from www.f1-live.com The 2006 Belgian Grand Prix, at highly-popular Spa Francorchamps, is off. That's the unhappy revelation of Belgian radio station Bel-RTL and local Wallonian politician Serge Kubla, who told the parliament on Friday that he was informed officially by Bernie Ecclestone's company. With the race's promoter broke, Ecclestone, 75, had been tipped to take over the organisation of Spa's historic event. But while the 2007 Grand Prix should be okay, Ecclestone is reportedly refusing to sanction the September race because work on a new pit and paddock complex will not be completed in time for the event. There has been no official comment from the FIA which lists the Grand Prix as taking place on 17th September.
Thanks Brian - John just emailed me with that same post. Now that Spa's off for this year that makes the decision a bit simpler - See Red 2006 is definitely on for us! I have always liked Spa - the setting is so very unique. Hopefully it will be back in 2007. Carol
Curses! Why cant this happen to Magny Cours or something ... why with the best F1 track in the world today. Bloody Bernie!
This happens every year, it's just Bernie tactics. They usually choke up his ramsome at the last minute and we get out race.
Not confirmed, it may be just a politician trying to get some attention. http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=26906
I really pity people who have ponied up big bucks for non-refundable flight tickets and such and get shafted like this. F1 really knows how to screw its dearest fans - the live audience
Yup. And this is where BernieCo plays both sides. Being the good little businessmen that they are, they realize that TV is where the big bucks lie. Cars could run in front of empty grandstands and they wouldn't care, other than losing out on their F1Tours income. But of course that would mean no race, since the organizers would get stuffed. As a result, BernieCo pretends like attendance is of premiere importance and slams the organizers with huge sanctioning fees and expensive infrastructure demands. F1 has no guaranteed place in the future, and if he doesn't work to maintain the inclusion of tracks like Spa, he's going to alienate a lot of fans. All these new tracks that have been added over the last few years, they all seem like they were designed using the same box of "track parts". Like with a slot-car set, you can only create so many layouts across flat terrain. For god's sake, how about getting creative with Spa's deal?! I mean, if you can give a team like Ferrari preferential treatment, can't you justify the same with an iconic track?
Very true, how many people aren't complaining about F1 the fact that F1 has gotten boring the past few years? I think Formula 1 might get a lot of competition from the new A1 Grand Prix class in the near future. ( http://www.a1gp.com)
If it is off the calander, thats going to leave quite a large gap in the schedule. Is there any chance they could get another event in its place or would that take way too much planning and money?? Mark
Like Koby said, this is kind of an annual event. Just like McLaren's orange test cars and Eddie Irvine mouthing off about who-knows-what.
I was literally booking the trip this week for the race...just fabulous. Appreciate it Bern! I was looking forward to seeing Spa in the worst way. Which of these 3 would you guys recomend then? 1-Italian GP @Monza 2-San Marino Imola 3-French GP @ Magny-Cours Thanks
I went to Imola in 2004 and thought is was one of the most picturesque race tracks I had ever seen. The course is terrific and it is an easy place to get to. Just south of Bologna and a reasonable drive from Modena. Up and down hills and some great wine available in the Grandstands. I definitely want to go again.
Forget Magny Cours, boring track and no place to stay. Monza is electrifying because it is Monza, but still not too easy to get to. Imola would be my pick. Great place and nobody knows how long it will be around (although now the town just decided to build new pits facilities on the other side of the S/F line, so maybe it will be renewed and around forever). And best of all: You can stay in beautiful Bologna and get to the race completely relaxed by taking a 20 minutes train ride and a stroll through romantic Imola. Doesn't get any better than this. Home of the Tifosi.
I would not count this race out yet. Remember there is a lot of time prior to this race and Bernie is famous for playing his cards close to the vest. It would not surprise me at all if there is some sort of miraculous "healing" that occurrs about April and the race is back on. Especially if the healing is a GREEN healing!
no prob carol. i've always liked spa. unique circuit, unique weather, unique atmosphere and it's every driver's circuit. i agree with some members. i think hungary should go. the most boring race of the year, while spa's always on of the best of the year. somehow rather, i still hope there's be spa for '06
