No Valencia GP this year?

bbobeckyj · Post by **bbobeckyj** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 4:24 pm

The BBC have said that the race is in doubt as the organisers have not yet paid the fee.
in the gossip & rumours column today.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/gossip/

jimmyj · Post by **jimmyj** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 4:31 pm

I won't miss it. I'd rather they do another better venue.

diego · Post by **diego** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 4:37 pm

bbobeckyj wrote:The BBC have said that the race is in doubt as the organisers have not yet paid the fee.
in the gossip & rumours column today.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/gossip/

Please let this be true ... this is the WORST race ever!

Laura23 · Post by **Laura23** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 4:39 pm

This would make my day if it were true. Valencia is a lovely track to drive on, even on F12011, but it is horrible to watch as a spectator. It isn't made for good racing.

Lotus38 · Post by **Lotus38** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 4:39 pm

With the economy in Spain as it is I can't say it comes as a surprise, but I'm sure Bernie won't let them go so easy, surely the contract they signed does not cater for crisis situations..

And although it's a drag I'd rather have another race on the calendar as it's very doubtful it would be replaced by another venue for 2012. For the future definetly.

bbobeckyj · Post by **bbobeckyj** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 4:40 pm

which is worse, this race or no race?

j man · Post by **j man** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 4:41 pm

jimmyj wrote:I won't miss it. I'd rather they do another better venue.

As much as I agree that Valencia is terrible they're not going to get a replacement for this year if the race doesn't go ahead. I'd rather have the Valencia GP than a gap in the calendar, though admittedly not by much.

Balibari · Post by **Balibari** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 4:59 pm

bbobeckyj wrote:which is worse, this race or no race?

Exactly.

thehabsonice · Post by **thehabsonice** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 5:16 pm

It's ALWAYS the worst race of the season, I hope it gets canceled

Volantary · Post by **Volantary** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 5:19 pm

Maybe they can do silverstone backwards to compensate.

kalikarios · Post by **kalikarios** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 5:23 pm

Balibari wrote:
bbobeckyj wrote:which is worse, this race or no race?

Exactly.

Have to agree with you, despite that i also think Valencia is maybe the worst track in the calendar. But it's always better to race (even in Valencia) than no race at all.

Lotus38 · Post by **Lotus38** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 6:27 pm

kalikarios wrote:
Balibari wrote:
bbobeckyj wrote:which is worse, this race or no race?

Exactly.

Have to agree with you, despite that i also think Valencia is maybe the worst track in the calendar. But it's always better to race (even in Valencia) than no race at all.

This blatantly obvious logic seems to escape some people...

Pritchard · Post by **Pritchard** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 8:27 pm

Volantary wrote:Maybe they can do silverstone backwards to compensate.

Yeh, you can race tracks in reverse on Gran Turismo so it'll definitely work in real life :nod:

kalikarios · Post by **kalikarios** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 8:36 pm

Volantary wrote:Maybe they can do silverstone backwards to compensate.

Excellent idea! I would prefer a backwards Spa though. Eau Rouge would be a hell of a slide!

myf1space · Post by **myf1space** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 8:57 pm

I won't miss valencia if they replace it with another race.
http://bit.ly/AtXoVA

foolishyouth · Post by **foolishyouth** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 9:08 pm

if it was going to be replaced by anything, it'll be Turkey. but i can't see it not happening. the penalties in the contract for breaking it will be much higher than the hosting fees.

LittleSnowBear · Post by **LittleSnowBear** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 9:18 pm

I don't like the Valencia circuit and I would happy to see it go.

I would like to see Portugal(estoril) come back and for SPA TO NEVER EVER LEAVE.

neilf1 · Post by **neilf1** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 9:21 pm

Wouldn't it be funny if Valencia turned out the be one of the more exciting races this year. It's not beyond the realms of possibility.
This is F1, anything can happen. I am aware history doesn't promise much for Valencia but all it would take is one or two of the top cars to be out of position or something like that.

Stranger things have happened!

MclarenFl · Post by **MclarenFl** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 11:29 pm

Never really cared for that race I say bring an old circuit back to the calendar.

Leesa · Post by **Leesa** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 4:57 am

A very large part of me is screaming "good riddance," but it is terrifying to see the calendar moving slowly eastward. I fear the day when we lose many of the classic European venues and see ourselves making on a few choice trips back for Monte Carlo, Spa, Silverstone... even those last two are not for certain.

PlasticRomance · Post by **PlasticRomance** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 5:49 am

Lotus38 wrote:
kalikarios wrote:
Balibari wrote:
bbobeckyj wrote:which is worse, this race or no race?

Exactly.

Have to agree with you, despite that i also think Valencia is maybe the worst track in the calendar. But it's always better to race (even in Valencia) than no race at all.

This blatantly obvious logic seems to escape some people...

My thoughts exactly. :thumbup:

JonA · Post by **JonA** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 5:58 am

Hey... without Valencia we'd not have had one of the more spectacular crashes in F1 history.

WTkFox · Post by **WTkFox** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 1:39 pm

JonA wrote:Hey... without Valencia we'd not have had one of the more spectacular crashes in F1 history.

A Red Bull with actual wings with Captain Mark Webber behind the wheel?

Kiante · Post by **Kiante** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 5:02 pm

WTkFox wrote:
JonA wrote:Hey... without Valencia we'd not have had one of the more spectacular crashes in F1 history.

A Red Bull with actual wings with Captain Mark Webber behind the wheel?

Don'y forget the Lotus-lugger in Slowvalien...

JP, Hekki is cool.

pressuredrop · Post by **pressuredrop** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 5:25 pm

We should be so lucky to lose this insomnia cure of a race.

dizlexik · Post by **dizlexik** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 5:26 pm

Laura23 wrote:This would make my day if it were true. Valencia is a lovely track to drive on, even on F12011, but it is horrible to watch as a spectator. It isn't made for good racing.

So why would you like to get rid of it?

KateLM · Post by **KateLM** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 5:43 pm

bbobeckyj wrote:which is worse, this race or no race?

In the long run, this race. We might have one less race for this year but it will mean that a better track (i.e. all of them) won't get booted off the schedule for next year to make way for New Jersey.

JonA wrote:Hey... without Valencia we'd not have had one of the more spectacular crashes in F1 history.

You know a circuit is crap when the only memorable thing to have happened there in 4 years is a big crash. And besides, did anyone actually enjoy watching that? :uhoh:

CaptainRicky · Post by **CaptainRicky** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 5:46 pm

BAH! Why setup up a boring race in Valencia when there's already a good track in Spain?

mcdo · Post by **mcdo** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 6:23 pm

I would actually prefer a gap in the calendar than another race at Valencia. It is so difficult trying to explain the enjoyment of F1 to non-fans who have tried to watch that race.

I watched the 2011 race with my family present. They were a million miles away from enjoying themselves. I think my dad went to sleep. F1 doesn't sell itself well with snooze-fests like Valencia.

IDrinkYourMilkshake · Post by **IDrinkYourMilkshake** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 6:42 pm

I don't understand you people. I would watch an F1 car, standing still, on track for hours.

Valencia GP > No GP any day, surely?

Or do I love F1 too much?

Amon · Post by **Amon** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 7:11 pm

I would like it to stay for this year. You never know that it will rain and will provide some surprises. Even Hungary was exciting for the first time in years because of rain.
I would like to see it replaced in the near future though. I see no point in Spain having 2 races when both are snorefests.

WTkFox · Post by **WTkFox** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 1:59 am

Amon wrote:I would like it to stay for this year. You never know that it will rain and will provide some surprises. Even Hungary was exciting for the first time in years because of rain.
I would like to see it replaced in the near future though. I see no point in Spain having 2 races when both are snorefests.

So.... on a random lap number.... the sprinklers turn on for a non disclosed number of laps and wet up the track?

JonA · Post by **JonA** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 2:14 am

KateLM wrote:
bbobeckyj wrote:
JonA wrote:Hey... without Valencia we'd not have had one of the more spectacular crashes in F1 history.

You know a circuit is crap when the only memorable thing to have happened there in 4 years is a big crash. And besides, did anyone actually enjoy watching that?

Initial concern for Webber was, once confirmed he was OK, replaced with appreciation for the spectacular nature of the crash. There's no harm in appreciating a spectacular accident once you know the driver's involved are OK. Even F1 drivers themselves do; Jacques Villeneuve, after crashing at the top of Eau Rouge, said it was "his best accident ever". Hamilton on Top Gear even talked about the thrill he experiences when heading for the scene of a crash! I watch BTCC for the panel bashing antics as well as the racing and when Plato's car was cartwheeling through the air at Donington last year my initial concern for his wellbeing was ultimately replaced with acknowledgement of a pretty darn impressive series of barrel rolls. There was for many seasons a whole series of TV shows made with the support of the FIA that was made up of crash footage from the WRC. I'm sorry if the idea of watching a spectacular accident offends you but I don't feel in the least bit guilty for enjoying a big ol' smash!

JonA · Post by **JonA** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 2:32 am

aerospeed wrote:BAH! Why setup up a boring race in Valencia when there's already a good track in Spain?

There's already permanent circuit in Valencia that has been used for F1 pre-season testing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circuit_Ricardo_Tormo

I've previously wondered why Valencia goes to the expense of creating a temporary circuit each year for what's turned out consistently to be a dull race when they've got a perfectly decent permanent circuit just outside the city already that conforms to FIA Grade 2 (suitable for Formula One testing events). I am sure that investing in that circuit to bring it up to Grade 1 standard would not cost anywhere near as much as it does for the local government and promoter to hold the current race each year.

LukasMueller · Post by **LukasMueller** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 3:08 am

Said it before, will say it again, replace the Valencia GP with either a) A French GP therefore keeping Spa annually running or b) Actually have it rotate every year Nurburing, France, etc.

God knows I won't miss the race.

Jenson's Understeer · Post by **Jenson's Understeer** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 5:17 am

I echo the sentiments of the majority (well, that's what it seemed like, anyway!) in this thread.

A race at most tracks other than Valencia > a race at Valencia > no race.

I suppose there is always a chance it could rain, although I can't imagine there's is ever too much rain in Valencia in June...

irietuning · Post by **irietuning** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 6:12 am

I may be on my own with this thought...

If there is no Valencia

I would love another race @ Istanbul Park

jimmyj · Post by **jimmyj** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 1:06 pm

j man wrote:
jimmyj wrote:I won't miss it. I'd rather they do another better venue.

As much as I agree that Valencia is terrible they're not going to get a replacement for this year if the race doesn't go ahead. I'd rather have the Valencia GP than a gap in the calendar, though admittedly not by much.

That's what I meant. I want another venue over Valencia. I DO NOT want to see us lose a race. I'd like that race to stay in Europe also.

hittheapex · Post by **hittheapex** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 1:18 pm

When Spa may have to alternate, we don't have a confirmed regular race in France yet, and Imola is off the calendar, there is no room for Borelencia.

Pole2Win · Post by **Pole2Win** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 2:14 pm

They could go to Algarve to keep the Iberic theme.