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14 Dec 2004, 09:51 (Ref:1179019) | #1 | ||
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A ChampCar race in France in 2005 ?
Hello !
As a mod of the Sportscars forum, my place is clearly not here, but I thought you'd be interrested to know... Even if ACO is reluctant, Sebastien Bourdais would like to promote a ChampCar race at Le Mans in 2005 ; somes details are given today in Ouest France. Daniel Poissenot (Le Mans race director) thinks that 10M$ would be necessary to set the race, when Sebastien Bourdais is closer from 5M$, with the help of private sponsorship. They'll meet to see if it's possible to make a step forward... To the Mods : feel free to delete/move the thread ; I'm sorry to be a pain here |
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14 Dec 2004, 10:06 (Ref:1179033) | #2 | ||
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Hello, Fab!
Needless to say, you're quite welcome "here", and this thread is so fascinating I wouldn't even think of deleting it! Relax man and grab a Bud! |
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14 Dec 2004, 10:07 (Ref:1179034) | #3 | ||
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This would be great promotion for ChampCars, but the costs of transporting the equipment would onl be worthwhile if at least 2 other European races were held, and that could be difficult to organise, especially if Europe didn't feature in the championship's immediate plans. To be honest, int he short term I thin ChampCars needs to concentrate on retaining its lead in Canada and Mexico, and making mroe inroads in the US. South America and Australia are valuable markets, and Korea and South Africa would be untapped ones with potential, but Europe is a tough amrket to crack considering how F1-dominated it is.
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14 Dec 2004, 10:15 (Ref:1179041) | #4 | ||
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Great... Now I'm gonna be dreaming about Lausitzring all night...
That's a beautiful track they've got sitting there, and I'd love to see a European-swing if it would mean adding that oval. |
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14 Dec 2004, 12:47 (Ref:1179144) | #5 | ||
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I guess they would use the Bugatti circuit?
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14 Dec 2004, 13:42 (Ref:1179187) | #6 | |
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I really think Champ Cars needs to be the Formula racing series of the Americas (so Canada, USA, Mexico, South America) plus the annual trip to Surfers.
Europe is saturated with racing and I don't believe this is the way to go... |
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14 Dec 2004, 16:20 (Ref:1179258) | #7 | ||
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I think you guys have made some excellent points regarding CC in Europe.
France might be viable since Bourdais is probably the country's top driver, but what happeneds if a F1 team smartens up and gives him a ride, where does that leave Champ Car? |
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14 Dec 2004, 16:26 (Ref:1179265) | #8 | |
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Exactly.
It was a lack of focus and going all over the world that (partly) got ChampCar into a mess in the first place. The Americas is where it needs to build. |
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14 Dec 2004, 16:32 (Ref:1179273) | #9 | ||
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Yep, there should be races in Canada, USA, Mexico and Brazil or Argentina, and the one off trip to Surfers.
But it would be great if Champ Car came over to Europe again, but not at the moment whilst Champ Car is re-building, but then again whilst Champ Car was established comming over here didn't help things. |
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14 Dec 2004, 16:39 (Ref:1179278) | #10 | ||
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Kevin Kalkhoven has spoke out that Champ Cars has a place in Europe and that Britain is the most likely country to host Champ Cars, and young stars as such as Justin Wilson is great for the chances.
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14 Dec 2004, 16:44 (Ref:1179282) | #11 | |
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Kevin Kalhkoven is usually a sensible man, but I have to say he's wrong on this one.
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14 Dec 2004, 20:05 (Ref:1179451) | #12 | |||
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Don't forget about the rumoured Manchester street race that was very strong towards the middle of last year (for 2006, however) A Manchester/Le Mans/Lauzitzring triple in 2006 then? (Heh, while they're here they might as well go to Spa too! ) I wouldn't put any money on it, but hey, I can dream can't i? |
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14 Dec 2004, 22:55 (Ref:1179596) | #13 | ||
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They can't use any tracks that are used for Formula 1, Bernie wouldn't allow it, and I'm not sure if tracks that are used for other international championships would be okay either. Europe makes no sense for ChampCars at the moment, just as it probably didn't (with the benefit of hindsight) in 2001.
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14 Dec 2004, 23:25 (Ref:1179610) | #14 | |||
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15 Dec 2004, 00:06 (Ref:1179632) | #15 | ||
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Based on how the courts are ruling, Bernie won't have much say in the matter for long. |
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15 Dec 2004, 00:07 (Ref:1179634) | #16 | ||
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A race in France would be great! I want to attend a Champ Car race someday, and preferably not to spend a fortune on it!
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15 Dec 2004, 04:14 (Ref:1179717) | #17 | |||
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15 Dec 2004, 05:50 (Ref:1179735) | #18 | |
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If its at LE MANS, YA BABY YA WOO HOO!
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15 Dec 2004, 11:46 (Ref:1179903) | #19 | |
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It seems like most of you have fallen into the exact trap ChampCars was in a few years ago. The grid was full of Euroepan drivers, at the expense of the American market, and the demand for European races increased among the hardcore fans. Unfortunately, demand for these was low, they didn't come anywhere near to breaking even, and they further alienated the US crowd, especially as the IRL now had most of the US stars. It's frsutrating to see such self-centred nationalistic thinking again.
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15 Dec 2004, 13:55 (Ref:1180033) | #20 | ||
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More news : one of our members (sportscars forum) who lives in Le Mans met Sebastien Bourdais yesterday evening : if the race doesn't take place at LM, it will be Germany. He seems positive on that (but sorry, no official sources).
Cheers all ! Fab (Sportscars forum) |
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15 Dec 2004, 13:58 (Ref:1180040) | #21 | |
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If that's the case it seems ChampCar just doesn't learn from mistakes.....
That saddens me. |
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15 Dec 2004, 14:28 (Ref:1180094) | #22 | ||
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Tram and KB are right about this, it'd be completely ill-advised to look towards Europe while there are other markets to pursue or protect.
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15 Dec 2004, 18:44 (Ref:1180398) | #23 | |||
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15 Dec 2004, 18:53 (Ref:1180412) | #24 | |
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Even if someone is willing to pay the bills for the race, it would be a wrong move. It would send out totally the wrong signal about what the focus of the series is and should be, I believe.
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16 Dec 2004, 01:01 (Ref:1180676) | #25 | ||
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I don't care if it's bad for the series, I just want to see Champ Cars up close!
OK sensible hat on... it's a mixed feeling. I know I don't have the financial, em, power to go see CC in the US, so I want them to come at me, but it is expensive to bring everything here. |
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