 years of GP racing and there's a really neat event at Donington Park the weekend after Spa. Here' s little excerpt: http://www.see-red.uk.com/

GP 100 at SeeRed will take place at Donington Park over the weekend of 23-24 September 2006 and will be a very special celebration of 100 years since the first Grand Prix. The late September date will provide a stunning finale to the end of the historic racing season in the UK.

‘GP100’ will mark this landmark with a grid re-creation from every era of the past motor racing century;

Edwardian
Vintage
Post Vintage Thoroughbred
Post War front and rear engined Grand Prix cars
Thoroughbred Grand Prix Series
Current Formula One machinery Demonstrations
The main focus of the weekend is Sunday 24 September where these events will be run in chronological order in ten races. Saturday 23 will also be an action packed day with a Formula One demonstration and practice for all of Sundays races and races for the Lansdowne Motor Cycle Races, Vintage Sports-Car two hour team race and other grids to be confirmed.

Don't know if this has any interest to you, but it definitely has the makings of a great event coupled with the Donington Museum - truly a fantastic, special weekend of GP history. We're looking forward to this event.

Just a suggestion, you might consider filling out some of your profile info so we know where you are located.

As a side note, Spa is very unique - nothing like parking in the farmer's field, carefully skirting the cowpies, and hearing the sounds of cars coming from the forest in the fog.

Carol