here's an interesting article i have just read about the racing calendar next year, a few things might change....
Question marks over 2007 calendar
Thursday, 31, August, 2006, 12:02
The 2007 Formula 1 calendar issued by the FIA on Tuesday should not be taken as gospel, according to ITV-F1.com sources.
Several aspects of the schedule caused surprise, including the omission of the San Marino Grand Prix, the month-long gap between rounds three and four and the lack of any reference to a second Japanese race.
Another oddity was the fact that no venues were listed, only the host countries, leading to confusion over which circuit will host the German GP.
Imola authorities remain adamant they have been promised a date on the calendar by F1’s commercial tsar Bernie Ecclestone provided they complete a 10 million euro upgrade on schedule.
In previous cases where similar conditions have applied, races have been provisionally included on the calendar with caveats like “subject to circuit approval” or “subject to contract”.
The departure from this protocol suggests that Ecclestone is turning up the pressure on the Imola authorities to deliver their promised revamp, which includes a revised layout and a new, larger paddock area.
The four-week gap between the Bahrain and Spanish GPs leaves plenty of scope to accommodate Italy’s traditional second race, most likely on April 29.
More puzzling from a logistical point of view is the scheduling of the first three flyaway races: Australia on March 18, Malaysia on April 8 and Bahrain on April 15.
Melbourne’s return to the season-opening slot had already been confirmed, but the three-week break before Malaysia makes little sense because, as it stands, teams will either be stranded a long way from base or else will have to make an extra long-haul flight.
Unless, of course, the mooted second Japanese race at Suzuka – likely to be held under the ‘Pacific GP’ banner – were to be slotted into the gap…
That scenario may well be part of the gameplan as it stands to be lucrative for Ecclestone’s Formula One Management company.
Japanese sources inform us that Honda, which owns Suzuka, is willing to pay a high price to guarantee the circuit’s continued place on the calendar after the indignity of losing the country’s grand prix to Toyota-owned Fuji.
From the teams’ point of view that may not be such an elegant solution, as it would mean they were on the road for over five weeks – but it would plug the illogical gap that currently exists between Australia and Malaysia.
Alternatively, there are suggestions that the Melbourne season-opener could be moved forward to an early March date and twinned with Suzuka, allowing for a long enough break before Malaysia for teams to return to Europe.
A switch might be welcomed by Australian GP organisers as the race is currently set to clash with the World Swimming Championships, although they remain confident of the usual sell-out crowd in any event.
One possible snag is that the German teams may object to Japan being given a second race at the same time that they have lost theirs (the European Grand Prix).
But that situation came about largely due to the financial problems faced by promoters at both the Nurburgring and Hockenheim, which prompted the two tracks to agree to share the German GP in future.
Tuesday’s calendar did not specify which venue will stage the 2007 race, but it is expected to be the Nurburgring.
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=37168
Topic: Official Racing Thread (Read 189677 times)