Tilke Talks

Ted68 · Post 19 Feb 2007, 03:10

Updated: Feb. 15, 2007, 9:25 AM ET
F1 circuit designer wants more intimate racetracksReuters

LONDON -- Formula One has learned from past mistakes and the next generation of racetracks will be smaller and more intimate, according to leading grand prix circuit designer Hermann Tilke.

The German told British weekly magazine Autosport on Thursday that the future trend would be to "get the tracks to the fans and not the other way round."

"That naturally suggests racing in cities," he added. "Places like Monte Carlo have shown everyone that they possess a very special atmosphere."

Formula One has 17 races this season, after 18 last year, with Abu Dhabi scheduled to join the calendar in 2009 and South Korea penciled in for 2010. Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has said five more countries are waiting in line.

The planned Abu Dhabi circuit includes a section through the streets and along the seafront.

Singapore has also been talked about as a possible venue for a night race, a novelty Ecclestone is keen on, while Valencia in Spain has also been lobbying for a grand prix on a harborside street circuit.

Tilke, who designed the state-of-the-art circuits in Malaysia, China and Bahrain, among others, recognized that mistakes had been made with ever more grandiose facilities being built in remote locations.

"We did create quite vast spaces between the pits and the team buildings," he said, referring particularly to Shanghai's $350 million circuit. "In Shanghai, it gets annoying because you have to walk all the time.

"But it's even more annoying because it takes away atmosphere. We have learned from that -- we'll organize it better," he added.

ketanpaul · Post 19 Feb 2007, 09:36

"We did create quite vast spaces between the pits and the team buildings," he said, referring particularly to Shanghai's $350 million circuit. "In Shanghai, it gets annoying because you have to walk all the time.

"But it's even more annoying because it takes away atmosphere. We have learned from that -- we'll organize it better," he added.

A $350 million mistake? Why is Tilke still the man for the job? I am sure there are many more circuit designers in the world with more ideas for overtaking than the long straight- tight chicane combo and who wouldnt make mistakes worth $350 million !!!

RH1300S · Post 19 Feb 2007, 11:01

ketanpaul wrote:
"We did create quite vast spaces between the pits and the team buildings," he said, referring particularly to Shanghai's $350 million circuit. "In Shanghai, it gets annoying because you have to walk all the time.

"But it's even more annoying because it takes away atmosphere. We have learned from that -- we'll organize it better," he added.
A $350 million mistake? Why is Tilke still the man for the job? I am sure there are many more circuit designers in the world with more ideas for overtaking than the long straight- tight chicane combo and who wouldnt make mistakes worth $350 million !!!

Ciro - and if you ever get offered the job Ciro, I'm your man for modelling the track

zac510 · Post 19 Feb 2007, 12:38

ketanpaul wrote:A $350 million mistake? Why is Tilke still the man for the job? I am sure there are many more circuit designers in the world with more ideas for overtaking than the long straight- tight chicane combo and who wouldnt make mistakes worth $350 million !!!

You're just knocking him for the sake of knocking him. Shanghai is always a great race.

ketanpaul · Post 19 Feb 2007, 13:13

ketanpaul wrote:
A $350 million mistake? Why is Tilke still the man for the job? I am sure there are many more circuit designers in the world with more ideas for overtaking than the long straight- tight chicane combo and who wouldnt make mistakes worth $350 million !!!

You're just knocking him for the sake of knocking him. Shanghai is always a great race.

Its a great race, agreed, but there is no enthusiasm among the locals to go and see it. Last year they were just giving away tickets to make the place look full on TV. The ticket prices are always attrosciously high and its not even marketed properly.

zac510 · Post 19 Feb 2007, 13:59

That's Tilke's fault too?

wrk · Post 19 Feb 2007, 14:06

Ted,
They could always build one at corona..... around Grand Blvd.... east and west.

the only track where they could run softs on inside and hards on the outer and a constant +3G to the left.

manchild · Post 19 Feb 2007, 14:08

Tom · Post 19 Feb 2007, 16:14

I'm glad Tilke admitted his mistake, but too many street circuits will ruin the glamour of the originals, he better be more careful in future. Its a shame they don't reinvent some old circuits, places like Oulton Park and esspecially the French street curcuit Pau and even Milan, Douglas in the Isles of man had its own street circuit, and seeing the cars on the TT course would be awesome although we'll only ever dream.The Norwegian Lillehammer track on a frozen lake would be a new challenge, Tripoli in Libya, where I believe Jimmy Clark was a frequent winner, as well as the Cape town circuit and I for one would love to see the F1 blokes take on Mount Panarama.

I just think we should look at improving the old circuits rather than just making new ones everywhere. I payed a lot of money to go and see the rally in the isles of man last year, I'll probably do the same for the inaugarel Rally Ireland this year. I would have no problem at all stumping up to see an F1 race there. I've no doubt many other fans would willingly make the trip to a former jewel of the F1 crown and at least make up the 350million its took.

ketanpaul · Post 19 Feb 2007, 18:02

That's Tilke's fault too?

I dont know if you guys are aware but Tilke not only designs the circuit, but also gives (seriously taken) advice on stuff like location and marketing

DaveKillens · Post 19 Feb 2007, 18:08

It appears Bernie has Tilke under his control, because what Tilke is saying has political undertones.
Bernie just loves to make more and more and more money. One scenario he likes is having tracks compete against each other, or just plain have their backs to the wall in getting a Formula One event (for example Silverstone, or Nurburgring vs. Hockenheim. There is one event on the calender that is pretty much untouchable, and dictates to Bernie. That is Monaco, with it's road circuit, and millionaires sitting in their yachts trackside.
If he suddenly has Abu Dhabi, then it becomes a worthy competitor to Monaco, and can be used as a bargaining chip to leverage more concessions (and money). Sadly, despite the opinions of many fans, history means nothing in Formula One these days.