Thailand's first world-class racing circuit makes debut

[FNQ]

All we need now is a Fast Train (VFT) and it could work. ..hopefully dodging the carnage on the roads to and from events.

[hansgruber]

I've always liked this guy. Yeah he is a dubious character but gives to his community.

Has a vision and does it right and not half assed.

Ill be taking a visit soon to have a look around.

Sent from my LG-D858

[Nobleman1]

I live in Buriram City, this track was meant to have up to only F3 races, F1 was never mentioned as a possibility. Buriram city is doing a good job adjusting itself to accommodate this tracjk by getting more higher end restaurants and bars that are not issan style. Now if it can rid itself of xenophobia and get decent roads here. I also am not sure how buriram will get so many racers to buriram. And will they get special transportation to buriram. The busing system cant even support everyone coming home for songkran

[wvavin]

Ummm......lets see how durable the whole thing lasts. Really sceptical on the quality anything in Thailand in particular "home-built".

[Andrew Hicks]

This circuit was supposed to be built between Bangkok and Chonburi alongside the 7 Motorway until Newin stuck his oar in and got it built in the ass end of beyond.

Who is going to drive 4.5 hrs to race in Buriram? It's the regular trackday guys that race every week who keep places like this going.

Another real live white elephant.

Yes, you are correct that the project would take off faster if it were nearer Bangkok but then what Thailand desperately needs is a regional development plan that takes economic activity out into the provinces. A prestiege project such as this is just what is needed in Isaan and it will suck in wealth and development.

More industry and other activity should be moved out of a sclerotic Bangkok whose traffic is deadlocked and which suffers flooding. Move out some government ministries, move the whole centre of government with a new capital perhaps. This is the biggest decision that is faced for the nation's future.

At present rural migrants flood to work in the city. Much better that they stay in their home communities and that the work is brought to them. A race track in Buriram seems a bit of a futile gesture but in reality it is needed and much more besides.

Andrew.

[mrfill]

Too bad it's only good enough for GT racing and not F1.

It was very challenging making a world class track smooth and impact resistant. Hopefully this technology and technique can be transferred to the public roads now?

That's the hope... the reality is the maintenance regime of the public roads is likely to be transferred to the track so by 2016 it should be comparable to the Asia Highway.

[ratcatcher]

I've always liked this guy. Yeah he is a dubious character but gives to his community.

Has a vision and does it right and not half assed.

Ill be taking a visit soon to have a look around.

Sent from my LG-D858

I agree Mr Rickman.

Newin put his (and others) money where his mouth is and got the job done. Just the way little Bernie (Gollum) Ecclestone started all those years ago in England. We can only hope that because it was a private investment, that the quality controls were higher than some so called government public projects.

The way Formula One is going these days with the constant rule changes, a lot of the real sport and excitement has been taken away and we are often treated to a parade usually with sweet little Mr Hamilton leading the pack or his Geman competitor.

Formula One, is not what it used to be, ask Jackie Stewart & Nigel Mansell, and is not the be all and end all of racing and I for one hope this location is a success. This has not been built with government grants (to my knowledge, anyway) so must stand on its own two feet.

"Build it and they will come" A Rice Field of Dreams.

[outsider]

It makes malaysia circuit looks like child's play. Soon f1 will dump kl and make mahathair looks like an idiot. F1 will have to come in all 4 fours begging to use newin's circuit instead.

No arguing re your statement about the good old man. Malaysia's Sepang track does need some upgrades too, in my opinion. However, if you knew F1, you'd know it'll be Newin and his team on all fours begging F1 to come. Not the other way around. To Thailand, F1 is a 'must-have'. To F1, Thailand is a 'good-to-have'. F1 (read: Bernie Ecclestone) has more than enough alternative venues in the list to go to. Thailand needs to put together a very strong case to convince F1 to come. You can see then, who will be begging who...

On a separate note, perhaps a race or two in Thailand may be a good wake-up call to the bozos running the track in Malaysia. They recently went on record to say they are losing money holding F1 races. If it is so 'un-viable', why are countries lining up to have one race on the calendar?

Edited October 8, 2014 by outsider

[PatrickHames]

how did 130,000 spectators fit in when the facility has to be expendede to accommodate 100,000???

I imagine that you can apply the same economics as when they ask " What is the capacity of a Philipinne bus or Indian train ? " the answer is " 1 more ". Extra revenue v health and safety / comfort, there's only one winner in Asia isn't there. Hope this works and develops properly. Thailand has a great opportunity here, will they blow it ?

[outsider]

Too bad it's only good enough for GT racing and not F1.

It was very challenging making a world class track smooth and impact resistant. Hopefully this technology and technique can be transferred to the public roads now?

Correction. The circuit has FIA's Grade One and FIM's Grade A certificiation. This means it is certified to hold F1 and MotoGP races. It is, according to the media, the 27th circuit in the world capable of accommodating F1.

[newermonkey]

I would like to see the condition of the track in a year or two when some maintenance and upkeep is due.

not needed- made in Thailand,last forever!

Yes the surface is perfect ! Its just that they dint put the 30cm reinforced concreete base layer down first ! So it might end up like the Pattaya Rama 9 motorway, its so undulating and bumpy you cant do more than 200KPH in a decent race car, get to a point you just cant stand the pain!!!!

[dunque]

It makes malaysia circuit looks like child's play. Soon f1 will dump kl and make mahathair looks like an idiot. F1 will have to come in all 4 fours begging to use newin's circuit instead.

I doubt Bernie Ecclestone does begging - it is invariably the other way round.

[ratcatcher]

It makes malaysia circuit looks like child's play. Soon f1 will dump kl and make mahathair looks like an idiot. F1 will have to come in all 4 fours begging to use newin's circuit instead.

I doubt Bernie Ecclestone does begging - it is invariably the other way round.

dunque, please consider the source of the post.

[ParadiseLost]

Track looks superb!

They should consider carefully before they name the corners, though... You can only imagine the international commentators trying to pronounce the Thai (potentially twenty character long) names!

I remember going to Kyalami, South Africa back in the 1970s, watching 'delivery bike' races. It was hilarious; 40 bikes into the first corner and 12 come out the other side! Also remember Cortinas, Escorts and Skylines, battling it out with my favourite - the Capri Perana V8. Showing my age now, but consider how treasured these memories are - 40 years later!

People should take their kids, it is a great experience. Also a dying one as a spectacle - soon there will be electric cars humming around a track, operated by remote control. Like a dream Scalextric...

Any top fuel dragsters in Thailand? Another fantastic spectator sport.

[kartman]

how did 130,000 spectators fit in when the facility has to be expendede to accommodate 100,000???

Didn't I read the place currently holds 50,000?

The story said 130,000 spectators were present during the event

A motorsport "Event" is from the start of practice to the completion of racing so probably 3 days here, but the compare raceday pictures with British GP pictures that has approx 120,000 and i would say BR under 25% , British GP over 3 days 280,000 so BR 60,000 if they were lucky.

[Jim walker]

Mini Van driver training centre now opened.

[ratcatcher]

Track looks superb!

They should consider carefully before they name the corners, though... You can only imagine the international commentators trying to pronounce the Thai (potentially twenty character long) names!

I remember going to Kyalami, South Africa back in the 1970s, watching 'delivery bike' races. It was hilarious; 40 bikes into the first corner and 12 come out the other side! Also remember Cortinas, Escorts and Skylines, battling it out with my favourite - the Capri Perana V8. Showing my age now, but consider how treasured these memories are - 40 years later!

People should take their kids, it is a great experience. Also a dying one as a spectacle - soon there will be electric cars humming around a track, operated by remote control. Like a dream Scalextric...

Any top fuel dragsters in Thailand? Another fantastic spectator sport.

"Any top fuel dragsters in Thailand?'

Only in Pattaya, all revved up on Walking St.

[DrTuner]

how did 130,000 spectators fit in when the facility has to be expendede to accommodate 100,000???

the 130k is in TATric system, 100k in metric.

[stoli]

It makes malaysia circuit looks like child's play. Soon f1 will dump kl and make mahathair looks like an idiot. F1 will have to come in all 4 fours begging to use newin's circuit instead.

F1 will come on all fours begging to race there? There are 40 F1 tracks, and 19 races a year. Burriram will have them in 2015 I believe, and then line up for ongoing years like everyone else. I wish it could be every year, but do not expect that.

Edited October 8, 2014 by stoli

[chotthee]

It makes malaysia circuit looks like child's play. Soon f1 will dump kl and make mahathair looks like an idiot. F1 will have to come in all 4 fours begging to use newin's circuit instead.

This track is only suitable for GT not F1

GT is F1 compatible, not the other way round.

[Graham8888]

If I make the Long drive to see a race will there be hotel rooms to stay in?

There is a hotel next door in the football stadium, and thada a chateau nearby- good farang restaurant opposite aswell

[Graham8888]

This circuit was supposed to be built between Bangkok and Chonburi alongside the 7 Motorway until Newin stuck his oar in and got it built in the ass end of beyond.

Who is going to drive 4.5 hrs to race in Buriram? It's the regular trackday guys that race every week who keep places like this going.

Another real live white elephant.

Yes, you are correct that the project would take off faster if it were nearer Bangkok but then what Thailand desperately needs is a regional development plan that takes economic activity out into the provinces. A prestiege project such as this is just what is needed in Isaan and it will suck in wealth and development.

More industry and other activity should be moved out of a sclerotic Bangkok whose traffic is deadlocked and which suffers flooding. Move out some government ministries, move the whole centre of government with a new capital perhaps. This is the biggest decision that is faced for the nation's future.

At present rural migrants flood to work in the city. Much better that they stay in their home communities and that the work is brought to them. A race track in Buriram seems a bit of a futile gesture but in reality it is needed and much more besides.

Andrew.

Right now is the time for Buriram - Chang have just bought a large abandoned hotel as an addition to the race circuit sponsorship, best western have opened a new hotel,there are 2 blocks of condos being built and Thais in the know are arriving daily to buy up property ( no flooding here !) I ve bought as much land and property as possible as prices are going up rapidly.

It's such a positive time for what was a dusty isaan city with no future, I admire what Nevin is doing - for all the community

[ScubaPhuket]

You can forget it. No matter what the thai claims are. Formula 1 would not tarnish it's reputation by becoming involved with thailand. Thailand needs to clean it's act up before it can hope to get involved with world events.

Perhaps the big companies who want the events can push for the changes politically but I would imagine they'd lose more than they'd gain at the moment.

Trying to run before they can walk tbqh.

Edited October 8, 2014 by ScubaPhuket

[chooka]

How exciting, paying money to simply watch a car drive past. I can stand on a footpath and see it for free every minute of the day

[draftvader]

This does look good. My only issue is that of infrastructure. I have never been to Buriram so have no idea. How many people can Buriram accommodate across how many star ratings? What are the other attractions in visiting?

If you look at the F1 calendar it is full of famous names next to key tourism interests (historic capital cities, beaches, etc) and supported by well managed infrastructure. So all the people heading to Buriram have got to fly from DM or catch a bus from Mo Chit 2? That probably won't appeal to the huge numbers of incoming spectators. They would want a race to be happening in Bangkok as that would mean they could do some sight-seeing, shopping and more in the 16 hours a day that there aren't races.

I am interested to know what else Buriram has to offer. I want this to be exciting.

[draftvader]

Funny. I headed off for a quick check of the news and found

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/29496717

Russia will be hosting F1 at Sochi. Sochi was already a resort area then it hosted the winter Olympics. That project installed the infrastructure I talked about above that will easily support the visitors for the F1 and give them plenty to do outside of race time.

[malt25]

How exciting, paying money to simply watch a car drive past. I can stand on a footpath and see it for free every minute of the day

I can stand on the footpath & watch kids kick a football around for free every minute of the day...... but lots of BIG kids pay BIG money to go & watch the same thing in a stadium.... How exciting.

Just sayin.

[ATF]

how did 130,000 spectators fit in when the facility has to be expendede to accommodate 100,000???

the 130k is in TATric system, 100k in metric.

Or they used the Chang system.

[bigjules007]

This circuit was supposed to be built between Bangkok and Chonburi alongside the 7 Motorway until Newin stuck his oar in and got it built in the ass end of beyond.

Who is going to drive 4.5 hrs to race in Buriram? It's the regular trackday guys that race every week who keep places like this going.

Another real live white elephant.

Yes, you are correct that the project would take off faster if it were nearer Bangkok but then what Thailand desperately needs is a regional development plan that takes economic activity out into the provinces. A prestiege project such as this is just what is needed in Isaan and it will suck in wealth and development.

More industry and other activity should be moved out of a sclerotic Bangkok whose traffic is deadlocked and which suffers flooding. Move out some government ministries, move the whole centre of government with a new capital perhaps. This is the biggest decision that is faced for the nation's future.

At present rural migrants flood to work in the city. Much better that they stay in their home communities and that the work is brought to them. A race track in Buriram seems a bit of a futile gesture but in reality it is needed and much more besides.

Andrew.

Right now is the time for Buriram - Chang have just bought a large abandoned hotel as an addition to the race circuit sponsorship, best western have opened a new hotel,there are 2 blocks of condos being built and Thais in the know are arriving daily to buy up property ( no flooding here !) I ve bought as much land and property as possible as prices are going up rapidly.

It's such a positive time for what was a dusty isaan city with no future, I admire what Nevin is doing - for all the community

9

Are these the same condos that started being built but because of family problems they've stopped building them and changed location Graham?

[H1w4yR1da]

Yes the surface is perfect ! Its just that they dint put the 30cm reinforced concreete base layer down first !

How do you know this?