I apologise for a lack of activity. I have been on the road all day long. This being Silverstone there are always additional things to be done as well as the Grand Prix and so it is a week-long trip away from home. So, I was up long before the sun today (which is not easy at this time of year) and consoled myself with a solid British breakfast before getting down to business. The stories have been thin on the ground since last week’s daft London Grand Prix waffle. I have had further discussions with people who know these things and in addition to the months of remodelling that would be necessary to create a circuit suitable for F1, the costs would be colossal, because the roads in question are old and there is a very pronounced crown on most of them. This would mean that they would have to be dug up and relaid, in addition to the creation of escape roads and run-off areas which would have to still exist after all the barriers were removed. This would all cost somewhere north of $200 million before getting into fees and annual build costs. One should also add that there would also be huge potential for loss of revenue legal actions from businesses on the route, which would scare away most of the lawyers.
Thus, I stick by my initial assessment that this was a useful bit of promotion for the British GP weekend, and a nice way to play down what happened in Germany, where the judge in the Gribkowsky case made some very damaging remarks when passing sentence on the German banker convicted of accepting a bribe from Bernie Ecclestone. These clearly suggested that this matter is not finished yet and we will be hearing about it again. Ecclestone says he has done nothing wrong and is currently faces no charges in Germany.
Meanwhile in Belgium, the Spa Grand Prix SA, the company which has been promoting the Belgian Grand Prix since 2006, under the leadership of politician/financier Etienne Davignon, is rumoured to be close to a new contract to secure the future of the race until after 2016.
The current contract runs out after this year’s race and the locals hope that they can reduce the annual losses by getting a lower fee agreed. Reports suggest that they have asked for a reduction from $21 million a year to $19 million. The idea of the race alternating with the French Grand Prix has been dropped completely.
The recent races at Spa have failed to attract big crowds, with losses each year in the region of $4-5 million. The local regional government has accepted these as the economic impact of the event is very important for the region. Although the current government will be in power until at least July 2014, the contract is for four years, from 2013 to 2016.
There are also still hopes that the organisation of Spa can be restructured. At the moment there is the Intercommunale Spa Francorchamps, which owns the property, on behalf of the Liege province; the Societe de Promotion du Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps (SPSF), a company owned and controlled by Wallonia region to run and develop the circuit and the Grand Prix company. There has been talk of merging these entities for years in order to streamline activities and the latest word is that this will now happen with the President of the Royal Automobile Club de Belgique (RACB) François Cornelis being put in charge. Cornelis is the former number two of the Total-Fina company, who retired from the oil company at the start of last year. He is also a member of the FIA World Council, thanks to his position as head of the Manufacturers’ Commission.
Two points: nothing scares away lawyers; the scarier the case, the higher the fees.
Second point: why are the crowds down at Spa?
Because Germans don’t come to watch any more.
And because it’s one of the most expensive races on the calendar.
I’ve wondered how the stories of security “thugs” working around the track may also impact the desire of those who may wish to attend. Has this situation improved at all recently?
Not because Spa is now a vague outline of where the track used to go in a sea of high grip asphalt?
Give the Dutch one Max’ed Verstappen and Spa will be sold-out.
Maybe wishful thinking and certainly some years away however it would make a positive change on the numbers.
Perhaps a Nyck de Vries…
… or even a Beitske Visser?
Cossimo Van Der Bloudke?
my guess: Robin Frijns in about 3 years.
There is the old joke about Spa:
during WW2 when the Germans invaded they got as far as Spa but couldn’t get any further. The Marshals said they had the wrong passes…
I would implore more Brits to go to Spa each year, I went in 2010, thoroughly enjoyed it and, in fact, the total cost was about the same as this weekend will cost me at Silverstone
plus better hotels, better food, better scenery.
shshsh…. keep it under your hat.
Thanks for the update. You’re a real trooper…and in my mind, the most open and trusted F1 journalist/commentator in the business today.
Perhaps one way of getting a London – ish Grand Prix would be to erect cardboard cut-outs of famous London landmarks at some of the bits of Silverstone where there isn’t a grandstand! (I don’t think there are that many empty bits though) lol
Maybe easier to bring those to Valencia. Plenty of space without a grandstand there. And we could dress the bridge up as tower bridge
Terrific concept Pippa!
But why stop there?
Hold all the races at Silverstone, and change the backdrops to represent Spa, Monaco, Monza etc.
Then rename the corners for each “round”; Woodcote becomes Eau Rouge and so on.
Less travelling for mechanics, press, and us!
Saves the Ozone layer and guaranteed knowledgeable packed crowds.
It takes a woman!
Or how about: Erect giant screens around one of those popularly attended races in the mid-east or China, and then project images onto the screens of whatever cityscape that Bernie dreamt about last night. The race could thus be ‘anywhere’ in the world, and with minimal crowds, they can run the race at 5am, during a solar eclipse, or whatever other time of day Bernie conjures up.
An English breakfast is that still a fag and a Coke? On the London GP do you think Bernhard E has become like Enzo Ferrari inasmuch that he might want to watch this phantom race from his office window at 6 Princes Gate?
Nah mate it’s moved on since Woodstock, it’s a doorstep bacon sarnie and a half pint of strong tea now.
Half? Lightweight…
Most of the places I used to eat when on the road, have been closed down as health risks. Anyone remember that one across the road from LDV? (with the rusty sheet steel door) Or the van at the back of Leyland.
But on a serious note, how much is a decent cup of tea at Silverstone going to be this year? Remember when Bernie gets Michael Payne on the job you will probably only be able to get expensive American style coffee, unless of course, Tetly become official drink sponsors or maybe TyPhoo ( prefer PG tips myself). He is to look at food sponsors as well so your choice of lunch may be limited, this not to mention clothing. (All spectators required to strip and buy sponsors clothing on way into circuit).
I blame “Tony” Sir Anthony Wedgewood Benn for all this tea drinking from wimpy little mugs in transport cafs . .
oblig film ref: The Boat That Rocked, for it was our oh so liberal tea in mug drinker who shut down the pirate radio stations . .
You put one too many “a”s in your traditional breakfast ..
I really wonder if it was a ruse to distract from the Germanic difficulties as BE would know it was a one day story and the court case would linger far longer. Not counting it out entirely but I personally credit him with a bit more media savvy than that
I suspect it actually was more to drum up interest in the B.GP as the Euro cup was taking up most of the headlines and it’s not fully sold out afaik.
Interestingly F1 still has some pull as it went headline in most of the paps even if it was only that day..
Silverstone has been sold out for 2-3 months now.
No it hasn’t, I was looking at tickets just a couple of weeks ago on the Silverstone website, just checked and there are still tickets available. I’ve decided to go next year instead as there wasn’t much choice in the way of grandstands left when I looked.
it hasnt, I only got my ticket about 4 weeks ago(3 day general admission) and there were still various types of tickets available last week. I suspect the Sunday only general admission have been sold out a while though
Well, it was a prepared PR piece from Santander,I do not know if Bernie was able to have some influence on the timing, but in any case he used the opportunity and, with his comments to The Times(?) about sponsoring it etc.,he created a lot more attention and gave it a superficial credibility than it would not normally have got.
What a pity that a venue as prestigious and interesting as Spa has to effectively pass ’round the begging bowl. We need more Spas not less. There’s something wrong with the system and, as usual, it all points one way…..
The problem with Spa, more than most, is it’s a brilliant circuit but the location & access is comparatively poor and it’s not fantastic to spectate at the race unless you get into one of the more obscenely expensive stands.
You’ve hit the nail on the head … It’s the spectators that aren’t turning up, but some people will blame everyone else but the people that can’t be arsed to go to the race.
If all the people that profess to loving Spa actually went, it’d be a constant sell out, but why aren’t they going?
Because the average spectator actually wants a track that’s within reasonable travelling distance, comfortable viewing and nice facilities.
It’s not just that Spa is the right track in the wrong place, but that many spectators end up clinging to the side of a muddy slope like some kind of mountain goat, and decide they’ll go to a different race next year.
eh? You cannot be serious. Remember motor racing cannot take place in the middle of “Harvey Nichol’s Tea Room”. It has to occur where there is, sadly, mud, and slopes, and such like. Of course one can always take one’s ipad to Harvey Nick’s and watch the race in comfort….
OK Karen – you’re telling me it’s the least successful race in terms of paying spectators? Seriously, I’d like to know then perhaps I’ll shut up about it!
In any case, it’s beside the point as isn’t the TV audience more in important for BE/CVC? I didn’t know he was so concerned about the welfare of Joe Public.
And why do they end up clinging to the side of a muddy slope like some kind of mountain goat? Because the stands are obscenely expensive. Why are the stands obscenely expensive? Because the venue has to try to recoup the sanctioning fee…
Or as noted previously Karen, it also happens to be one of the most expensive races to attend.
As for getting to Spa, it’s pretty easy. I don’t drive and it takes me about 5-and-a-half hours to get there from London. As long as you can get to Brussels, it’s probably one of the most accessible Grand Prix tracks in Europe.
See reply below……..
Re last post – I meant that for Andrew Bryant some way back – never mind!
“Ecclestone says he has done nothing wrong and is currently faces no charges in Germany.”
Joe – I think Flavio’s hacked you at long last!
Who?
You know, flavio who comments here sometimes . . .
.
.
I’ll show myself out . .
Blackmail, is a crime, and BE was blackmailed, or shaken down, which amounts to the same thing.
Is it not a crime to fail to report a crime?
On the basis that is is, BE is guilty of failing to report.
Alternative view:
Grib simply asked for a split of the Finder’s Fee.
Bayern needed a scapegoat.
Bernie needed to distract HMRC.
– - but i thoroughly agree with you, failure to report is also a culpable offence. I had something strangely similar, but adequately different in detail, long in the past and over token amounts, happen to me, amusingly from about the same part of the world.
Advice was this, from all sides: first report, then pay. Then, sorry to recall it, “and sod off, not a big enough issue for us to chase”.
But you have to report.
. . .
I remain of the opinion that Grib is either scapegoat or at minimum very harshly treated.
I sometimes wonder if I am the only person rooting for him, but can’t be bothered to go reading elsewhere much.
This is not a deliberately contrary opinion. I simply cannot myself construct from what I have read, had translated for me, or heard, a case that seems to me sufficiently solid.
Also, people break down on long remand. Think about it, say you were innocent, but kept in jail a year and a bit. How much of your life would go to pot?
I suppose, for amusement’s sake, he is now the only person ever in F1 for whom I have a residential address . .
Joe – has anyone ever modelled a scenario whereby they make the tickets very cheap? That way the regional area would attract many more tourists/spectators. Whilst revenues for the circuit may be less (depening on the total number of spectators x reduced price), it would benefit the area through more hotel nights, cafe/restaurant revenues, etc.
China slashed prices a year or two ago and the grandstands were full… Did that change the financial model? Who knows?
Hi Joe – I know you don’t often take unsolicited article ideas, but would love to hear any anecdotes or tales you would care to share involving John Surtees. I was impressed again at his participation at Goodwood and appreciate your thoughts on the man and his antics.
JoeQuote/
I apologise for a lack of activity.
/JoeQ
Think nothing of it Old Horse, you need your R&R just like the rest of us, and we know you’ll alert us if there’s anything of significance happening. We don’t want static.
Dave in NZ/Au:
Good prompt Sir!
“Sir” John’s resilience is a remarkable example, is it not?
If Joe takes you up, he’ll slip into GP+… but I’m not sure he’s old enough to remember who we are saluting.
I was under the (mistaken, it seems) impression that Bernie promoted Spa?
F1 wouldn’t be the same without the magnificent Spa. Hopefully the management can do something about the attendances.
Agree entirely that London is a massive red herring, but just wanted to say that one of the things that may be causing the New Jersey race people difficulty is the road on the Palisades top section also has a very large camber. Not entirely sure how you get round that other than digging up the road and starting again.
Spa is a great wooded track, it is brilliant to be at, very hard to get to. Camping is a dangerous proposition due to the likely heavy rain and getting bogged down. I went to Spa in 2004, it was the only race that was won by someone not driving a Ferrari or with the surname Schumacher. I loved it despite the transport difficulties and would go again if I lived anywhere near Europe.
With reference to your English breakfast it should be noted that the “London G.P.waffle” is actually a Belgian invention, whereas the ” B.C.E./promoter tug-of-war” is a Silverstone led confection.