My dreams comes true!!!!!! Hurrah!!!!

[RussianFriend]

[ skip | top ] Moscow set to join F1 circuit
BBC News, Motorsport

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone is set to announce on Friday that Moscow will host a grand prix from 2003. Ecclestone is in Russia where he is expected to view a piece of wasteland south of Moscow that has been earmarked for a top-level racetrack.

If confirmed, Moscow will be the first brand new grand prix venue since Malaysia in 1999.

It is unclear whether the season will be extended to 18 races or whether an existing venue will make way.

Germany and Italy currently host two grand prix although moves to drop one of their venues is likely to come up against strong opposition.

The project is expected to cost around $100m (£70m) and will take at least two years to build, but it already has the backing of the British design and engineering company TWR.

Authorities also eventually plan to build a leisure complex comprising hotels, casinos, restaurants and a yacht club at Nagatino.
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We need to start a party! You all are invited!!!

[Valve Bounce]

Given the climate conditions, what month do you think would be the most suitable for a GP in Moscow? BTW, you are in England - how will this affect you?

[RussianFriend]

VB,

why do you think I'm in England? I even never have been there. And if I would like to go, british embassy will never give me entry visa, because I have no family and for the officials donkeys are afraid that I will stay and seduce any respectable englishman.

But returning to the point...
The end of May - June would be the best.

[DNQ]

A Russian race. Does this mean that one of the current 17 tracks will be dropped? Hopefully we can finally scrap Hungary...

[massifheed]

Agreed, Hungary does suck ass. The only question I have is, do you think it might be a sell out in the first year and then struggle in the following years? Bernie will be happy to host a race there for as long as they can pay him, but if the numbers drop he will have no problem dropping the race and possibly leaving the track owners in financial schtick. How can they make the race the race cheap enough to appeal to people but still make a profit to claw back the cost of building the place?

[Tristan]

I quite like Hungary. Technical, driver-orientated circuit, huge trains of cars trying and failing to pass each other; FIREWORKS GUARENTEED!

My only reservation is that Nagantino will just be another bland, boring, over-safe modern F1 circuit like Barcelona, the new Nurburgring, Sepang, (dare I say Indianapolis!) etc.

[Marshal]

Yeah, what we really want is Brands Hatch GP with more run off I'm sure its going to end up dull though, being on a island I doubt there's going to be much elevation change. Heigh ho.

While I hope this comes to fruition, there are many hurdles to clear between anouncing a race contract and getting a race, just ask Korea or China.

[V6+]

Brilliant news.

I wonder if we will ever see a Russian race team in F1, if they could build cars as good as their jet aircraft, who knows.

[Minardi fan]

Marvellous news.

BUT the reports I read said that a race WILL be given the axe to make way for Moscow.

Hopefully it won't be the Hungaroring - if I had my way it would be bye-bye to one of Sepang, Barrrrrrrthelona or Indianapolis - all dull modern tracks.

[Ed G]

Originally posted by V6+
Brilliant news.

I wonder if we will ever see a Russian race team in F1, if they could build cars as good as their jet aircraft, who knows.

That would be great...and if they get in financial difficulity they could sell the second seat to some millionaire.

Or wait, didn't something like that already happen at Arrows?

[Bononi]

Congratulations Russian girl !!!!!!

I'm glad to know soon you're going to see fast cars on the speedlane !

I would love to party with you, but I am afraid your champagne will vanish in cyber space before I can taste it a bit !!!!

Don't bother being unable to go to England... Instead you can take some sun in my so-called-tropical country !
Bikinis is a fashion that never dies around here, so come on join us !

I saved the draft of your future circuit and I think it will a challenge for the drivers !

[fastracer]

Good news. I hope that they're going to put it in place of Brazil

[Tristan]

Am I the ONLY one opposed to the whole idea of this Russian GP thing??

1) the circuiot is more likley than not going to be DULL AS DITCH WATER, a typical, nondescript, over-safe modern F1 track (like so many others).

2) it's just another way of getting tobacco advertising on telly. Gate reciepts mean NOTHING in F1 nowadays.

3) How much will it be to get in?? RussianFreind, I don't mean to offend, but the image we have in the west is of Russia as a poverty sticken, ill-managed, corrupt former superpower on its knees. Is it not true that the ques outside the Moscow McDonalds average about two HOURS?? Even then, a big mac meal costs the inflationary equivalent of $20?? What I'm trying to say is, is a race track just a toy for the elite of society?? In "the west" (sorry, I HATE that patronising term), anyone can afford to go to an F1 race. Would this be the case in Russia??

4) Hasn't Russia got better things to be building?? The infrastructure is still in tatters. The last thing they need is for some big western corporation to build a great big circuit used once a year so that TV audiances can see mobile fag packets race and is, thus, completely irrelavent to the vast majority of Russians??

RussianFreind, if I'm wrong here, please say. Obviously you'll have more of an idea than what I have. But I DO think Nagantino will end up like a giant Russian Millenium Dome: very nice in principle, but ending up an expensive folley that no-one will ever actually use.

The Russian GP is just an excuse for Bernie corp. to make EVEN MORE money, not to "bring F1 to Russia". Build a proper circuit in Britain instead.

[badoer fan]

Originally posted by Tristan
In "the west" (sorry, I HATE that patronising term), anyone can afford to go to an F1 race

Not in Britain I can't!

More seriously, what are the tobacco advertising regulations in Russia?

[Tristan]

Like most of the world: non existant. ...which is the ONLY reason the Russian GP is even being considered: for when the EU ban kicks in in a couple of years. Same applies to Zuhai, Sepang etc. More money is created at a detriment to exiting race tracks. The reason why Russia is such an exiting business oportunity is the factor of time-zones, something not in Zuhai's favour.

[EERO]

Tristan, I cannot say that I disagree with your logic, but the total ban on Tobacco advertising is not all that far away. it seems like a case of short term gains to the detriment of long term advantages. The fan base is in Western and central Europe, and though Asia is potentially a potent economic force, it won't match that of the west. Ever.

[Tristan]

Yeah, that's my point. RF, I appreciate that there must be many F1 fans in Russia, but surely not to the extent that there is in Western Europe. Keep F1 "at home".

[Carla O]

Originally posted by Tristan
In "the west" (sorry, I HATE that patronising term), anyone can afford to go to an F1 race.

Oh yeah? I'd like to have "anyone"'s job then.

I've only been to a GP in my life and it was coz my sister was given a ticket at work and gave it to me. And at the time i was living at home.

Now with rent and stuff like that to pay there is no way in hell i could afford to go to a GP without saving for 1 year!

[Tristan]

Ah yes, but there are more people who CAN afford. I've NEVER been to a GP (good god, I can't believe I've admitted to that!). But still, the point is they're not building Nagantino "to appease the hoards of russian fans". They're doing it for tobacco money. Nothing more, nothing less. Thus, I dissaprove.

[Marshal]

Originally posted by Tristan
.....They're doing it for tobacco money....

I'm sure its about the money, but I 'm not sure it has anything to do with tobacco advertising.

[RussianFriend]

Originally posted by Tristan

3) How much will it be to get in?? RussianFreind, I don't mean to offend, but the image we have in the west is of Russia as a poverty sticken, ill-managed, corrupt former superpower on its knees. Is it not true that the ques outside the Moscow McDonalds average about two HOURS?? Even then, a big mac meal costs the inflationary equivalent of $20?? What I'm trying to say is, is a race track just a toy for the elite of society?? In "the west" (sorry, I HATE that patronising term), anyone can afford to go to an F1 race. Would this be the case in Russia??

Dear Tristan! Your information about Russia is at least 10 years old. Never believe in stuff and nonsense your TV tells you!!! Just for example: big mac costs about $0,70. 15 yeas ago then the first Mac had been estableshed they provided very professional advertising campaign, so everybody liked to try new American food, not only Moscow citizen but millions guests from other towns (every day almoust 1 mln visit Moscow). I think you understand that the ques has melt away as soon as they have try what is it.

Please, don't feel sorry about us. We're not hungry and beggar.

Tristan, being a child I has been persuaded by our propaganda that people in your own counry are miserable and opressed by evil capitalists. Are you agree?

One can't say how many fans will visit the first Grnd Prix, but I may assure you: whilst your famoust bands and artists are visiting Moscow (the ticket are $50 - 100 and higher depending on the artisit), they play before the full stadions.

I think, if TWR build more cheap tribunes (fields), attendance will be good. Wide extension of F1 in "west" is due to long existance of it there. So if there's a circuit and race in Moscow, the number of fans will constantly grow.

What a thing do you call Russian Millenium Dome? I've not idea what is it? We know it under other name.

[RussianFriend]

Originally posted by Bononi
Congratulations Russian girl !!!!!!

I'm glad to know soon you're going to see fast cars on the speedlane !

I would love to party with you, but I am afraid your champagne will vanish in cyber space before I can taste it a bit !!!!

Don't bother being unable to go to England... Instead you can take some sun in my so-called-tropical country !
Bikinis is a fashion that never dies around here, so come on join us !

Thanks for congratulations and for invitation! I'll consider it bearing in mind my soon and well-deserved holyday.

[Bononi]

You're welcome !

[Tristan]

I didn't mean to patronise, RF, but I'll be honest, that's the image we have in Britain, or at least I do! What we hear is of workers being paid in vodka or not alt all for months, a crumbling infrastructure and the mafia running the county. Of course, you'll be the one who'll know wheather this is true or not.

However, I will repeat, Nagantino is all about tobacco money. There are no restrictions on advertising there and what with the EU ban coming in soon, Bernie et al are looking for alternatives so us lot in Europe can still see the mobile fag packets we love (!). So far the solution has been the far east, but this isn't entirly satisfactory due to the huge time differences from Western Europe (the main fan base). This will conveniantly solve both their problems.

Thus, I dissaprove. Oh, and I BET the circuit will be rubbish. Nice facilities, BLAND AS HELL!! (see Zuhai, Sepang, Indy and other "ciggy circuits")

[Emfa]

Originally posted by Bononi
Don't bother being unable to go to England... Instead you can take some sun in my so-called-tropical country !
Bikinis is a fashion that never dies around here, so come on join us !

RF, Beware that Bononi lad! No sense of subtlety with the pickup lines whatsoever!

Jokes aside, I find your comments here and perspective very interesting. There really are a lot of myths about how each other lives - on both sides of the fence. With a Russion GP in the works, it is good to get an "insiders" view. Thanks.

PS. Isn't the Millenium Dome that big white elephant glass house in ?London?