[Edster]

Why they dont consider this for the British GP is beyond me, the most modern track in the UK...






Would require a lot less investment than Donnington, F1 politics eh !

[chrisredditch]

Its a rubbish circuit for F1 - Going round in a circle is for the Nascar boys in the US!
Despite the monotinous appeal of F1, there is a certain amount of skill involved in getting around a long winding circuit with a few straights thrown in.

As for Politics, they won't be happy until the British GP is on Londons doorstep at Brands Hatch! (Which is another terrible F1 venue)

[Edster]

chrisredditch, on 13 October 2009 - 11:48 AM, said:

Its a rubbish circuit for F1 - Going round in a circle is for the Nascar boys in the US!
Despite the monotinous appeal of F1, there is a certain amount of skill involved in getting around a long winding circuit with a few straights thrown in.

As for Politics, they won't be happy until the British GP is on Londons doorstep at Brands Hatch! (Which is another terrible F1 venue)

They would not use the whole circle, just the grandstand side, they would then reconfigure the road track inside and link it through, this would make a brand new circuit with a very fast banked part oval and a good road track. Plus the facilities are far more modern than any other track in the UK already, they could add a another couple of those sweeping stands. Just a look at the pictures above tells you it would look far more impressive than any of the other circuits in the UK.

[chrisredditch]

I've been to Rockingham and, although it's great for spectators, it's far too small for F1. Even going inside the circuit it would not be acceptable for Grand Prix racing. As for banked curves, the F1 teams are striving to make racing safer - they are not an option.

[Hazzman]

Edster, on 12 October 2009 - 11:55 PM, said:

Would require a lot less investment than Donnington, F1 politics eh !

It's all to do with what the VIPs can be offered with Bernie.

[Edster]

chrisredditch, on 13 October 2009 - 01:02 PM, said:

I've been to Rockingham and, although it's great for spectators, it's far too small for F1. Even going inside the circuit it would not be acceptable for Grand Prix racing. As for banked curves, the F1 teams are striving to make racing safer - they are not an option.

Plenty of land around this track tho, more than enough for a GP, if you have been you know they are not extreme banked curves, just a little, might actually make for an exiting British GP for once. All these problems could be overcome with a little investment and you would get a far better result for the same money being spent a Donnington which is a c level track at best. The British GP at SS, Donnington of BH is quite embarrasing on the world stage. They could with a little investment create something special at Rockingham. The base of a great track / facilities is already there.

[year25]

Plenty of room at Rockingham for a speedway track to be squeezed in there somehwere!

[Big L]

I visited Rockingham for the BTCC last year, and it is one of the dullest tracks I have seen racing on. Silverstone isn't far behind.

I really enjoy Donnington Park, and hope they get their act together in time to host the F1. If not Donnington then Brands would be my next choice.

[Giuseppe]

IMO a speedway converted for F1 use will never be a good option. The F1 circuit they used at Indianapolis for the US Grand Prix was a real stinker if you ask me; I don't see Rockingham being any different. Of course nowadays F1 GPs are more about politics and economics than about interesting circuit racing so anything is possible if the money is right.

[aland]

the rock is possibly Britan's best track in terms of facilities, good pit garages and paddocks for the racers, fantastic fans stands, good corporate but the local NIMBYS have managed to get restrictions on the amount of race days it can be used for, with donington going pete tong the rock could and should get more use. hoping to go to the rock sometime in 2010 to marshal

[footloose]

Edster, on 14 October 2009 - 11:00 AM, said:

Plenty of land around this track tho, more than enough for a GP, if you have been you know they are not extreme banked curves, just a little, might actually make for an exiting British GP for once. All these problems could be overcome with a little investment and you would get a far better result for the same money being spent a Donnington which is a c level track at best. The British GP at SS, Donnington of BH is quite embarrasing on the world stage. They could with a little investment create something special at Rockingham. The base of a great track / facilities is already there.

If they can afford the bribe Bernie is demanding from Silverstone then the F1 would be at Rockingham next year. Whats the seated capacity BTW.?

[Vinnie]

footloose, on 26 October 2009 - 07:20 AM, said:

If they can afford the bribe Bernie is demanding from Silverstone then the F1 would be at Rockingham next year. Whats the seated capacity BTW.?

The not-particularly-reliable worldstadiums.com says 130,000. I've been there a few times - used to live close by - and those uncovered stands are immense. The photos don't do them justice.

[footloose]

Vinnie, on 04 November 2009 - 08:12 AM, said:

The not-particularly-reliable worldstadiums.com says 130,000. I've been there a few times - used to live close by - and those uncovered stands are immense. The photos don't do them justice.

I read elsewhere they hold 50,000 all seated of course. Looking back on the relative failure of using the Indianapolis race way, the main problem was some idiot and I can guess who decided to run the race in reverse direction than normal, which made complete nonsense of the layout and then there was one years farce where some teams had to withdraw due to tyre safety matters. Rockingham could be developed quite easily for Grand Prix. The real stumbling block is the 10 million you have to pay for one grand Prix, rising by 10% every year. For a 50,000 attendance the income wouldnt even pay the 10 million let alone the cost of building the cost of the outfield, better roads etc. Last week in Dubai the facilities were superb but all paid by the local Government and taxpayer. There was talk of over 1 billion being spent on the facilities all for a return of nothing or even a big loss every year. Imagine building Wembley at 600 million for one match a year?