Bulgarian Grand Prix? Not likely
Rumors are flying about (improbable) potential new sites for F1 races. Last Thursday it was Alabama; now Bulgaria's jumping and shouting "me too!" The mayor of Kavarna is set to present a proposal next month to the city council that would involve a Dutch consortium investing $19 million (not even close to actual cost) to build a circuit on 250 acres (not quite enough space) in the seaside city. But even if the track were built ("if" being the operative word), that would hardly guarantee them a race.
The most recent stops added to the F1 traveling circus were Shanghai, Turkey and Bahrain... all outside the EU, and therefore immune to the European ban on tobacco advertising that has sent F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone running after the money. Bulgaria is not currently part of the EU, but is in the "accession" process and could join in January of 2007 or 2008, drastically minimizing the chances of their addition to the F1 calendar (especially after Italy and Germany each lost a race for 2007). Nestled in between the races in Hungary and Turkey, Bulgaria's chances seem even slimmer, though their odds could improve slightly if neighboring Turkey loses its race.
Add to all this national epidemics of rampant organized crime and corrupt politicians, and somehow the term "long shot" just doesn't quite capture it.
[Source: GrandPrix.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
tbyron 5:02PM (9/18/2006)
Yea, that's just slightly less likely than the Alabama F1 you guys speculated on last week.
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Latchy 5:19PM (9/18/2006)
Who the h..... in Alabama will be interested in a Formula 1 race overthere? But 5 of 8 millions of Bulgarians will be, for sure!This is what Ecclestone is looking for.
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Mark 5:21PM (9/18/2006)
isn't tobacco advertising going to be banned in the sport all together as of next year anyway? (maybe not next year, but sometime soon anyway)
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WolfgangNC 7:12PM (9/18/2006)
Tobacco seems to be the issue with most of the racing in Europe; but like Mark stated, this will be a null point in the next few years. Money from tobacco or the lack there of has been an issue in such organizations as NASCAR, IRL, CART; but, at least, in NASCAR the money lost by tobacco is being filled by liquor and alcohol.
F1 just needs to find the next industry that is willing to pump money into the teams and to F1 (F1-doesn't seem to be hurting with their profit statements).
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RacetrackOwner 7:41PM (9/18/2006)
Bare minimum you're looking at about 750 acres and $150m to build The Next Great F1 Facility, and that's largely due to the outrageous FIA requirements for an A rating. We gave long and serious consideration to an attempt to attract F1. I wish anyone luck who is willing to gamble on the whims of Bernie & Co.
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Robin Moncaster 2:26AM (9/19/2006)
There IS F1 going on in Bulgaria this week!
Minardi are running the Formula 1 2 Seater Cars for Rich Bulgarians and others alike through some streets.
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David Isaac Mathews 5:17AM (9/19/2006)
They should invest in bulding an F1 racetrack in sunny singapore, site of the worlds busiest airport. Although plans have not been finalised, although i'm partial to them building such a track in Singapore, the possibility of a street circuit by the bay, and running through the city would be a stunning addition (and a distinct possibility) to the F1 calendar.
It would be the conveniently near Shanghai and would be the first street circuit outside Europe.
Articles relating to Bernie Ecclestone and plans for an F1 stop in Singapore:
http://exitium.multiply.com/journal/item/237
http://exitium.multiply.com/journal/item/228
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nigel shefford 2:45PM (5/02/2007)
Having recently become a property owner in Bulgaria close to Kavana I was ecstatic to hear about the formula 1 race possibility! The turnout to many of these new long haul tracks is laughable with granstands almost empty.I am convinced an F1 event in bulgaria would attract huge crowds and be a runaway success !
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