Europe

[Phoenix1]

Although I understand Champ Cars wanting to stabilise itself in the Americas I would hope that they would also reinstate a British race at Brands or somewhere again and maybe a road course in Germany. Although I was not able to make it it looked like a great day out with Champ car and BTCC together. Do we think a 2005 race is possible?

[Flatspot]

Well, they powers that be have elected to continue down under, go to Korea, and publicize "World Series" in the new name so I don't see why Europe can't be considered as a definate possibility. 2005 may be a little soon though.

[The Snout]

Nothing wrong with doing Europe, as long as it pays for itself. Champcar can't blow 10 million just for the sake of being there, has to make financial sense. But I'd welcome a Euro swing.

[Omega99]

If it was more than two races in Europe, it would probably have a better chance of paying for itself. But if you spend too much time overseas, like a month or so, you run the risk of losing the interest of American fans... It's a tough one, but I'd definitely welcome it.

[Snrub]

CART should be in Europe, but it's not possible for a while. 2005 is probably too soon. They've got to be making money and know that they will make money flying over to Europe.

Imagine if CART was in Europe ~1998-2001. Gobs and gobs of passing and the laps times would have been comparable or faster! F1 might have gone under.

[Dov]

As long as it is profitable for OWRS/CCWS, but I don't see the ChampCars returning too Europe at the earliest 2006. Personally I would love to see CC do a European swing, a minimum of 2 races or (I prefer) the maximum of 3 races. Spa Francorchamps would be my first choice, but I doubt that will be possible, so my 3 European races that we will probably see in the future are....Brands Hatch (long course), Germany...a nice road course or maybe back to the Lausitzring and finally Estoril in Portugal. If not Portugal, then a very nice street circuit in one of France's beautiful city's....

[Hazza]

*coughPAUcough*

[429CJ]

I think the Norisring in Nürnberg, Germany would be a perfect place for a Champ Car race.

Link: http://www.etracksonline.co.uk/Europe/norisring.html

[jjspierx]

The Noris-ring would not be a track well suited for Champcars. It is great for touring cars, but the track is too small for champcars. It would be like Miami, IMO.

[Extremist]

Brads Hatch is a great track, but I don't understand why they use short circuit. Safty standards are not so high as in F1, and if they can race on Elkhart Lake or Laguna Seca they can on almost any well-known track in Europe.

Saltzburgring in Austria is a fantastic track, something like old Österreichring. It's fast and exciting. I would like to see ChampCars there but it's hard to belive it will happen so soon.

[Dov]

Hi Extremist,
first of all I would like to welcome you to 10/TENTHS. Secondly, I doubt we will ever see the CCWS race in what we now know as the former Yugoslavia, so what European country that has a good chance at holding a CC race in the near future would be the closest for you to attend?....give a couple of examples (2-3 countries).......

[gttouring]

how about any euro country ready to pay for team transport.
easy huh?
i love the norising and champcars would be devil fast there and would be a pretty good show especially at the hairpins with no Tractioncontrol oooh wah.
but Brand hatch Gp track would rule, and the Laustiz race was good always (poor alessandro) but the races go well and exciting- and Alex is back to his old self, a real inspriation to us all as well.
Brno would be great- I bet a few millionaires are in the area they would really love doing it if they saw it once- I would

[Dov]

I agree 100% with your first statement, gt!

[Rob29]

Originally posted by Dov
Hi Extremist,
first of all I would like to welcome you to 10/TENTHS. Secondly, I doubt we will ever see the CCWS race in what we now know as the former Yugoslavia, so what European country that has a good chance at holding a CC race in the near future would be the closest for you to attend?....give a couple of examples (2-3 countries).......

On my wall I have a print of a painting of the 1939 Yugoslav GP held in a park in central Belgrade.Would be great with US style barriers! Seriously it is unlikely that any European promoter could afford to pay to ship the show from the USA.The 'man in the street'only understands F1;DTM would be more popular.

[Dov]

Hi Rob,
I agree with you to an extent, but if OWRS can get CC turned around in 2-3 years (even if it's 60-75% as popular as it was between '93-2000), I wouldn't be suprised if many Euro countries would like to see the top North American Open Wheel Racing Series come to their country! That includes countries that already have F1 races (England/France/Germany). In 2-3 years if the CCWS can still draw the top driver(s) from F3000, Toyota Atlantic, some F1 veterans (even if they have retired from F1) like Villeneuve, Irvine, Alesi, Frentzen, and some young ex-F1 talent like Justin Wilson, Yoong and Enge and finally a few drivers from the IRL, ChampCars will be in good shape....

[BootsOntheSide]

I doubt it would be considered for 2005, even if 2004's a big success, simply because a loyal domestic audience has to be re-established. It's sad for European fans, but the championship's expansion may have proved to be a real msitake, as once it was dominated by non-US drivers and had stacks fo races elsewhere, it lost the connection with the ordianry fanbase.

Much will depend on teh championship's future direction. If a merger happens, tehre will be mroe than enough North American venues to hold a complete schedule. hwoever, if OWRS decide to give up on ovals and try to make the series international, as a rival to F1, European races will definately be added at some point. However, the previous visits were generally loss-making, so things will ahve to be done ifferently.