French Grand Prix axed

[WhiteBlue]

Brooklands isn't in a state to be driven on as a complete race track I understand from the thread at grandprix. Monza we know is only a fragment in terms of a speedway. The Avus was a provisional connecting a stretch of motorway to build a track for a short period. It has reverted to being a motorway and I have traveled it whenever I have been in Berlin. So Montlhéry is a fairly unique thing and I hope they will preserve it as a monument. Of course there are banked test tracks in existence for private testing of automobile manufacturers but they have no meaning in terms of racing history.

Edit: I checked Nardo circular circuit in Italy and found they have now an FIA rated circuit inside. Nardo is supposed to be the fastest banked track on earth.



The other one is of course Ehra-Lessien in Germany.
where Top Gear tested the Veyron at 253 mph. That is the fastest flat road test track (with banked corners at the ends).

[WhiteBlue]

It sounds from Bernie that they did a deal for another three years for Magny Cours.

F1 to stay at Magny-Cours until 2010
22 June, 2008



T
he French grand prix will not move away from Magny-Cours after Sunday's race, F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone insists. Despite previously saying the unpopular venue will not be on the calendar in 2009, the 77-year-old now reveals that he has a contract with the current organisers for two more races. “Although the FFSA who are the promoters agreed two years ago that 2008 would be the last race, now they are saying 2009 will be the last race but I'm sure its not,” Ecclestone is quoted as saying by Reuters.

Asked specifically whether the formula one circus will convene at Magny-Cours again in 2009, he answered: “I'm sure. Book here.” Ecclestone admitted that he is still keen to see the French grand prix in Paris in the future. “I think so but we'll have to see. We have a contract so we are here. When that contract stops, we'll have to see what we can do. I think [Paris] would be good. They've got hotels and the trains go there,” he added.

[vyselegend]

The deal ain't new. Magny-Cours current contract was running up to 2011, the new thing however is Bernie changing his rifle from one shoulder to another, not trying to pressure the FFSA for immediate change anymore. Why has he put some water in his wine suddently? Maybe his lawyers army suggested that the contract was solid enough, and/or that another contract disruption would cause FOM's credibility some harm. Why would you sign a contract with someone that breaks them easily?..

Anyway that's a good call. I agree with Ciro that the Disneyland link sounds extremely disturbing, the "Mickey in a Williams" image gave me the shivers, I wouldn't survive to it.

[Ciro Pabón]

Is the Sitges track on the coast?

Very much.

Google Maps

If you have Google Earth you can click here:
http://tracksearth.googlepages.com/Auto ... rramar.kml
http://tracksearth.googlepages.com/Autd ... Layout.kml

Why would we call them French fries?

I believe it's because they were invented in Belgium while it was occupied by France. Tomba or Principessa should be our experts here.

Glad to hear Bernie backpedaling. As soothing as his words are (apparently, now he's asking only for a hotel and a railroad line... ) I bet he finally found how much it costs to fund a track in Paris.

Just imagine the "building permits affair"...

Eco-nuts protesting because of the noise, Disney executives worrying about F1 having "too much character"... that's more than enough to allow Magny Cours to survive a couple of years more.

Same goes for Tokyo, London or New York, btw, marketing targets with exactly the same racing "tradition", ehem.

Hey, there you have an idea for the new path Mr. Ecclestone wish for tracks to take: it can be summed up in one phrase.

"Formula One - Tokyo, London, Paris, New York."

Now, if somebody were able to finance those four tracks, which evidently have plenty of people, railroads, and hotels around, I bet the old man would be happy (and White Blue will understand his motives... -- that was a joke, that was a joke).

About the Disneyland affair, I think Mr. Ecclestone will realize in time that no fashion designer would put in his perfume bottle an slogan that includes Orlando after New York.

I hope so, or we're doomed to have pit babes dressed as Cinderella. Yuck.

[Chaparral]

Heres what the Monza banking looked like back in 1966 - from the movie Grand Prix - if you dont have it - aquire a copy - legally If I may add

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwppPI0tQiU


Heres a further visual of the track and banking - its a wonderful bit of history - its also in Italian (the commentary)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-Zse7OQ ... re=related

[mx_tifoso]

Magny Cours back on the calendar soon?

F3 Teams Association representative Peter Briggs: "The teams are excited about going to Magny-Cours. It's a good circuit and a safe circuit, and I think the French Grand Prix might end up there again."

[raceman]

=D>

lovely track, indeed



[-o<