Can Thailand afford not to host a Formula One Grand Prix?

[webfact]

 

by Michel Bridge

 

Now that the green light has been given for The Buriram International Circuit (known as Chang International Circuit) to host its second MotoGP later this year, could this be the time for Thailand to put in a bid to attract the much bigger and higher-profile Formula One to the land of smiles?

If any of you F1 fans saw the incredible buzz generated by the new Miami Grand Prix held this weekend, the publicity gained will pay huge dividends for the city and Florida for months.

We know that the feedback from the Moto GP riders to racing in Thailand was a big thumbs up, as they all voted the Buriram weekend a few years back as the best run race on their calendar that season.

Certainly, the income generated from overseas fans booking trips to Thailand paid off big time for the TAT.

Singapore has recently resigned a long-term contract to continue hosting their night grand prix so the city elders must be incredibly pleased with the results there.

Perhaps the mix of small towns and F1 has not always been successful, as the Korean Grand Prix was dropped from the Formula One calendar only three years after it was unveiled in the rural county of Yeongam in 2010.

 

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Could Buriram cope?

If Thailand has a realistic chance to attract the Formula Grand, they will need to find a new location away from the countryside, possibly in Bangkok or even Pattaya.

Las Vegas will host a race in 2023 and the organisers are looking for more razzle dazzle locations in the future to provide exciting TV coverage.

Some years ago, apparently, a proposed route for Thailand's future Formula 1 Grand Prix had been agreed upon, according to officials in the country. 

Then the Governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand was quoted as saying that the committee behind the project had given the green light to circuit plans.

Starting and finishing at the Royal Thai Naval Dockyard, the 5.995-km (3.725-mi) layout would take in various tourist attractions, including the Grand Palace, Victory Monument and Temple of Dawn, while a capacity of 150,000 has been estimated. 

The starting and finishing point would be on the bank of the Chao Phraya River.

Certainly, it would provide a superb amount of great publicity for the city and attract thousands of F1 fans to stay in the city and party.

Remember Alex Albon who is currently doing well at Williams Racing is Thai, so what better time to say to F1, forget Russia and think of Thailand instead.

 

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[Thunglom]

A lot of Thailand's elite are motor racing fans. So any decision is really in th hands of the rich elite- take a look at Bang Saen Speed week and you'll see how those with influence and power can take over an entire town - Thailand has plenty of space and money is not a problem

[Ralf001]

Buriram does not have the infrastructure required to host an F1 race.

[TTSIssues]

In the same way that Vietnam never happened, I cannot see thailand making this happen: too much corruption sadly. 

[DrJack54]

29 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Buriram does not have the infrastructure required to host an F1 race.

Exactly....

Was just talking with some racing fans very familiar with Buriram moto GP.

They were saying accommodation was very difficult to find. 

Don't know if that's the case (never been) however has put me off..

[Orinoco]

Thailand hosting F1, what a laugh.

1 April was last month.

 

 

[ikke1959]

The roads in Thailand are already a F1 circuit.... road racing you can see every day

[Excel]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Alex Albon who is currently doing well at Williams Racing is Thai

He is actually British/Thai as his Father is English. He was born in the UK so hence automatically became British at birth prior to him being registered as Thai by his Mother. And I'm not sure with his Thai Mother having served a 7 year sentence for fraud in the UK would be a good reason to use him as a reason for a Thai GP although of course even convicted criminals get ministerial posts in Thailand so maybe I am wrong.

[herfiehandbag]

The sense of excitement up here in Chiang Rai at the prospect of Bangkok getting a Formula 1 event ( and all the accompanying cash cows for the very wealthy Bangkok "elite") is - not very palpable!

[actonion]

Looking at Thailands roads & drivers   i would think its formula one  race day everyday ????

[Henryford]

1 hour ago, Ralf001 said:

Buriram does not have the infrastructure required to host an F1 race.

It's impossible to get a hotel within 50 miles of Buriram even for the MotoGP. Imagine for a F1 race !!

[Moti24]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

If Thailand has a realistic chance to attract the Formula Grand, they will need to find a new location away from the countryside, possibly in Bangkok or even Pattaya.

If Thailand has a realistic chance to attract the Formula Grand, they will need to find a new location away from the countryside, possibly in Bangkok or even Pattaya way to keep the Soi Dogs off the track.

[mtls2005]

They made a run at this back in 2013 for the 2015 season.

 

Shelved for various reasons.

 

Until Liberty Media sell to the Saudis, this won't happen.

 

Too many street courses anyway.

 

[Ralf001]

Chang circuit no longer holds a grade 1 licence so could not host an F1 event until the track is inspected and re certified and a new licence is granted.

 

 

[RichardColeman]

Till they may these races compete on a figure 8 track, I aint watching this boring monotonous, repetitive, drivel. 

 

 

[Andycoops]

Buriram has a complete lack of hotels to accommodate Moto GP let alone F1.

You have to remember it's a small rural town bankrolled by one man.

[JayClay]

6 minutes ago, Andycoops said:

Buriram has a complete lack of hotels to accommodate Moto GP let alone F1.

You have to remember it's a small rural town bankrolled by one man.

 

27 minutes ago, Henryford said:

It's impossible to get a hotel within 50 miles of Buriram even for the MotoGP. Imagine for a F1 race !!

 

1 hour ago, Ralf001 said:

Buriram does not have the infrastructure required to host an F1 race.

 

I mean.... You could at least try reading the article??

 

"If Thailand has a realistic chance to attract the Formula Grand, they will need to find a new location away from the countryside, possibly in Bangkok or even Pattaya."

 

Burriram is not on the cards.

[Ralf001]

7 minutes ago, Andycoops said:

Buriram has a complete lack of hotels to accommodate Moto GP let alone F1.

You have to remember it's a small rural town bankrolled by one man.

Yeah its something like 3,000 hotel rooms required for staff/racers/teams and media.

Then there is the lack of international airport to get all those peeps there.

 

Whats the hospital like there, wonder if it is up to FIA spec as well ?

 

It just aint gunna happen in my opinion.

[Ralf001]

4 minutes ago, JayClay said:

 

 

 

I mean.... You could at least try reading the article??

 

"If Thailand has a realistic chance to attract the Formula Grand, they will need to find a new location away from the countryside, possibly in Bangkok or even Pattaya."

 

Burriram is not on the cards.

Bangkok and Pattaya have a complete lack of track.

 

Bangkok and Pattaya are not on the cards.

 

Chonburi Motorsport Park was to be grade 2.... thats would be the only thing to bring a race to Thailand, get that project back on track (boom tish) and build it to grade 1 specs.

 

https://www.apexcircuitdesign.com/experience/chonburi-motor-park

[hotchilli]

I'm sure the owners of Red Bull will be in favour.

[JayClay]

12 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Till they may these races compete on a figure 8 track, I aint watching this boring monotonous, repetitive, drivel. 

 

 

I'm not sure what it is that you find pleasing about tracks that look like that number in particular, but you're in luck as F1 does in fact have a race just for you.

 

9th October, Suzuka.

[mtls2005]

1 minute ago, hotchilli said:

I'm sure the owners of Red Bull will be in favour.

Meh.

 

They already have a home race.

 

It's held at the Red Bull Ring.

 

https://www.formula1.com/en/racing/2022/Austria.html

[RichardColeman]

1 minute ago, JayClay said:

I'm not sure what it is that you find pleasing about tracks that look like that number in particular, but you're in luck as F1 does in fact have a race just for you.

 

9th October, Suzuka.

Not interested , unless the track crosses over like some banger racing figure 8  !

[Ralf001]

1 minute ago, mtls2005 said:

Meh.

 

They already have a home race.

 

It's held at the Red Bull Ring.

 

https://www.formula1.com/en/racing/2022/Austria.html

Also headquarters in Milton Keynes... Silverstone could also be call "home Race" !!

[Lacessit]

A better question would be, can Thailand afford to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix.

[herfiehandbag]

11 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

I'm sure the owners of Red Bull will be in favour.

It would certainly cut down on all that traveling!

[Iamfalang]

Thailand can NOT afford to not hold a race.  

 

If there is no race, the entire economy will crumble back into the Stone Age.  

 

This is something they must do, regardless of the cost.

 

Can Thailand afford not to grow rice?  yes.   F1 car racing, whatever that is......MUST!!!  The best racer is ......  yes, very famous.  

[AhFarangJa]

1 hour ago, Excel said:

He is actually British/Thai as his Father is English. He was born in the UK so hence automatically became British at birth prior to him being registered as Thai by his Mother. And I'm not sure with his Thai Mother having served a 7 year sentence for fraud in the UK would be a good reason to use him as a reason for a Thai GP although of course even convicted criminals get ministerial posts in Thailand so maybe I am wrong.

Re your last sentence, is it not mandatory.......

[hotchilli]

5 minutes ago, herfiehandbag said:

It would certainly cut down on all that traveling!

I wonder if "you know who" would visit?

He likes a live F1 race.... allegedly.

[hioctane]

19 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

A better question would be, can Thailand afford to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Like all events it is a long term investment.