webfact Posted December 9, 2012 Share Posted December 9, 2012 World's fastest men head for Bangkok to compete in racing extravaganza Lerpong Amsa-ngiam The Nation BANGKOK: -- The Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok will be transformed into a racing venue when the world's fastest racers led by three-time F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel and MotoGP king Jorge Lorenzo congregate this weekend for the Red Bull Singha Race of Champions (ROC). The 50,000-capacity arena, the site for the December 14-16 event, will become the assembly point not only for motorsports enthusiasts, but also for champions of all major racing formats - Formula One, MotoGP, IndyCar, Touring Car and Le Mans. German driver Vettel, who has swept the F1 world champion title for the last three seasons, his countryman Michael Schumacher, seven-time F1 World Champion IndyCar winner Ryan Hunter-Reay of the United States, V8 Supercar champion Jamie Whincup of Australia, five-time 500cc MotoGP world champion Mick Doohan of Australia, and 2010 and 2012 MotoGP champion Lorenzo of Spain are the marquee names who will generate an electrifying atmosphere at the stadium. According to Sports Authority of Thailand Governor Kanokphan Chulakasem, the construction of parallel tracks featuring a bridge inside the stadium started on November 30, involving more than 100 local staff under the supervision of skilful engineers and officials to ensure that it will meet the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) standards. "Everything has been carried out according to the FIA requirements and we have yet to experience any problems so far. In terms of safety and security, we have concrete barriers set up as a protection for the audience. We have also contacted the Hua Mark Police Station to have officers perform their duties during race days," said the SAT big boss, who initiated the idea to host the event, supported by Red Bull and Boonrawd Brewery. "ROC is a world famous race that most motor sports enthusiasts recognise. It features champions from different circuits including Vettel, who races for Red Bull. Also, the ROC is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. So we saw this as an excellent opportunity for the country to host this event," said Michael de Santies-teban, representing Red Bull. Three-day event The event will take place over three days - the Race of Champions Asia Cup for Asian car racers on Friday, the ROC Nations Cup on Saturday and the individual Race of Champions on Sunday. Apart from the competition, a whole host of activities will feature in the event, such as a concert by Titanium and a stuntman show by Red Bull's Chris Pfeiffer, as well as a display of racing and road cars. But best of all, fans will be given a once-in-a-lifetime chance to have a closer view of the action, as some will be chosen by lucky draw to sit in the cars raced by the champion drivers. Kanokphan admitted that the staging of the ROC was a prelude to the first ever Formula One Grand Prix of Thailand in 2014, a project of which de Santiesteban was recently appointed vice chairman by Tourism and Sports Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa. "One of the main purposes of staging the ROC is to create public awareness of motor racing and most of all to prepare Thai fans for F1. There have been negotiations to host the F1 in Thailand. Now we are just waiting for [Chumpol] to bring this F1 proposal to the Cabinet for approval." Kanokphan said. The SAT governor was confident the project would receive a nod from the Cabinet as the F1 event, which is expected to be a night race in Bangkok, would serve the government's policy of bringing in major sporting events and promoting local tourism. "From our ROC tickets sales to date, most of the Bt5,000 tickets, which are the most expensive, have been purchased by foreigners. That proves that what we have done serves the [policies]," he said. In terms of business opportunities, de Santiesteban - who revealed that his negotiations with the F1 management have been very positive and are moving in the right direction - said that hosting motorsports events would further enhance the automobile industry in Thailand. "The benefits are numerous, not only in terms of tourism and the image of the Kingdom, but also for the automotive sector, as Thailand is an important automobile manufacturing hub," the Spaniard said. Over the past 15 years, de Santiesteban, a senior executive in the regional banking industry, has been credited with closing several important deals in Thailand. "We all dream of Formula One races in Thailand," he said. Although local drivers are invited to join the Race of Champions this weekend, it's unlikely any will be eligible to join the 2014 F1, due to the high standard of the competition. Kanokphan, however, hoped that under the SAT Professional Sports Support Project, F1 would one day feature a Thai racer. "Motor racing is one of the professional sports that Thai athletes can make a living of, and so far have shown impressive results. Our goal is to see a Thai racer compete in the Formula 1. I expect that to happen in the next 10 years," Kanokphan concluded. -- The Nation 2012-12-10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fozfromoz Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 Just had a look at the ROC website on this. Didn't know much about it, but looks like this should be a cracker. Now to get the tickets. Of course I will look at Jamie and Mick to win for team Australia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post theslime Posted December 10, 2012 Popular Post Share Posted December 10, 2012 wheres Usain? 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ginjag Posted December 10, 2012 Popular Post Share Posted December 10, 2012 I would correct the topic and say they are already living in Thailand, also the fastest ones that flee the scene in incidents 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noitom Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 Red Bull in the news as a big racing sponsor. The owner of the Ferrari that ran down and killed the cop three months ago is still unindicted on the killing, DUI charges, collusion, obstruction of property, bribery, police corruption and complicity, and other charges. Red Bull should be proud to be in the news and will be a major sponsor - The Red Bull drivers know how to race through the streets of Bangkok. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcw Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 (edited) This event has never been to Thailand before, it has traditionally been held in Europe and recently in Beijing last year, in the Olympic Stadium there. This year it will take place in the home of the Thailand’s national soccer team on December 15-16 at Rajamangala Stadium which is in Bangkok city. Michael Schumacher said recently, “I have never raced in Thailand before so this will be an interesting addition to my motor sport travels.” More information regarding tickets can be found on their official website. For more info. It should be an awesome weekend. Edited December 10, 2012 by jcw 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
culicine Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 At 5K a ticket for the most expensive ones, and only foreigners bought them? That doesn't bode well for Thais that might like to go and see a F1 race if one is ever held in Thailand. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nisa Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 (edited) At 5K a ticket for the most expensive ones, and only foreigners bought them? That doesn't bode well for Thais that might like to go and see a F1 race if one is ever held in Thailand. The vast majority of these foreigners wouldn't be in Thailand if it was not for the race. This is typical of these kinds of races and the huge motivation for countries to sponsor these races. As mentioned, these are the most expensive tickets while the least expensive are 200 baht (Friday) and 400 baht (access to both Sat. & Sun.). "serve the government's policy of bringing in major sporting events and promoting local tourism .... most of the Bt5,000 tickets, which are the most expensive, have been purchased by foreigners. That proves that what we have done serves the [policies]," he said." Edited December 10, 2012 by Nisa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlos Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 (edited) Minimum of 1500Baht per ticket if you want to sit anywhere near the circuit on the Saturday.... Pretty pricey if you want to take a family or even just the other half with you... Edit; sorry, I overlooked the date, Sat-Sun makes it a better deal Edited December 10, 2012 by karlos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Nisa Posted December 10, 2012 Popular Post Share Posted December 10, 2012 Red Bull in the news as a big racing sponsor. The owner of the Ferrari that ran down and killed the cop three months ago is still unindicted on the killing, DUI charges, collusion, obstruction of property, bribery, police corruption and complicity, and other charges. Red Bull should be proud to be in the news and will be a major sponsor - The Red Bull drivers know how to race through the streets of Bangkok. What are you talking about beyond trying to take a positive story and paint it with doom and gloom? The relative (grandson) of a founder of an energy drink that sponsors racing was in fact indicted (formally charged) with the accident/death over 3-months ago. As with anywhere else, there is enough negative news in Thailand to not have to seek out positive news stories and try to put a doom and gloom perspective on them by using far reaching or guilt by association tactics that are truly nothing but off topic bating to steer the topic down a commiseration of misery for the doom and gloom brigade.. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALFREDO Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 (edited) I would believe, that event is sponsored & run by the activities + enterprise of the Austrian, International arm - F 1, MotoGp and overall Motorsport Part of the Red Bull conglomerate which, as I see it, has not much to do with the Bangkok incident and should not be thrown in the same pot! Edited December 10, 2012 by ALFREDO 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RisqEM Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 Sounds fun!! Just hope they make all the proper preparations in time, and leaned from the FUTSOL debacle 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcw Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 Anyone know the policy on kids prices? http://www.thaiticketmajor.com/sport/sport-detail.php?sid=1501&la=en Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobTH Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 It appears they will be driving a number of different styles of race cars. It is kind of confusing as to the scedule and how the races are ran. Here is a link on the race cars. http://www.raceofchampions.com/pages/common/RaceofChampions.aspx?pg=7438 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigermonkey Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 (edited) ROC is an interesting series of races which has been run every year now for 25 years. It was not in Beijing last year as reported above, but in Germany last year and 2010. It was in Beijing in 2009. It is interesting to note that the Champion of Champions has been dominated the last 10 years by drivers from the World Rally Championships and the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters. F1 drivers usually only show up in the country championship in which Germany has a stranglehold. It is nice for Thailand to dream of an F1 race in 2014, but it takes a lot more than Thai government approval to get this done, and much more than 2 years. Just ask Bernie Ecclestone who runs F1 about a race in Thailand -- he will start with 3 queations -- where is your money ? ( 2 billion Baht fee ?) - where is your track and infrastructure ? ( compare to Circuit of the Americas in USA ) - where is your plan ? ( it took Singapore 4-5 years hard work to get their race) Edited December 10, 2012 by tigermonkey 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fozfromoz Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 Anyone know the policy on kids prices? http://www.thaiticketmajor.com/sport/sport-detail.php?sid=1501&la=en Had a look at TTM page as well. Maybe kids are the cheaper ones listed but it doesn't say? Perhaps contact them is all I can suggest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Caine Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 Couldn't they just build a Scalextric track? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sport Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 I would believe, that event is sponsored & run by the activities + enterprise of the Austrian, International arm - F 1, MotoGp and overall Motorsport Part of the Red Bull conglomerate which, as I see it, has not much to do with the Bangkok incident and should not be thrown in the same pot! Alfredo, Would it be fair to point out that Red Bull GMBH is 51% Thai owned? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy chef 1 Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 That's are great news for Thailand and i wish it will be successful .there is just one thing what irritates me:if one sentence contains the words security and LOCAL staff- I get concerned,even with supervision of expats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratcatcher Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 (edited) "The benefits are numerous, not only in terms of tourism and the image of the Kingdom, but also for the automotive sector, as Thailand is an important automobile manufacturing hub," the Spaniard said. ...............................................................................................................................There it is. Edited December 10, 2012 by ratcatcher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osiboy Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 Just hope that the thais dont try and replicate what they see on the track around the streets of bkk or any other towns , they seem to believe their soaps operas are real and that if they buy mr wingwangs cream they can be white in 24 hrs , .....".they saw it on tv , so it must be true ", watch out for all the somchai schummakers racing around silom in the near future ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTO Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 <<seven-time F1 World Champion IndyCar winner Ryan Hunter-Reay of the United States>> What is that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maapaa Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 "We have also contacted the Hua Mark Police Station to have officers perform their duties during race days," Sorry for my bad question: What are they doing on "normal days"? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlos Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 Just hope that the thais dont try and replicate what they see on the track around the streets of bkk or any other towns , they seem to believe their soaps operas are real and that if they buy mr wingwangs cream they can be white in 24 hrs , .....".they saw it on tv , so it must be true ", watch out for all the somchai schummakers racing around silom in the near future ! Most car advertisements already promote aggressive driving and insane weaving through traffic on real roads to help sell their vehicles, I’m sure this event will have no effect on a Thai's ability to get to work on time.. I was shocked to see 3 said commercials after the Man City - Man Utd game last night on CH3, the New Yaris RS advert took the biscuit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALFREDO Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 Alfredo, Would it be fair to point out that Red Bull GMBH is 51% Thai owned? Yes, but, until the Thai Entrepreneur and OLD INVENTOR of RED BULL not long ago, died, it was agreed between the Thai Patriarch and the Austrian businessman, Mr. Mateschitz, that the Austrian controls the direction of the Business Vessel and presents it in most parts of the world. Except Thailand and ASEAN possibly and I do not see a significant change until now to that agreement to date. To that I wanted to point. Without The Austrian Mateschitz, RED BULL would maybe, control the Thai and some other Asian countries Markets but would not be a Global player. Surely that event would not happen in Bangkok without the Global ideas and the Marketing of Mr.Mateschitz and his influence. Sure also no RED BULL cars and Formula 1 titles! Ect, ect, ect! So leave that incident in the Thai market and with the Thai family-young man, who is responsible for it and not spill blood on the International stage at which the Thai 51% owners have nearly no influence at all! All spin Doctors sit in Europe and Austria and from ther comes also that event! No Mateschitz and the Austrian Business arm, no Thai Motorsport event at this level! Not throw dirt 10.000 km away where it does not belong to! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaka Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 "We have also contacted the Hua Mark Police Station to have officers perform their duties during race days," Sorry for my bad question: What are they doing on "normal days"? Collecting their bribes, "tea money" of course. What else could they be doing? Surely nothing that would require any skill or knowledge. Of the law, or example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALFREDO Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 Anybody knows, if that event is shown on a TV channel in Thailand, true Move? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fxe1200 Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 Thailand the hub of "panem et circensis" Great!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qauvorka Posted December 11, 2012 Share Posted December 11, 2012 Anyone know the policy on kids prices? http://www.thaiticke...=1501&la=en Had a look at TTM page as well. Maybe kids are the cheaper ones listed but it doesn't say? Perhaps contact them is all I can suggest. I rang up and was told children are free if they are under 100cm and sit on your lap otherwise full ticket prices apply 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theslime Posted December 11, 2012 Share Posted December 11, 2012 I would correct the topic and say they are already living in Thailand, also the fastest ones that flee the scene in incidents The copper racing to get to dead tourists wallet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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