Russian GP deal to be signed later

What's with the current craze of going for utterly unestablished places? Would it kill them to go somewhere that actually has an already finished track hosting lower class races, and therefore a proven, racing-interested local/national crowd?
 
Pic of the layout:

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Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin confirmed the deal, telling Reuters: “We have reached an agreement with the principal owner of Formula One that Sochi would host the Russian Grand Prix from 2014 to 2020.”

According to The Times, $200m (£126m) we be spent building the Sochi track and Ecclestone will charge $40m (£25m) for the rights to hold the race.

Update: A Russian news site claims a 5.5km track has been designed by Hermann Tilke and has published an image.

Update 2: Thanks to Andres in the comments for posting a link which appears to show the track map is authentic.
 
The thing I don't get about all these Tilke tracks is that the flaws are massively obvious every time, and yet he continues with similar designs every time.

High speed turns = fun to drive
Straight into tight corners = good for passing

So why do they insist on so many dull, medium-speed, constantly-turning sections?

Potrero de los Funes, Amazing track, built round a big lake, GT races there are immense.
Oh wow. That is a gorgeous track.
 
What's with the current craze of going for utterly unestablished places? Would it kill them to go somewhere that actually has an already finished track hosting lower class races, and therefore a proven, racing-interested local/national crowd?

Money, simples.

If this track is run anti-clockwise then I think it could be quite good. But as it's a tilke boarodrome it will be run clockwise for the long run into the 90 degree turn one :rolleyes:
 
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