It has been confirmed: Bahrain in 2004!
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It has been confirmed: Bahrain in 2004!
The tiny Gulf emirate of Bahrain took a big step towards achieving its dream of hosting a Formula One™ Grand Prix on Saturday.
Crown prince Sheikh Hamed Al-Khalifa announced that he had signed a agreement to host a grand prix from the 2004 season.
The statement read: "The Kingdom of Bahrain has signed a long-term agreement with Bernie Ecclestone to host a round of the FIA Formula One World Championship™, starting from 2004."
Crown prince Sheikh Hamed Al-Khalifa announced that he had signed a agreement to host a grand prix from the 2004 season.
The statement read: "The Kingdom of Bahrain has signed a long-term agreement with Bernie Ecclestone to host a round of the FIA Formula One World Championship™, starting from 2004."
MBWorld Fanatic!
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2002 C230 K
Originally posted by MB-BOB
I'll believe it when I see it on the calendar.
I'll believe it when I see it on the calendar.
Cheers, BT
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Originally posted by trench
The Bahrain round appears to be officialy confirmed. Now the question is: who loses their round? Autosport mentions Imola and Spa. I'd put Hungary on the list - but considering they allow tobacco advertising, probably means they'll stay. If Renault wasn't currently in F1 - I'd bet the French GP would be in trouble (crappy track in the middle of nowhere AND no tobacco advertising).
Cheers, BT
The Bahrain round appears to be officialy confirmed. Now the question is: who loses their round? Autosport mentions Imola and Spa. I'd put Hungary on the list - but considering they allow tobacco advertising, probably means they'll stay. If Renault wasn't currently in F1 - I'd bet the French GP would be in trouble (crappy track in the middle of nowhere AND no tobacco advertising).
Cheers, BT
I've ranted on this before, but I wish they would kill Hungary to accomodate Bahrain, if they must do anything. The rest of the tracks all have some historic link to F1 lore... I'd hate to see Spa dropped (even for two years until the tobacco ban goes into affect).
Having followed the sport most of my adult life, I see tradition and history playing more of a role than crass commercialism. I realize the teams see a car as obsolete after each race, and so, by comparison, are the tracks. But , why throw away a track that all the drivers like (Spa) in favor of a universally disliked track in some third world country like Hungary that allows its citizens to see cigarette ads?
Does Bernie have an e-mail address?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: SF Bay Area
2002 C230 K
Originally posted by MB-BOB
Having followed the sport most of my adult life, I see tradition and history playing more of a role than crass commercialism.
Having followed the sport most of my adult life, I see tradition and history playing more of a role than crass commercialism.
I tend agree with an opinion Villeneuve made a while back - they should have less testing during the season and run more races. Testing is hugely expensive - why not simply run twenty races a year, with five "official" test days (say one test every fourth race). As is stands now, almost all teams test in the week following a GP, it seems from a standpoint of money that it would be of more value to the sponsors to run cars in races on TV, instead of in front of empty grandstands every two weeks. Unfortunately, the teams are addicted to testing, and personally, I don't think they really get that much out of it.
Cheers, BT
