USGP is gone
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Joined: Nov 2001
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Seems to me the larger issue is Bernie's chase after the almighty buck. The FIA's fee demands for hosting a race are now truly astronomical. If there is any pattern to the new tracks, follow this.
Third World Countries (with little else to commend them) are now stepping forward to help subsidize GP races, as part of their Government goals to increase tourist trade. Witness Bahrain and Malaysia, where the government of each has a financial stake in the game. For them tourism is a legitimate reason to subsidize a race. What else do these places have to offer?
The prototype for this was Hungary, many years ago. Think about it.
For many years the French Govt. has helped underwrite the Magny Cours race. But the government of this first tier country has now reassessed they have dozens of ways to pump up their economy, of which tourism is just one among many avenues. Bye Bye French GP.
Here in the US, Tony George would never contemplate asking the US Govt to help underwrite the USGP... The United States simply has lots of other economic things on it's plate of higher priority. Same for most of the remaining European venues.
So, IMO, the Formula One circus is slowly becoming a tourist meca series, financed more and more at the government level by venue entrepreneurs in cahoots with the host country's tourism entity. Tourism fits with the "money and glamour" theme Nola notes in his posts. But it also means more pressure will be applied to existing venues to keep their races when various third world countries with pockets full of tourism incentives step forward to take over. Bernie and Max seem all too eager to capitalize on the money available.
Third World Countries (with little else to commend them) are now stepping forward to help subsidize GP races, as part of their Government goals to increase tourist trade. Witness Bahrain and Malaysia, where the government of each has a financial stake in the game. For them tourism is a legitimate reason to subsidize a race. What else do these places have to offer?
The prototype for this was Hungary, many years ago. Think about it.
For many years the French Govt. has helped underwrite the Magny Cours race. But the government of this first tier country has now reassessed they have dozens of ways to pump up their economy, of which tourism is just one among many avenues. Bye Bye French GP.
Here in the US, Tony George would never contemplate asking the US Govt to help underwrite the USGP... The United States simply has lots of other economic things on it's plate of higher priority. Same for most of the remaining European venues.
So, IMO, the Formula One circus is slowly becoming a tourist meca series, financed more and more at the government level by venue entrepreneurs in cahoots with the host country's tourism entity. Tourism fits with the "money and glamour" theme Nola notes in his posts. But it also means more pressure will be applied to existing venues to keep their races when various third world countries with pockets full of tourism incentives step forward to take over. Bernie and Max seem all too eager to capitalize on the money available.
