Prime Minister Considers Hosting Formula One Race in Bangkok

[snoop1130]

 

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has had meetings with executives from Formula One and visited the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari racetrack in Italy's Bologna. This visit was an explorative move to assess the potential of Bangkok hosting a Formula One race.

 

Formula One is famous for conducting the esteemed FIA Formula One World Championship every year over a period of roughly nine months. The 2024 season comprises 24 races spanning across 21 nations on five separate continents, showcasing its worldwide popularity and broad reach.

 

The Thai government is currently assessing the practicability of hosting such a high-status sports event in Bangkok. The purpose is to use this event as an impetus for economic progress, community perks, and promoting youth involvement. By hosting a Formula One race, Thailand aims to augment its international tourism appeal and affirm its standing as a significant host for top international events.

 

File photo for reference only. Courtesy of Google

 

-- 2024-05-20

 

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[OneMoreFarang]

Where do these f#$#$ stupid ideas come from?

Did he think even for one minute about this? Because then he would know it is just stupid.

But then, this is not the thinking and logic hub... 

[worgeordie]

Get Taylor Swift to perform at same time too , I would rather see

about 100 tuk tuk's ,racing around the emptied streets of Bangkok

 

regards worgeordie

[Tropicalevo]

He's 'avin a larf.

No way would Bangkok be able to host an F1 race.

I do not have enough time to even start to list the reasons why.

[JoePai]

Half an hour ago he said a new F1 track near Rayong ?

[Ralf001]

17 minutes ago, JoePai said:

Half an hour ago he said a new F1 track near Rayong ?

 

Yeah at U-Tapao, wants PTT to pay for it on land donated by BTS Group !!

 

[Stocky]

1 hour ago, worgeordie said:

I would rather see about 100 tuk tuk's ,racing around the emptied streets of Bangkok

A Tuk-Tuk destruction derby would be excellent entertainment

[Ralf001]

1 minute ago, Stocky said:

A Tuk-Tuk destruction derby would be excellent entertainment

On a figure 8 track !!

[dddave]

1 hour ago, Tropicalevo said:

He's 'avin a larf.

No way would Bangkok be able to host an F1 race.

I do not have enough time to even start to list the reasons why.

One reason that immediately comes to mind:  Lap #3, Sidecar motorbike selling Pla Muk Heng comes wrong way down the side of the road course. Three win's follow.;

[Ralf001]

2 hours ago, dddave said:

One reason that immediately comes to mind:  Lap #3, Sidecar motorbike selling Pla Muk Heng comes wrong way down the side of the road course. Three win's follow.;

FIA mandates street courses be closed to civilian traffic during a race.

[scottiejohn]

2 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

FIA mandates street courses be closed to civilian traffic during a race.

I think that all streets are closed on any race course of any type anywhere in the world except to participating vehicles!

[KannikaP]

14 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

I think that all streets are closed on any race course of any type anywhere in the world except to participating vehicles!

Sorry there is no sarcasm emoji. Come on Scottie.

[webfact]

Thailand plans Formula One circuit near U-Tapao airport by 2028
by Mitch Connor

 

Picture courtesy of Srettha Thavisin wikipedia page

 

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced plans to construct a Formula One racing circuit near U-Tapao Airport in Rayong province within the next three to four years. The prime minister shared this vision after meeting with Formula One Group executives in Milan yesterday.

 

The 62 year old prime minister emphasised the importance of international sporting events for boosting tourism, expressing the government’s intention for Thailand to host the F1 World Championship. Accompanying him at the meeting were Chatchai Phromlert, chairman of PTT Plc, and Kavin Kanjanapas, president of BTS Group Holdings Plc.

 

PM Srettha explained that PTT is expected to sponsor the construction of the new circuit, while BTS Group Holdings manages the expansive U-Tapao airport compound. The prime minister noted that the delegation received a favourable response from the F1 Group.

“I believe that we and the organisers both want this to happen. I am confident that there will be good news in a few months.”

 

The proposed circuit aims to host not only F1 and F2 races but also events for young racers. Although specific details have yet to be finalised, the government plans to begin construction of the circuit by 2027 or 2028 at the latest, according to the prime minister.

 

During his visit to Italy, the Bangkok-born Srettha also toured the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari F1 circuit in Imola, east of Bologna, to gather insights and inspiration for the future Thai circuit, reported Bangkok Post.

 

In related news, PM Srettha has a plan to rename Hua Hin Airport. During a visit to Hua Hin Prime Minister Srettha revealed his support for renaming the airport to Phetch-Hua Hin. This strategic move aims to highlight the adjoining province of Phetchaburi and tap into its potential as a tourist hotspot.

 

Currently situated in the Hua Hin district of Prachuap Khiri Khan province, Hua Hin Airport is positioned right on the edge of Cha-am district in Phetchaburi.

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-05-21

 

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[Colabamumbai]

Can we smoke pot there? 

[CanadaSam]

10 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

FIA mandates street courses be closed to civilian traffic during a race.

 

It would not matter if they put up 10 foot high fences all along the race roads, there would be at least one or two Thai's who would be sure they could cross the road and not get hit.

[hotchilli]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Thai government is currently assessing the practicability of hosting such a high-status sports event in Bangkok.

During the dry season I hope.

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, CanadaSam said:

 

It would not matter if they put up 10 foot high fences all along the race roads, there would be at least one or two Thai's who would be sure they could cross the road and not get hit.

Not to mention Soi dogs checking out the track.

[Ralf001]

1 hour ago, CanadaSam said:

 

It would not matter if they put up 10 foot high fences all along the race roads, there would be at least one or two Thai's who would be sure they could cross the road and not get hit.

 

One the ganja early I see.

[kwonitoy]

It's not a cheap thing to put on, lots of setup and lots of money involved

https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/mje/2024/04/29/is-hosting-an-f1-race-financially-feasible/

 

To answer that question, it is important to start at the beginning of the business operation track owners embark on in hosting. And from the beginning they are already losing money. If they do not already have one, they must design and build a track typically costing upwards of $270 million, with yearly maintenance fees averaging $18.5 million (Balla, 2023). Moreover, these costs do not even include the necessary track additions for races such as grandstands (~$14 million), safety barriers and fencing (~$8 million), race pits, offices, parking lots etc., (Sylt, 2017). But if miraculously, owners already have all this, they do not avoid paying up. After a track is in place and Liberty Media, the owner of Formula One, has completed its necessary track inspections, track hosts must pay a hosting/race promotion fee to Liberty Media. This fee must be paid for every single race hosted and is estimated to be between $15-50 million and upwards for prime time races like the Qatar Grand Prix towards the end of the season (Bodsworth, 2023).

[bradiston]

16 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

He's 'avin a larf.

No way would Bangkok be able to host an F1 race.

I do not have enough time to even start to list the reasons why.

It's at U Tapao. 150km from Bangkok. Own airport. Supposed fast links to 2 others. Near Pattaya. Actually one of his better madcap ideas. Achievable, I'd say. F1 not short of sponsors. Verdict? Doable!

[stoner]

as max verstappen rounds the second last turn he is sure to win this years bkk race...wait is that a grab driver on the track ??

[bradiston]

3 minutes ago, kwonitoy said:

It's not a cheap thing to put on, lots of setup and lots of money involved

https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/mje/2024/04/29/is-hosting-an-f1-race-financially-feasible/

 

To answer that question, it is important to start at the beginning of the business operation track owners embark on in hosting. And from the beginning they are already losing money. If they do not already have one, they must design and build a track typically costing upwards of $270 million, with yearly maintenance fees averaging $18.5 million (Balla, 2023). Moreover, these costs do not even include the necessary track additions for races such as grandstands (~$14 million), safety barriers and fencing (~$8 million), race pits, offices, parking lots etc., (Sylt, 2017). But if miraculously, owners already have all this, they do not avoid paying up. After a track is in place and Liberty Media, the owner of Formula One, has completed its necessary track inspections, track hosts must pay a hosting/race promotion fee to Liberty Media. This fee must be paid for every single race hosted and is estimated to be between $15-50 million and upwards for prime time races like the Qatar Grand Prix towards the end of the season (Bodsworth, 2023).

Someone somewhere makes money out of hosting Motorsport events. You've got F1, 2 and 3. E-f1, superbikes and all the 2 wheel classes, massively popular, drag racing, karting, sedans, vintage, Le Mans - well, you know what I mean.

 

If they built a stadium alongside, then you've got a massive draw. Concerts, events, boxing, judo, tennis, badminton, basketball etc etc etc . I say go for it!

[Galong]

2 hours ago, Colabamumbai said:

Can we smoke pot there? 

Probably at 10,000 baht/joint. The F1 scheme is all about high rollers.

[kingstonkid]

17 hours ago, worgeordie said:

Get Taylor Swift to perform at same time too , I would rather see

about 100 tuk tuk's ,racing around the emptied streets of Bangkok

 

regards worgeordie

Now I am scared I was thinking the same thing  about TS

 

First, before anything can happen, they need to have streets that formula cars can race on. Next, they would have to hope that someone would drop out and a European country with high viewers would be interested.

 

This guy is using these excuses so that he can holiday and enjoy the great life on the Thai people baht

 

Going to be interesting to see what happens to him in a couple of days.

[Galong]

I'm still waiting for him to have one good or even realistic idea. He has recently pushed the commencement of the destruction of the Heroines' Monument in Phuket, which is the most important intersection on the island WITHOUT any apparent plan to have an alternate route. The result is an absolute tourism and commercial transportation NIGHTMARE!  I've never seen traffic backed up as much as it is over the last few days. It will only get worse. I guess they could do the work at night, but that makes too much sense... no, let's do it when everyone needs to travel. Big buses and trucks are using all of the lanes and changing lanes constantly. the cops could force them to stay in the left lane to make traffic flow smoother, but there's not a cop in sight and they probably wouldn't do anything useful if they were. They'd find some way of making it worse.

This is all to put in an underpass, instead of a more logical and quicker-to-construct, overpass.  It's "scheduled" to run through 2026. I'm not a betting man, but I've got huge money on it taking much, much longer. In the meantime, Phuket life has been altered severely. 

[bradiston]

14 minutes ago, Galong said:

Probably at 10,000 baht/joint. The F1 scheme is all about high rollers.

What about high roll-your-owners?

[2baht]

16 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

He's 'avin a larf.

No way would Bangkok be able to host an F1 race.

I do not have enough time to even start to list the reasons why.

Just give us 3 then!

[Tropicalevo]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced plans to construct a Formula One racing circuit near U-Tapao Airport

No point.

The racing calendar is already full.

There are other cities already in the queue for a slot.

[stoner]

1 minute ago, bradiston said:

What about high roll-your-owners?

 

that would be my flower. 

[ignore it]

Yeah

 

I just stopped being concerned about the re-crim of weed.

 

The PM is definitely a user.