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Posts Tagged ‘Grand Prix’

Russia could host its first Formula 1 Grand Prix in Sochi in 2014, the same year as the Winter Olympics, but many challenges remain to be addressed, starting with the construction, at great expense, to a racing circuit.

In a recent interview with Russian daily Kommersant, the boss of F1, Bernie Ecclestone announced that it has completed negotiations with Russia on the organization of the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi.

“The agreement has not been signed yet, but when a person with appropriate authority in Russia will sign the next day I put mine,” he said.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, is expected Thursday in Sochi on the Black Sea shores, where it must approve the proposed construction of a motor racing circuit in the city.

A sports enthusiast himself, the former Russian president (2000-2008) was the organization in Russia for major sporting events a priority. In 2007, he had mobilized the whole state apparatus, sportsmen and businessmen, and defended himself for the Sochi Olympics-2014. And he is currently campaigning for Russia wins the World Cup organization in 2018 or 2022.

Regarding F1, Kommersant reports that the organization of a Grand Prix will cost Russia $ 40 million per year, not counting the 200 million dollars to find to build the circuit.

“But the economic benefits of a sporting event of this magnitude promise to be much more important” that all spending, said the Russian newspaper.

This optimism is not shared by all. Ivan Samarin, pilot of Formula 2 (formula promotion), and regrets that the Russian authorities are trying to get into F1, while the Russian experience in motor sport is minimal.

“Organizing an F1 race in Russia under the existing conditions is utopian, he believes in the Russian press. We should build more circuits to organize national races before we embark on the construction of a circuit for F1.

He said Russia must also stop expecting immediate profits on its investments.

“The construction of a circuit is a long term investment. The holding of an F1 race increases the prestige of an entire country and attracts crowds of tourists willing to pay for the show. But investors must be prepared to wait years to see the benefit of their investment, “insists Samarin.

This is not the first time Russia is negotiating its place in the supreme discipline of motorsport.

In 2002, Mr. Ecclestone had come to Moscow to sign a contract on the Grand Prix held in the Russian capital, but Yuri Luzhkov, Moscow Mayor sacked late September, had finally refused, accusing the race organizers want “s allocate all the profits. “

The Grand Prix has generated revenues of approximately $ 17 million at the box office. (AP)

Person
The different levels of government will share nearly five million dollars on the sidelines of the Canadian Grand Prix.

During negotiations to bring the race in Montreal, Bernie Ecclestone had promised that the local developer would pay 30 percent of general revenues at the counters of the event.

We can therefore infer that in 2010, the Grand Prix has generated revenues of approximately $ 17 million at the box office.

Spain’s Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, won the Grand Prix Sunday Formula 1 Singapore, signing a second consecutive victory after his win in Italy two weeks ago.

Under the lights, the world champion of 2005 and 2006 resulted from one end to another, before winning the Red Bull of Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel on the Marina Bay circuit. He beat Vettel by just two tenths of a second.

“This win is very significant,” said Alonso. We wanted to confirm on a runway in aerodynamics more pronounced than the car was handling well, and that’s what we did. It seems that we can be competitive on n ‘how important track. ”

With 191 points, Alonso was in second place in the Drivers’ World Championship, still dominated by Webber (202 points).

The margin between Alonso and Vettel has remained at about one second for much of the last quarter of the race, but Vettel was unable to passing on the tight track at Marina Bay.

“I tried to push as much as possible to make a mistake,” said Vettel. But it’s not easy to overtake here, and it would have been too risky. ”

Jenson Button was fourth for McLaren, the Mercedes in front of Nico Rosberg’s Williams and Rubens Barrichello.

Second in the championship before the race, Lewis Hamilton of McLaren was abandoned after a collision with Webber, hampering his chances of being crowned world champion.

Hamilton approached the front of the fireball Webber, approaching the corner in the 35th round of 61, but the Australian has not conceded the inside, and there was a collision. The race was over for Hamilton while Webber continued his road, his car was not damaged.

The marshals have studied the sequence but chose not to punish, determining that it was an accident within the limits of fair play of the race.

“It was a key moment in the race for me,” said Webber. I am very happy with my third place. ”

Webber has visited well after only three rounds – a bold strategy that has paid off, passing it from fifth to third place when other drivers went to refuel. By cons, ad it very spare tire wear at the end of the race, which has complicated the task to contain Button.

Hamilton started the race just five points behind the leader in the drivers, but a second straight race without result relegates the now 20 points from Webber.

“I do not really think about a championship,” said Hamilton. I’m just trying to have a nice end of season. I will fight to the end, but we are far from the head. The next four races will be difficult. ”

There are four races before the end of the season. The next Grand Prix will be held in two weeks in Japan.

World Championship standings after Singapore Grand Prix:

1. Mark Webber (AUS) 202.0 pts

2. Fernando Alonso (ESP) 191.0

3. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 182.0

4. Sebastian Vettel (GER) 181.0

5. Jenson Button (GBR) 177.0

6. Felipe Massa (BRA) 125.0

7. Nico Rosberg (GER) 122.0

8. Robert Kubica (POL) 114.0

9. Adrian Sutil (GER) 49.0

10. Michael Schumacher (GER) 46.0

11. Rubens Barrichello (BRA) 39.0

12. Kamui Kobayashi (JPN) 21.0

13. Vitaly Petrov (RUS) 19.0

14. Nico Hulkenberg (GER) 18.0

15. Vitantonio Liuzzi (ITA) 13.0

16. Sebastien Buemi (SUI) 7.0

17. Pedro de la Rosa (ESP) 6.0

18. Alguersuari (ESP) 3.0

Constructors’ Championship:

1. Red Bull 383.0 pts

2. McLaren 359.0

3. Ferrari 316.0

4. Mercedes 168.0

5. Renault 133.0

6. Force India 62.0

7. Williams F1 57.0

8. Sauber 27.0

9. Toro Rosso 10.0

The pilot Lewis Hamilton was “thrilled” with the possibility that Michael Schumacher is involved in the next Grand Prix to be held in Valencia, which was a shame “that the German was withdrawn before it could” compete with him, “although cree would not be a surprise ahead of him.

Lewis Hamilton

“I am excited about the possibility that Schumacher returns to Formula 1, he is one of the best athletes, a legend and will be an honor and a privilege to race against him,” Hamilton said in statements to the ‘Mail on Sunday’, where opined that “the whole world will be watching his back” to the circuits.

However, although the McLaren is convinced that “knowledge, no problems sure to be at the top,” Hamilton explained that “reaching this stage of the season, Schumacher has the disadvantage of not having the same experience as the other pilots, “but ahead of him would not be so important.

“The whole world is watching your back”

Accident on Massa

The presence of Schumacher in the Formula 1 World possible by Felipe Massa suffered an accident, so Lewis Hamilton acknowledged that his “thoughts are still with Massa and his family after the terrible accident.”

“I know first hand the great fighting spirit of Massa, because we had a fantastic battle for the World Cup last year, was a gentleman, and I want you to know that we are all waiting,” wanted the pilot, who was not shocked the shock suffered by the Brazilian.

“It is clear that it was tragic, but I’m not shocked, I have always known how dangerous it is to this sport, I think there’s an element of danger, but that’s what makes it so exciting. None of us want to see anyone hurt, and we must take account of what happened a couple of weeks and try to find some ideas and try to prevent it does not happen again. “