Time to ditch San Marino?

jonboyG · 14 Apr 2002, 13:33 (Ref:259918)

This has to have been one of the most boring races I've seen. In contrast to the excitement of qualifying, I've even found time to clean the oven whilst this race has been running.

The track is boring, there's no opportunity to overtake, Italy has two GPs and interest appears to be waning over there. So, is it time for San Marino to go bye bye?

Tony_Simpson · 14 Apr 2002, 13:43 (Ref:259926)

Sound like a good idea to me,

You could always spend lots of money and make the circuit in to a better one, with out all the stop start sections of the track.

Jay · 14 Apr 2002, 13:48 (Ref:259938)

I don't know...apart from lack of a first lap incident, I didn't think it was much different from the last two races... This is F1.

f1manoz · 14 Apr 2002, 14:00 (Ref:259974)

Imola should be dropped anyway. What makes Italy (and Germany) so special that they should have two races?

Besides, the track is a shadow of its former self. Get rid of it, unless they restore the track to its former glorious (and faster which created passing) self.

Tristan · 14 Apr 2002, 14:00 (Ref:259975)

Ditch Imola?? For what?? Stupid idea.

Crank Case · 14 Apr 2002, 14:04 (Ref:259984)

Just wait till Hungary

The planned changes can only be for the better

Cougar · 14 Apr 2002, 14:10 (Ref:259995)

You get the odd 'no Montoya loosing his wing' race you know

Tristan · 14 Apr 2002, 14:11 (Ref:259998)

I've seen some pretty good races at Hungary. Or am I the only person in the WORLD to think so??

Lee Janotta · 14 Apr 2002, 14:51 (Ref:260067)

Drop Imola, move the race to Brno! Damn good track there that deserves an F1 race!

EERO · 14 Apr 2002, 14:55 (Ref:260078)

Quote:

Originally posted by f1manoz
Imola should be dropped anyway. What makes Italy so special that they should have two races?

How about passionate fans, a rich history in the sport and the tradition which means a helluvalot more to me than anything sterile places like Sepang can muster.

On the flip side, the track does need a lot of work, its too narrow and there are few places to make a pass. It causes processional races and with the aerodynamics and cabon brakes of today's cars, the place is over taxed.

Tony_Simpson · 14 Apr 2002, 14:57 (Ref:260086)

If anything there should be two races in the uk.

Where are most of the teams based again????

EERO · 14 Apr 2002, 15:02 (Ref:260096)

I wouldn't disagree with you Tony. How about a Scottish GP, or run the European GP at Donnington and Luxembourg at the Nurburgring.

paulzinho · 14 Apr 2002, 15:06 (Ref:260105)

I wanna see a Grand Prix at Brands, but I dont wanna see the circuit destroyed. Thats out of the window then.

I also think that Imola needs work doing to it, very little to get excited about.

Mania · 14 Apr 2002, 15:23 (Ref:260127)

Imola is due for modications and apparently they will cut some of the chicanes and try and create some more overtaking opportunities. I dont think it should be dropped, regardless of whether the planned modifications increase overtaking chances or not.

Imola and Monza are two of the most exciting circuits in terms of fan support and general atmosphere - it has a great history - and the drivers enjoy racing there.

Usually we have good races at Imola - one bad one should just be a considered a one off IMO.

Lee Janotta · 14 Apr 2002, 20:17 (Ref:260322)

As insane as the Tifosi are, they don't deserve two races in such a small country. What, there aren't fans just as rabid in the Czech Republic, Mexico or Portugal?

Plus they've got Monaco and Austria in very close proximity. Too many races in such a tight area. Likewise with the Nurburgring and Spa nearly next door to each other. Unless they run the real 'ring, it's not worth it.

f1canada · 14 Apr 2002, 20:24 (Ref:260327)

Someone wrote that the track was a shadow of itself...frankly they are all shadows of the past great tracks. Welcome to the real, sad, f1 reality of Max, Mr B et al...

Lee Janotta · 14 Apr 2002, 20:34 (Ref:260331)

Yeah... Suzuka's the oldest round on the schedule that hasn't had major changes to the track or a complete change of venue. Really these changes to Suzuka are harmless, I overreacted when I first heard. But after the way all the other tracks have been screwed with, it's the immediate conclusion.

DNQ · 14 Apr 2002, 20:43 (Ref:260340)

Well that was an ultra boring race really, nothing happened, did it? Top four cars finished as they started, all seperated by a few seconds. Did we actually see any overtaking manouvres in the top six all day? Apart from in the pits of course. No. A Shame really.

Lee Janotta · 14 Apr 2002, 21:03 (Ref:260349)

As insane as the Tifosi are, they don't deserve two races in such a small country. What, there aren't fans just as rabid in the Czech Republic, Mexico or Portugal?

Plus they've got Monaco and Austria in very close proximity. Too many races in such a tight area. Likewise with the Nurburgring and Spa nearly next door to each other. Unless they run the real 'ring, it's not worth it.

Inigo Montoya · 14 Apr 2002, 21:05 (Ref:260351)

Quote:

Originally posted by jonboyG
Italy has two GPs and interest appears to be waning over there.

Boring race, yes.... But interest in F1 waning in Italy? Where did you hear that? For Chrissake, they ring the church bells in Maranello whenever they win a GP. Its a religion.

Btw, technically, the San Marino GP does not belong to the Italians. It belongs to the Republic of San Marino

nameless · 14 Apr 2002, 21:07 (Ref:260353)

it was truly dull, they should stick to using the circuit just for bikes

Airhead · 14 Apr 2002, 21:16 (Ref:260369)

I agree it was like watching paint dry, hence on the ITV telecast all the talk of the extra steering wheel for Schumacher waiting in the pits. You could imagine the commentators... "at last something to talk about"

I also agree that the other races this year have been only marginally better.

Anyone for a breakaway series? Calling all manufacturers.

jonboyG · 14 Apr 2002, 21:48 (Ref:260387)

Quote:

Boring race, yes.... But interest in F1 waning in Italy? Where did you hear that? For Chrissake, they ring the church bells in Maranello whenever they win a GP. Its a religion.

Apparently viewing figures are down in Italy. Something to do with Schumacher fatigue probably. That, and maybe there's something in the Italian psyche about supporting a team that spends more money than anyone else and gets rules changed to accomodate it, yet fails to deliver constantly. Where's the fun in supporting Ferrari when they win all the time?

andrew_powell98 · 14 Apr 2002, 22:07 (Ref:260402)

I have to agree the race was boring, but Barcelona comming up & it will be just as bad. However with new circuits being built in Dubai, Russia and possibly in China (yet again) and Korea some countries will loose one GP. So Italy, and Germany look probable candidates and possibly Hungery.

Schummy · 14 Apr 2002, 22:34 (Ref:260419)

That "little country" Italy is one of the main motorsport centers in the world. It is not only the tradition (which is important IMO) but just nowadays. How many drivers in every category? How many constructors thru the full range of competition levels? How many media dedicated to it?

There is not many countries that can compare. And FIA must consider if it prefers to augment figures in a "new" (in motorsport) country that we don't know if ten years after they will go on watching races, or maintain its mainstays that have many years supporting the sport.

It surely is a difficult balance, but Britain, Italy, France and Germany are the basic fabric of the sport in terms of industry, drivers, media, knowledge, tradition, competitions, tracks, etc. And all that costs many years to build.

You know FIA was even threatening to drop Britain GP... I can barely imagine the outcomes.

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