FOTA focuses on American Grand Prix
March 13, 2009 by Negative Camber
Filed under Parc Fermé
In another interesting story ran by those magnificent bastards at Autosport, Martin Whitmarsh has spoken out on what should be done to secure an American Grand Prix. Here at F1B we’ve argued for some time that it can’t be business as usual if F1 is to succeed in the US. It takes a different approach. No one in America feels Bernie is doing them a favor for having a race here and Bernie seems to not be entirely familiar with that attitude. Bernie’s more recent model of seeking government backed payments for the privilege of hosting a race is more than likely viewed as laughable by the US government. The will not subsidize a race when NASCAR, IRL and all other forms of racing in the US are fully self-supporting.
The key, as Peter Windsor pointed out during the launch of the USGPE team, is that F1 has to have a new approach to the US market. A market that most teams in F1 would claim as their largest market or at least in the top two. Peter is correct in asserting that American fans, be it right or wrong, have been spoiled with 24/7 coverage and access to NASCAR’s inner sanctum and personalities. They expect a deeper level of access and tangible benefits of being steeped in the racing experience. They even have a cartoon now featuring a groundhog for crying out loud (hey, I said be it right or wrong). How do you get an American Gran Prix to have any hope of longevity? That’s the million dollar question.
I would suggest starting with a long-term plan that can work in conjunction with FOTA but most importantly the manufacturers as they have markets to penetrate here. FOM could help as well as the local promoter but it all starts with allowing the local track owner to make a buck on the event. Exacting a pound of flesh through a high fee for hosting the race with only the slimmest of margins for a track owner to partake in the opportunity is a business model that never took hold in America. The old adage that “it ‘ain’t worth doing unless you can make a buck” still holds true over here and while Bernie’s new model suggests that governments are salivating to have a race and will subsidize it so you can extract all profit from the race and the track owner can have a little while expected to promote a lot is nonsensical in the eyes of Americans. At best maybe a local county or state might pony up some cash for the rights but in the end, they really don’t care if they have a race or not. Also, you can’t have a ‘Roval’ course and expect real F1 fans to be enthused. Most of them skipped Indy and went to Canada because that’s a proper track. A proper road course is needed and while city races seem to be the hot thing lately, i think we could forgo that notion here. That’s not as novel in the states as it seems.
Very few foreign enterprises have just shown up, pitched a tent, collected cash from fans and the government and went home expecting a pat on the back for the grand privilege. But I think FOTA gets it…
At least I think Martin Whitmarsh gets it:
“The calendar for this year was fixed by the time we (FOTA) got going, but we want to look at where are our major investors and America is a massive challenge.
“We can’t turn our back on it, but maybe we have to have a completely different approach.
“We have got to have a new approach. Rather than who’s going to give us the most money to rock up and race, it is to go there strategically, perhaps with FOTA offering to support the race, participate, send our drivers on a promotional tour one year before, six months before, to appear on shows and make investment.
“Rather than leave it in the hands of a promoter, how do we develop the interest? How do we develop the excitement and take up of F1 in North America? Be it Ferrari, be it Daimler, or be it BMW. You look at all of the principle investors in F1; the vast majority of them would consider the US to be a significant market.”
You can read the full story here at Autosport.
Loading ...
Could we have a decent race track too?
I’m sure Indianapolis is steeped in history, but although the banking and the nice long straight is cool the mickey mouse infield is rubbish.
There are plenty of options outside of Indy, I’ve suggested a number of them in other conversations. I tend to disagree slightly with NG on forgoing the city race concept here, and would be interested to get perspective on why city races aren’t a good option. While there are plenty of viable road tracks to modernize for F1 (Elkart Lake, Watkins Glen, Laguna, etc…) I think a city race would be a huge draw and shouldn’t be ruled out. Lets not forget that these races (if organzied correctly) can (and did at one time) generate millions of dollars for the areas where they’re held.
I agree with SR, if you want to make it in the US, you have to make it big… really big…… otherwise the US viewer will think that this is just a ‘bunch of europeans’ doing their thing … and lets change the channel to football…… make it a race where the people can get close to the track and the racers, if fernando & co don’t like it, well … tough.
make it a city race with more lights than Singapore and more glamour than Cannes …. that is what the US public likes.
Unfortunately is not going to be a race for the F1 fan, but that might have to be sacrificed as to get into such a large market and at the end of the day, we find any story about any bolt interesting, so i am sure we can find something to entertain ourselves for that weekend.
Unfortunately, the key is to make the race close for all 20 cars and if Bernie can find the magic solution to that………….
I still think that you’ll never brew up excitement in North America with only one race in the US. We’re too frickin’ big. Europe has 8 races (yes, I included Turkey).
We would need, at the least, 4 in North America. one on each coast of the US, one in Canada, and one in Mexico. You might even throw the west coast race up to Seattle or as far south as Portland to attract additional Canadian fans.
When lazy americans watch the race on the television it does make an impact on them when the seats are half empty. It doesn’t matter to the brain that there are still as many folks at any European race… it looks like nobody is there and so it sucks.
A better track would be nice, more races would be nice but the bottom line it is NEVER going to happen if the track isn’t making money. NASCAR copverage is annoying because every single second is sponsored by someone but you never hear their track owners complaining how they are losing money, because they are not. You want to generate interest make the sport accesible. BMW does a nice job at races making the fan experience better
One queston. Why is Todd using photos of downtown St. Louis with the sotry?
Obviously, despite his “protests,” he wants a race with F1 cars running right through/under the Arch.
It is a rough time to be trying to do this in the US. Nascar — our best measure — is having trouble with ticket sales [Jim, I think at least Auto Club Speedway is, if not losing money, certainly not making what it did a few years ago], and I find it hard to believe that an F1 race wouldn’t be a lot more expensive.
Bernie is going to have to realize that the world, financially wise, truly has changed. That is the first thing, before all else.
Noddy’s comments are interesting, because I’m sure a lot of people would think that one race would be a great draw and perhaps the greatest as it would be the only one. But, being in CA, I’d obviously like a race somewhere out here — although it would be great to be able to travel somewhere for a race without the shock of the Euro to make Spa, etc. a dream…
Baby steps, though: Bring back Canada.
The US does need more then one race, I’m agreeing with Noddy. But we’ll never get 4, I’m thinking maybe 2 races, one eastish and one westish race, there are tons of great tracks that an F1 race could be staged at, maybe a different venue each year! Moving a races around the country would expand the audience for F1.
An US team and maybe even a good US driver on that team would be great, for that matter a GOOD US driver on any team would be GREAT, and not a driver from Manteca, CA.
Does F1 need the 24 hr a day coverage like NASCAR, PLEASE NO… NASCAR interest is waning, and I think it’s because your bombarded with NASCAR day and night.
John “I’m 2 podcasts behind” Stone
Part of me thinks a street race is okay like Long Beach but my other concern is staying anchored the history of F1, which is decidedly European, because some of the most impacting races in F1 history were at Watkins Glen. A road course of terrific heritage. Now I am not suggesting going back there now but if you think about what America offered back then, it was a real track that took real skill and we were taken seriously as part of the world championship. Does anyone consider Canada a me-too track and ho hum part of the title chase? I doubt it because the track in Canada is terrific. Street circuits are probably less expensive, slower, safer and easier to put together but if we are to really court the damsel that is F1, we need a mega track that rivals Spa and will draw attention to all people around the world. The migration of Yankees to Canada each year tells you that Americans love F1 but only if it is true to the DNA from whence it was created. Challenging circuits and true racing.
America played a key role in the F1 series back in the day with great race drivers and tracks. I suggest we find that heritage so we can compliment Bernie’s series, not humiliate it with a ‘roval’. But hey, I may be on a wistful soapbox but at this point, I’d take anything. ;)
My worry, Todd, is that “heritage” doesn’t seem to have much resonance with Mr. E.
Maybe a race in Orlando, winding through Disneyworld?
One in SF that crosses the Golden Gate?
It seems like to get Bernie’s attention you need both $$$ and gimmicks. Sadly.
The Gran Prix of Brooklyn…has a nice ring
I agree you probably need more than one GP in America. But in the days of Watkins Glen the American GP was well respected. I think the tide turned with the apology of race when only six cars competed at the Indy circuit. Of course America has mega-circuits like Laguna Seca – but I doubt if any current F1 driver would race on it – way too dangerous.
I went to all of the Indy USGP’s, and I tnought the experience was great. To see the cars and drivers in person was so good to me I would go watch them race in a parking lot (tried before, I know). I think one way to help make it work here again, would to include NASCAR and the two big track owners. They know how to make races profitable. I have seen negative comments on “Rovals”, but what the heck is Monza? A USGP at Daytona between the 24 hours and 500 would be great. An alternative to street circuits with some of the same positives, are park circuits like Montreal and Australia. Central Prk in NYC, or my favorite idea, a race in the biggest city park in the US, Forest Park in St. Louis. It has miles of blacktop and acres of open space. I will go watch, wherever they go, even Vegas.
Good points Buddy and yes, I am the one critical of ‘rovals’ and I’ll argue with you that Monza is nothing like a roval. The infield of Indy or even the Daytona infield is not a proper F1 track. I understand your position and did state that I would take anything at this point because some F1 is better than no F1. That being said, I still think a proper, respectable track like Canada is a key element to F1 success in the US. If Donington can re-tool its track for F1, perhaps Road Atlanta or Elkhart could but there is the location issue to consider. East or west coast is probably what it would come down to. Except I think in the middle makes sense as it’s less travel for everyone involved. I’m biased of course. Noddy makes a good point that perhaps a East and West race is really the idea.
Here’s the problem with having an American GP somewhere other than IMS. There are no other tracks that currently have the capacity and facilities to host Bernie’s circus. IMS is the only venue currently equipped to handle an F1 event. As much as I dislike rovals, such as that pathetic excuse for a circuit at Daytona, the IMS roval does have the benefit of the front stretch being flat as opposed to being banked so the transition from the front straight into T1 is much smoother than any other roval. The circuit is designed ok, but limited opportunities for outbraking and overtaking. However, is it any worse than Hungaroring? Also, it is a fantastic facility for attending a race. The sightlines for the infield course are excellent, and the facilities crew are very efficient. (see MotoGPod #163) F1 at Road Atlanta or Road America would be brilliant, as would an F1 return to Long Beach, but unless those venues decide they can invest serious money to upgrade their facilities, IMS is our only shot at an American GP.
The “facility improvement” lingo is Bernies excuse to get Grand Prixs to all government funded Race venues. He knows the US and England are not big on them and frankly he doesn’t care if they have one, as his most recent threat to donington proves. The teams want a USGP the fans want a USGP, but those two groups have no vote as far as Bernie is concerned because he knows he won’t get the money he is looking for
Troll
I agree that Bernie is really only looking for circuits where the government is willing to foot some of his exorbitant financial requirements. I am really sad that the Canadian GP is off the calendar but I do not think governments should be footing huge costs to stage sports events.
For the F1 to return to the USA, it should be a profitable business for all the part involved, not only FOM; that’s the key point. I agree with the issue of having an exciting circuit and a big crowd selling the show for those who watch the race on TV. But if the F1 stop selling an overrated sport and the costs are re-dimension to what actually is worth, I have no doubt the more than one American racing entrepreneur can reach an agreement with Mr.E and bring back F1 racing to the US. . .
Good point Benalf. I think ultimately it has to financially make sense and right now, Bernie’s model doesn’t make sense to most clear-thinking American businessmen.
yes indeed, the american sports model -from college up to pros- is based on benefiting all the parts involved; fans, communities, owners, sponsors, etc.- It’s a huge deal for everyone and it works at all levels. Despite the fact that some big sports in America are being paid by taxpayers money -especially when it comes to stadiums and players salaries- the business keeps everyone happy and that’s the motto F1 owners should follow to keep it moving forward, in the end F1 can move more fans than even the soccer world cup…
Not to get too drab but Donington may just set the stage for that model Benalf. You raise a great point about stadiums. Donington is going to offer a debenture program and that is something that is happening in the states. Fans can own a piece of the track and subsidize the building of the track. The dicey parts comes when Bernie just decides to up and move the GP from the track the fans bought in to to host the darn thing.