F1 in Thailand

[brianks]

Been reading in the Post where TAT authorities have been discussing with Bernie (give me some more money) Eckelstone about hosting a race in BKK. Now it is on the F1 website too.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/thai ... 54760.html

Aside from costing about 25 million U.S.$ for the rights fee alone to say nothing of the costs associated with preparing the site for the race (gee whiz, would need to smooth out the roads used) and there even talking about installing lights as Singapore does. How much would all that cost? Do these guys have stars in their eyes? Guess if they can lose bundles on rice pledging, the blimp and the Toy's R Us bomb "detectors", who cares how they spend the rest of the taxpayers money.
I am just a bit staggered that no one seems to be concerned about the expenses so far. When these guys get through the currency will be in a shambles and the country up to its eyeballs in debt like Greece and Spain.

[blue05]

I would be more worried about the motorcyle taxi drivers going the wrong way around the track. Would be great tv though

[Pleng]

There's no way this can happen. Traffic is gridlocked at the best of times; can you imagine what it'd be like if half the city was closed for three days?

[JW]

Well it looks like its gonna happen........ maybe

BANGKOK: -- Formula One Chief Executive Bernie Ecclestone revealed that the 2015 Grand Prix calendar will feature a night race on the streets of Bangkok.

Speculation about a Formula One race in Thailand had grown since championship-winner Red Bull Racing carried out a demonstration run through the streets of the nation's capital in December 2010.

Then in October, Kanokphand Chulakasem, governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand, seemed to confirm the rumors by saying the country would host a race in 2014. He added at the time that he was "working closely with F1 officials to look for the best site."

Ecclestone said that the location has now been chosen, and specified that the race would come a year later.

"They say 2014 and I say 2015. It is serious and it is good," he added.

Full story: http://online.wsj.co...2249598210.html

[PeteC]

I'm going to rush out right now and claim my track side vendor stall spot. I may need two if Ma plans on bringing the live chickens to serve up. Pete

PS: Seriously, I'll say 5-2 odds at the moment that there will be some incident involving an unwitting pedestrian and/or a soi dog and/or a city worker sticking his head out of a street manhole during the race.

[Pleng]

I don't see it happening.

[Bristolian]

Likely or unlikely though it may be, it does conjure up in my mind, some funny thoughts.

• Food stalls in the pit lane
• Tuk Tuks threading their way through the starting grid so that they can be first away when the lights change
• The race being stopped part way through to allow a dignitary’s convoy to pass through
• A Fortuna being used as the pace car and then not allowing the race cars to pass at the end of the safety period
• Race being continued until the Red Bull team is in the lead

[richard]

Location?

Sukhumvit, Rama IV and Asoke with a drift through Cowboy

[Pleng]

Likely or unlikely though it may be, it does conjure up in my mind, some funny thoughts.

• Race being continued until the Red Bull team is in the lead

Going to be a 1-lap race??

[Nereus]

From what I see of it, the only place that could be used for a race is the expressways. Some of them are already being used for that purpose anyway!
The road surface alone will rule out 99% of the streets. Even most of the expressways would probably have to be resurfaced to run an F1 car. Just more pie in the sky,
I think.

[Bristolian]

http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... finalized/

Proposed GP in Thailand has route finalized
Apr 26, 2013, 2:30 PM EDT

The route for the proposed grand prix in Thailand has been finalized as plans to hold a race in the Asian country begin to gather steam.

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has toyed with the idea of taking Formula One to the streets of Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, for many years now, and he confirmed at the end of last season that he was in negotiations to hold a night race there.
Thailand’s sports authority governor Kanokphand Chulakasem confirmed in an interview with the Bangkok Post that the route had now been agreed, suggesting that the race is all set to claim a place on the 2015 calendar.

“As the starting and finishing point would be on the bank of the Chao Phraya River, we may be able to build the main stands in the river,” Chulakasem explained in the interview.

“It would also be convenient for transportation of equipment. Chulakasem also said that there would be minimal disruption for the race to go ahead. “Only a small group of residents would be affected by the proposed route.”
Street races often cause great logistical problems, and many believe that this would be the biggest stumbling block for the proposed race in New Jersey, scheduled for 2014.

The layout for the race has met an underwhelming response from the fans though. With few challenges and many ninety degree corners, many will be hoping for the plans to be revised before the 2015 calendar is confirmed.

[lomuamart]

Carnage.
Repair the potholes.

[Pleng]

I still maintain this race will never happen

[PeteC]

I'm hoping for October when the Chao Praya is likely to be overflowing onto the route. Pete

[richard]

Some real aquaplaning then