Turkey GP to return?

Duke

Duke

Duke

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http://www.autoweek.com/article/20120817/F1/120819853

Hope to see it back, its a good track.


Had to laugh at this bit -

In 2007, Ecclestone's Formula One group took over the event promoter there, Istanbul Park Organizasyon AS. The race was now costing the national government more than $30 million annually and it received no direct income, because F1 was taking the ticket sales revenue as well as the sanctioning fees, and income from trackside advertising and corporate hospitality.
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Yeah it's a great track so would love to see it back. Just a shame there was hardly any spectators there. Is it in the middle of nowhere or just the high ticket prices and relatively low wages in Turkey?
 
We went to the last one. It was barely half full and there were very few locals in their. Given the proximity to Istanbul and relatively good wages I think that cost is only half the story. The other half is that Turkey has no personal stake in F1 beyond having a circuit. They don't have any teams, no drivers, nothing. There's no reason for a local to go unless they're already a fan. It is already the same at other 'new' venues. Look at the crowd in Shanghai - half of them have no idea what's going on and many leave before the end of the race. They cheer wildly at the start and then, quite literally, wander off.

People need to have a reason to want to go and watch F1 racing, as it isn't cheap wherever you live. It isn't Field of Dreams - building an F1 track isn't enough. Just look at petrol-mad USA, and how F1 has consistently failed to make an impact.

That said, on this specific venue, I'd love it to come back. Great circuit and I've some fond memories.
 
Turn 8 section is one of the best in modern F1, shame that the locals take little interest in it. Be great to see it back on the list.
 
Meh, fun track on the game, some good racing over the years but there really doesn't seem much interest in the track given where it is (and the complete lack of local racing means its not used much).

F1 over reached its self a bit too quickly with Turkey when going somewhere with more motorsport in general would have been more sensible.
 
The_Abyss said:
We went to the last one. It was barely half full and there were very few locals in their. Given the proximity to Istanbul and relatively good wages I think that cost is only half the story. The other half is that Turkey has no personal stake in F1 beyond having a circuit. They don't have any teams, no drivers, nothing. There's no reason for a local to go unless they're already a fan. It is already the same at other 'new' venues. Look at the crowd in Shanghai - half of them have no idea what's going on and many leave before the end of the race. They cheer wildly at the start and then, quite literally, wander off.

People need to have a reason to want to go and watch F1 racing, as it isn't cheap wherever you live. It isn't Field of Dreams - building an F1 track isn't enough. Just look at petrol-mad USA, and how F1 has consistently failed to make an impact.

That said, on this specific venue, I'd love it to come back. Great circuit and I've some fond memories.
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This is it exactly. I have pictures of attending Barcelona in the 90's and early 00's. You could sit around and move grandstand to grandstand even on race day because the place felt 1/4 full. I have photos of huge sections empty, especially in comparison to moto gp at the time.

Then I have photos of the alonso years when the place after his minardi season was rammed. I think a country needs a big star to kick start the ball rolling.
 
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