Silverstone dropped

[Gromit]

The F1 scene lost the plot for me a long time ago

Yep I agree wholeheartedly. They need to find a way to make it as exciting to watch as WSB or even BSB, that would get the fans back through the gates again.

[Impney]

The home of motor racing.

Absolutely!

We have the world's oldest permanent track in Shelsley Walsh!

The German's contribution was to give us a reason to build Silverstone in the first place.  

If the decision is confirmed then F1 will lose one of the best race tracks.    

Whilst business and politics have driven this situation, the facilities at Silverstone are definitely third world in comparison to the Middle and Far East newcomers who have massive government backing.

Can we afford to compete? Yes, if we wanted to. The real question is whether there is the will to do so.

With Renault now doing a drains up review on all it's motorsport activities will there be anyone left?

[Mark Stanton]

F1 will lose one of the best race tracks.

       erm     bites lip      

[mark.anson]

There is a hidden agenda with all this. Not withstanding the fact that Bernie and his chums are chocking the life out of F1 by ripping off the circuits wanting to host a GP, this is still all down to the tobacco advertising if you ask me.

With the success of China, Malaysia and others, Bernie is trying to find ways of moveing F1 away from europe to more fag freindly countries.

After all Ferrari and Mclaren and others are still carrying Tobacco sponsorship, and no doubt the rest would too if they could.

I seem to remember Bernie scrapping Spa for this very reason. He seems to like playing hardball with governments does Mr E.

[Nick M]

I'd be *really* surprised in Renault pull out of F1.  They're way more competitive than Jaguar and actually stand to benefit from beating the likes of Toyota, with whom they more realistically compete than BMW or Mercedes in the show-rooms.

Plus their history in F1 is pretty impressive and I think that counts for a lot.  

Jaguar, on the other hand, are best remembered for their sports car successes and, IMO, that is where their corporate dollars would have been best spent, i.e. competing with, and maybe beating, Audi.

[Impney]

Plus their history in F1 is pretty impressive and I think that counts for a lot.  

When the beanies move in, history is irrelevant. Brown's Lane for example.

[Nick M]

My point was that Renault actively get back something from their investment in terms of customer perception of the cars they sell which is created by the image of the company and its success in F1.

Jaguar's customer base is less fussed about F1 and they won't attract customers as a result of their involvement.

Chalk and cheese IMO....

[pistonbroke]

Sequential Gearboxes  

1000 hp unsilenced V12 engines

Front engined, rear wheel drive

No areodynamics

No refuelling

Slick tyres

No traction control

No ABS

Unlimited modifications to suspension pick ups

Except

No sequential , what's wrong with a proper gearbox and a big torquey engine

Why just v12 ,

nowt wrong with six ,eight's, tens ,sixteen etc.

limit tyre / rim width

Do away with ground effect and all limit on aero aids

Must run suspensions capable of handling "normal" road surface , not billiard tables , so we can get back to real road type circuits.

And

Gimme a Go !  

[Paul M]

Only deleted from the "provisional" calander - read an interview this week with Bernie where he said he was the wrong guy to try and play hardball (or poker- can't quite remember) with - just a ploy for a very greedy billionaire to screw a few more million $$$$'s for himself.

 with this & Jag's pullout I see this as the fianl death knell - lets hope some team owners have the balls to pull out and launch a rival series.

[Chris Elworthy]

I'd be *really* surprised in Renault pull out of F1.  They're way more competitive than Jaguar and actually stand to benefit from beating the likes of Toyota, with whom they more realistically compete than BMW or Mercedes in the show-rooms.

Plus their history in F1 is pretty impressive and I think that counts for a lot.  

If you look back over the last 25 years Renault have been in and out of F1 on a fairly regular cycle, based on marketing needs at the time / next 5 years.

All companies will review marketing impact from F1 compared with other opportunities, and if the competition (ie Ford) aren't there what are they gaining?

If you go back to the Tobacco issue, F1 wouldn't need tobacco funding if it was more sensibly budgeted, its not just the cars development that needs the money - I would guess half the money goes on the plastic lifestyle needs of the hangers on, none of whom actually contribute to the motorsport industry.

I did hear on the Radio this morning that there is going to be a possible alternative to F1, called the A1 World Series (or similar) which will have single spec. F1esque cars competing in an off-season series around the world on a nations Cup type basis. (this could even be the saviour of Cosworth Racing with an MBO).

PS. If Bernie the boltneck felt so strongly about the quality at Silverstone surely he  (I use the term HE loosely) would allow his Slush fund money to be spent on facilities.....not on Felicity!

Anyway - just watched a repeat of the SEAT BTCC Masters Race from Donington last Sunday - more action than a whole season of F1

[Paul Hurdsfield - Joint Manchester AO]

Apart from Mark, how many of you lot have actually attended Silverstone during the GP weekend over the last few years ?

or ever for that matter.

Dont knock til' you've tried it

[James]

So presumably Monaco's lack of facilities are ok then, made up with $$$

Youve got it!!

[Blatman]

Monaco also doesn't have a ban on tobacco advertising...

[studbuckle]

I've attended a few Silverstone GP's and I can say it's a fantastic experience.

However, I recognise that the circuit is not the best on the F1 tour, in fact, if you take away the heritiage then it's very much middle of the road. If you look at the facilities, then most other circuits are better. If you look at the spectator facilities, ditto. Then look at the cost of a ticket compared to better circuits on the continent goodness me it's a rip off.

If we can't afford to invest in a circuit worthy of the the premier motorsport that is F1, then so be it. The money that comes into the country from us being the world leaders in motorsport technology goes into the private company wallets. The circuit owners don't have the kind of revenue to compete with the new circuits.

For what it's worth I'd rather spend the same money as a ticket to Sunday at Silverstone on a weekend at Spa.

Silvertsone losing the GP is a loss but not one that should be mourned over. Perhaps we'll get to go to the circuit during the rest of the year for less money and enjoy more interesting motorsport

[Muttleys V8]

It's clear to see what Mr E is doing.

Drop Silversone, buy the track from the Drivers club, get President Tony to pay for improvements, put it back on the Calendar, charge stupidly high prices to watch the race and make a big profit.

I rest my case..........

Steve