F1: Ecclestone Gives Bangkok Grand Prix The Green Light

[webfact]

F1 Adds Bangkok Race to 2015 Schedule

Ecclestone at the 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix. File photo, source: wikimedia

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

-- THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 2012-12-19

[PoorSucker]

Will be there.

Sorry for you with cars in Bangkok, how many roads will be closed for the race and for how long?

[sjjmmi]

OMG run for your lives, All drivers will be testing up and till then

Edited December 19, 2012 by sjjmmi

[Brasilouro]

Forget the red bull team an average tuk tuk driver will get round Bangkok quicker than any F1 car

[Pib]

Bangkok motorists will just think another racing gang has temporarily closed some roads for night racing (with police disregard approval).

[nong38]

Surrounded by 100's of Finos, waves and clicks it will be a breathtaking start! Will the pits be near any 7-11's so a quick snack can be taken? What about Police checkpoints, how many?

[jbrain]

Has it ever happened in F1 history that a race is cancelled because the paddock isn't ready ?

I know it has happend once with a futsal chamionship, just saying

[Pib]

During the F1 race I think motorcycles should be allowed to continue to run as normal (with multiple riders and no helmets of course) on the streets designated for the race---as that will give it a real Thailand flavor.

[bigbamboo]

I wouldn't get too excited just yet.

Bernie giving the green light for a race on the streets in three years time means about as much as a red light on the streets does in Thailand now.

[LuckyLew]

Thailand do not deserve and F1 race

People here are non responsive to large sporting events

Futsal games were poorly attended

ROC last weekend was poorly attended

Give the race to a city where people care

[jbrain]

Thailand do not deserve and F1 race

People here are non responsive to large sporting events

Futsal games were poorly attended

ROC last weekend was poorly attended

Give the race to a city where people care

But I guess that is the last of Ecclestones concerns

[Payboy]

All we need now is a Marina Bay Sands.

[Neilly]

I wouldn't get too excited just yet.

Bernie giving the green light for a race on the streets in three years time means about as much as a red light on the streets does in Thailand now.

Everyone he's called so far has come off

So..."They say 2014 and I say 2015. It is serious and it is good," he added.... I'll be there

[KHR1010]

This will truly be a spectacle to behold, not speaking of the race but rather the inevitable calamities that will lead up to the race.

[philw]

Great for Bangkok and Thailand.

More tourists, more $$$, more international credibility and probably the only people on the planet against it are the nay sayers on TV.........

[davejones]

Great news for Bangkok. This will be awesome.

[arthurwait]

2015 . I wonder if the next government will still be paying the money ?

[bigbamboo]

2015 . I wonder if the next government will still be paying the money ?

More to the point... will there be any left?

[nisakiman]

I hope it happens. It will definitely be in my calendar if they do it.

Anyone know the proposed circuit? I'd guess that would have been decided before Bernie gave it the nod. Inclusion of a couple of the smaller sois would add a bit of interest!

[surangw]

seems to me there are already lots of prix racing at night on the streets of bkk

[Soi Sauce]

No local interest; just look at the race of WHO? Nobody went.

Why is the gov wasting more money?

[jbrain]

I wonder if they will use those pick up rescues for the emergency

[peterdarby]

I hope Soi Cowboy is on the route

[noob7]

A night race in Bangkok!

So the cars will have headlights?

Edited December 19, 2012 by noob7

[noob7]

No local interest; just look at the race of WHO? Nobody went.

Why is the gov wasting more money?

1.Image

2.Image

3.No private money (I mean, politice not use politicians money)!

60% of the 27 Million US$ is the share of the Thai government,

Edited December 19, 2012 by noob7

[Nisa]

More good news for Thailand on the international stage but what a sad representation of foreigners here to another positive news story for Thailand with 80% of the posts so far expressing feeling of inferiority through negative posts and/or faux superiority responses.

[wayned]

The reason that the date is not finalized yet is that they are still discussing where the police check point will be placed on the circuit and the fines fro speeding.

[noitom]

It's a preposterous thought to consider a legitimate F1 race in Bangkok and then to beat the band, at night! If you read the entire WSJ article it mentions that a demonstration was held in Bangkok in 2010 sponsored by - you guessed it - Red Bull. Not coincidentally, the proposed F1 race is cosponsored by the owners of Red Bull and Singha Beer , the joint owners of the Thailand Ferrari dealer Cavallino Motors.

When there is big money behind promoting a venue, F1 and Bernie Eccelstone have nothing to lose by accepting the Thai commitment money. We wonder if the hit and run killing of the Bangkok police officer three months ago by the Ferrari was an additional "demonstration" of the Ferrari's agility and handling while dragging that copper's body through the streets of Bangkok. Very ironic turn here as we continue to wait for further or any news on the warrant for that driver's arrest on numerous charges as reported in this newspaper.

[chainarong]

I fully support Bernie Ecclestone , sounds good, costs a whole heap of dough though, lets see what happens in five years.

[IMA_FARANG]

So that's what the "little incident" with the Red Bull grandson was then?

Testing the proposed course by the Red Bull team?

I suppose killing a motorcycle policeman was part of the testing process?

P.S. Personal opinion only, but I have no use for any F1 race, and wouldn't bother to watch if it ran right by my house, and it was free.

Edited December 20, 2012 by IMA_FARANG