SPA going going GONE

SteveB · Post by **SteveB** » 21 Jan 2006, 01:25

SPA has been officially scrapped from the 2006 calender.

Bernie Eccolstone said that the NEW paddock and pit area will not be completed in time for September so will be back for the 2007 BELGIUM GRAND PRIX.

NO SPA this year

Steve · Post by **Steve** » 21 Jan 2006, 01:31

that blows, it's one of my favorite tracks !!

Bilbo · Post by **Bilbo** » 21 Jan 2006, 01:56

We always have the option of keeping it on OUR calendar or keeping it for the International Race of Champions at the end of the season (if there is one)...

Flow · Post by **Flow** » 21 Jan 2006, 03:54

I read the last month that even the submission to do the work was not already post publicaly, so none was even started to do the work. They were even thinking at that time that it was alreay impossible to be ready in time... too bad, some was sleeping.

meoPHOENIX · Post by **meoPHOENIX** » 21 Jan 2006, 11:16

well at last I heard that he will give some money to save hockenheim ... as the tracks are the ground the cars are runing on I can not understand why they do not help much more to get the tracks in their season as soon as possible again.

ok the area around the tracks is same way important as the tracks themself.

this counts specialy for spa as there is realy a lot to do.

but if the tracks change in a way they are well and allways to use they would get for sure more investors for the area around.

but I feel with the real racer... since SPA is not yet in the original game which means I do not drive it yet. and there is no track I miss more than my hill of gods.

... have a nice day! ...have fun! ...I DO !!!

meo

killahead · Post by **killahead** » 21 Jan 2006, 11:52

WHAT!!?!??! not again!
why......oh whyyyyy.....

so typical that its the best (one of the 3 best ones anyway IMO) track that gets cancelled.....damnit

carrera · Post by **carrera** » 21 Jan 2006, 15:59

Ya holy shit,One track where you can get some real speed out of the cars besides Italian tracks.Did anyone notice Nico rosberg setting the fastest time at Jerez??Looks like the cosworth isn't as slow as originally thought..LOL...Frank Williams must have been clapping his hands with utter joy...Mark Webber must have been pissed to see that..hahahaha...
carrera

Bilbo · Post by **Bilbo** » 21 Jan 2006, 18:37

You have to look at things from the business side, as much as you maybe hate it. The first goal of Formula 1 is not to have great racing or great cars or anything like that. The goal is to make money. Everything else is just collateral.

No matter if a track is good or not, if it's not making or generating money, it's gonna get scrapped. Don't forget that the promoter of the Spa track went bankrupt (I think) and if not for a last-ditch rescue effort, Spa would just have disappeared never to be hear again in F1. From what I understand, for all the great racing/great track argument, the attendances for the races were just not there in the past years, hence the bankruptcy. So if the poeple from around the track area (who still make most of any race's attendance) can't be bothered to go to the race, why should F1 bother with the track? Don't forget we're strictly speaking about money here. And I believe F1 is still p!ssed off about the tobacco-legislations which I think Belgium were among the first to enforce (but I could be mistaken about this, I didn't check).

We had a similar situation in Montreal a few years ago. Despite having sold-out (or near) attendances (and that is one of the biggest for overall F1 weekends) for many years, when we had to pay compensation for the tobacco-legislations, we nearly lost the Canadian GP. It now takes sold-out attendance and major sponsorship from companies to hold an F1 event. If any of those are lacking, you won't see F1 at that track for long, plain and simple. No money -> no candy is the F1 way. And that's not mentioning that there are supposedly countries waiting in line to hold their own F1 event and paying for it.

So, in short, NO, F1 does not care about the people or the area around a race track. It just cares about money, as most companies do.

meoPHOENIX · Post by **meoPHOENIX** » 21 Jan 2006, 20:11

from business side it is fact that lots of tracks need to get changed for the future!

it is for sure not easy to do this because a change of a track is meaning that you change its characteristic and soul ... how much a little change can do in this we saw when spa got changed in the last curb.

about spa itself is to say that I do not see a reason why spa should be more bad this year than it was last year ... not to go there with f1 means just the area will not get the money they normaly get when f1 is there and this will make them not realy MORE able to change things there.

the park situation and the hotels around have also last year been bad but this did not matter to the racer because it is the track they want to race and they all love spa ... it was allways a special track and as I allready said for a few times ... for me it is the hill of gods!

spa needs a complete new design BUT WITH THE OLD SOUL TO KEEP same time!!!

this is not easy but would be possible... I have been talking with an engineer who is working for a big american street company in f1c and also with a few real racer (one also former NAR) and we all agreed that it would be possible and interesting to get spa with its old sould to a good track in the future.

just those things have step by step to be checked out if it is possible to release it with permission of all (think in this point we agree ^^)

and about spa history ... the tyre table I have from stefan beloff nuerburgring 1994 formula 1 ... as much as I know he died in en rouge.

... have a nice day! ... have fun! ... I DO !!!

meo

Flow · Post by **Flow** » 21 Jan 2006, 22:34

A press realease say that up to now its not official that its drop for 06, but looking in that way. The main reason is that "Berny" and 'FIA' ask for 15-20M Euro investment in stand, contol tower and garage. If they want to keep theyr GP, they need to make those investment. Half of seat were empty last year, so skiping 06, will alow then to ensure the saving of 07. But the official responsible say its not official, but almost, not alot of possibility up too now. Theyr are working on a last chance of finance effort. Too be continued...

SteveB · Post by **SteveB** » 22 Jan 2006, 07:19

Go to this link and it clearly states the race is off the 06 callender.

Sorry but it's true.

http://f1.racing-live.com/f1/en/index.html

meoPHOENIX · Post by **meoPHOENIX** » 22 Jan 2006, 12:06

so I ask myself what was it worth to change the track for f1 at all?

NOTHING!!!

... have a nice day! ... have fun! ... I DO !!!

meo

Flow · Post by **Flow** » 22 Jan 2006, 15:11

np Steve, thats what i said, "I can't confirm it, but what I'm hearing from the experts is that it will be difficult if not impossible" (from politic or city) Its only in the Berni non official entourage that thyay said, no race. But im shure that non official is 99% official. But as like our Canada GP, they saved it in the last minutes... and they seem to said they had no chance of racing again, and im going to it this year

Kaali · Post by **Kaali** » 22 Jan 2006, 16:13

FIA DENIES SPA HAS BEEN AXED

Formula 1’s governing body has dismissed suggestions that the Belgian Grand Prix has been struck off the 2006 calendar.

A local politician claimed on Friday to have been informed by Bernie Ecclestone’s group that the race would not go ahead because upgrades to the pit/paddock complex could not be completed in time.

However, Saturday’s Daily Telegraph reports the FIA as saying it is not taking the claims seriously.

Ecclestone, who has been in negotiations with the Wallonian regional government over the future of the race for several months after the former promoter went bankrupt, was unavailable for comment.

The F1 supremo has previously spoken of his desire to see the race remain on the calendar, and earlier this month a deal that would have safeguarded the event for another three years appeared to be on the cards.

The main sticking points are understood to be the amount of money the regional government is prepared to commit to revamping the circuit’s facilities, and the demanding timescale for those upgrades set by the FIA.

Source: http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=34885

SteveB · Post by **SteveB** » 22 Jan 2006, 23:10

I might go to Flow

Kaali · Post by **Kaali** » 23 Jan 2006, 00:40

The mystery grows. It's hard to keep the optimism when spafrancorchamps.be writes:

The 2006 TICKETS SALES have been postponed until the future of the promotor of the Belgian GP, DDGP, has been secured.

I hope it isn't too FUBAR...

aawil · Post by **aawil** » 23 Jan 2006, 06:54

Very sad to hear. It's too good of a track to not be on the schedule.

Kaali · Post by **Kaali** » 08 Feb 2006, 17:01

What I was afraid of happened.

NO BELGIAN GP IN 2006
Last Updated: Wednesday, 08, February, 2006, 15:52

The Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps has been scratched from the 2006 Formula 1 calendar, the FIA has confirmed.

Circuit officials were unable to meet the governing body's requirements for a major upgrade of pit and paddock facilities in time for this year's race, scheduled for September 17.

The FIA said in a statement: "The Belgian national sporting authority, the RACB, has written to notify the FIA of the withdrawal of the 2006 Belgian Grand Prix from the FIA Formula 1 world championship.

"The withdrawal has been made in order to allow the completion of extensive improvement work to facilities at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit.

"The FIA hopes that the event will be included once again in the Formula 1 world championship calendar from 2007 onwards."

Spa's future has been in doubt since the race promoter Didier Defourney Grand Prix went bankrupt last year.

The regional Walloon government balked at Bernie Ecclestone's insistence that it had a legal obligation to pick up the tab for the loss-making event until 2010.

However, reports over the Christmas period suggested Ecclestone was prepared to compromise and was close to agreeing a new three-year deal to safeguard the race.

But a fortnight ago a local politician told the Belgian media that he had been notified by Ecclestone's office that this year's race would not go ahead - a claim dismissed by the FIA at the time.

Despite the prospect of its returning to the calendar in 2007, the loss of F1's most majestic circuit from this season's schedule will be keenly felt by F1 fans.

Last year's FIA/AMD worldwide fan survey showed Spa to be second only to Monaco in respondents' affections.

source: itv.com

No Aids Racing

SPA going going GONE

SPA going going GONE

No Spa in 2006