Heard on the grapevine that “someone high up” in the Dubai government had a very long meeting with Formula 1 or the FIA in the presence of a last-generation champion to discuss (and almost approved) the concept of Dubai hosting the F1 race on a street circuit, a-la Monaco.
Did anyone hear anything to corroborate/refute this?
Comments
F1 Street Circuit in Dubai?
Hi Mahmood! love your blog- big fan i am!
haven’t heard anything, hope it’s not true, but wouldn’t surprise me if it was :(. Here’s to F1 staying in Manama!
F1 Street Circuit in Dubai?
as i see Dubai is becoming a very ‘tourist attraction’ nowadays and doesnt seem impossible if they want F1 to be there too. good blog neway! [url]http://wilordw.blogspot.com[/url]
F1 Street Circuit in Dubai?
Here is a link to the F1 ’05 calender:
[url]http://www.eurosport.com/home/pages/v4/l0/s25/c135/calendar_lng0_spo25_cmp135_sea14.shtml[/url]
Monaco GP May 22.
Hey that is my sisters birthday!
F1 Street Circuit in Dubai?
There has been a lot of talk here in Dubai about Formula 1. One thing is about the autodrome being fully “F1” equipped. The other is about Dubai sponsoring their own F1 team.
In all honesty though, if the race moved to Dubai I would not be surprised. I heard the F1 race in Bahrain was a flop. They made very little money and in the end they were giving away tickets to fill the stands. If Dubai really are in discussion with the F1 authorities it could be only a matter of time for Dubai to have its own F1 event every year.
I will keep an eye open and will let you know if I hear anything.
S
Re: F1 Street Circuit in Dubai?
Financially Bahrain might not have made any money off any event held so far at the circuit, but remember that it is in its infancy and they are doing everything they can and more to bring motorsports to the fore. Look at the event they held yesterday with the unveiling of the new BMW F1 Team Colours for instance.
Also, the Bahrain F1 race was the MOST watched in the whole series, with viewership figures much higher than any other, and they just won the most prestigious award there is in F1.
So the intangibles at least for now are mounting up and that is an awful lot. Imagine having to book advertising slots and ensure that over a billion people watch them amounting to 90 minutes in the most important stations in the globe and you’ll understand how important the BIC is for Bahrain.
Dubai might have a go at it, and we shouldn’t really be afraid of their competition. They will throw money at various projects to make it a success, while money is necessary I agree, the will itself is on our side to make the BIC a success in Bahrain I think.
F1 Street Circuit in Dubai?
Let’s put this one to rest. Bahrain will host the F1 Grand Prix for the forseeable future. There is a long-term contract in place, the length of which cannot be divulged. The F1 authorities and communities are delighted with the way it was organised, and have grown very fond of the place and its people. Despite the dreams of ‘S’ and the gossip of those ‘high-up’ there will not be a GP in Dubai any time this decade. Mahmood has already answered the charge of th event being a ‘flop’. Take it from an insider – it wasnt, it wont be, so let’s just enjoy it and if Dubious Dubai wants to work towards hosting the event in the next decade, good luck to them but I for one wont be holding my breath.
F1 Street Circuit in Dubai?
Hi again,
I hope so for Bahrain’s sake. The only issue (and this is a BIG one) is that Dubai does not have any of Bahrain’s inbuilt problems and you must admit profitability is THE most important criteria in gauging whether an event was a success or not.
We’ll just have to wait and see I guess……….
S
F1 Street Circuit in Dubai?
Envy??
Not really. Sometimes you’ve got to be realistic. All wishful thinking aside, the actual success of the Bahrain F1 (ie. benefit for the actual people of Bahrain) remains to be seen.
Dubai does not need an F1 event and never will. A Monaco style race here would be disastrous, there are enough traffic problems as it is. Just remember there is no real competition between Dubai and Bahrain in terms of economic developement. Bahrain lost that race 15 years ago.
Re: F1 Street Circuit in Dubai?
I’m not really sure what you’re trying to get at, and I would rather that we don’t turn this into yet another “mine is bigger than yours” kind of slug-fest. I am sure that the Emiratis as well as the rest of the Arab world are extremely happy that Bahrain has an international event and is making an honest attempt at making a success of it, which by all standards it is. The financial gains will come (if they have not already) will come in the future in not only direct profit-making for the circuit itself but for various FDI projects.
the BIC’s slogan says it all I think: “International race, Arab Drive”
Re: F1 Street Circuit in Dubai?
I thought it was a seven-year contract.
But again, I could be wrong.
The longer, the better.
The BIC’s structure and the ability of the professionals brought in to organise the event has been laudable!
With my respect to all those involved, I think it is hightime to scout, select and train Bahrainis up to that professional standard.
I am sure there are a lot of willing individuals out there – and I am not talking about marshalls only.
F1 Street Circuit in Dubai?
Well, we’ll have to wait and see then. I hope what your saying is true, but I really doubt it.
S
Re(1): F1 Street Circuit in Dubai?
Hey, Dubai-lover..
Bahrain might have “lost” the economic development race, but at least its retained its culture and heritage. Bahrain is inhabited by actual BAHRAINIS, and not a collage of nationalities doing the work that the Emarati citizens refuse to do.
When I visit Dubai I see a beautiful city with no soul. Money can’t buy you everything, you see.
F1 Street Circuit in Dubai?
I find it hard to believe that Bahrain would build an F1 track without a long term contract in place to hold the event. Sounds to me like some in the UAE ( ie Dubai) are filled with a wee bit of envy???
F1 Street Circuit in Dubai?
We could get into a huge argument but I believe this is not the right forum for it. I will just say that Bahrain should by rights have everything Dubai has and more. But it does’nt and it sucks.
S
Re(1): F1 Street Circuit in Dubai?
Princess, you must be kidding. The guys at BIC – they are a bunch of losers. At least they were – back in March 2004.
Guess I am qualified to make this statement 🙂
I didn’t let Bahrain or the GP down.
There was one Publisher in Bahrain – who thought Formula One is all about different types of cars racing against each other. He pocketed something close to 100 Thousand BD from the whole event!!!
Re: F1 Street Circuit in Dubai?
It sucks what?
Please don’t talk American on this blog.
Emaar represents 40% of the Dubai Stock exchange, THAT is scary.
The DIFC sacked the Englishman running/regulating it, so no confidence engendered there.
Where the hell are the locals? Bahrain is run by Bahrainis, Dubai is little India.
Style over content is the ubnfortunate position of Dubai at the moment. If you scratch the surface
you are in danger of bursting the bubble. The population is 92% expat! 92%!! To that end most of the money paid in salaries there leaves the country. when the U.S. invaded Iraq the volume of toursits to Dubai dropped dramtically, such that within 2 months civil servants salaries were being paid by Abu Dhabi, so the rumour goes.
Dubai is great for a party, but you wouldn’t want your kids growing up there.
Families chose Bahrain.
Re(2): F1 Street Circuit in Dubai?
You’re throwing the baby out with the bath water aren’t you?
I’m in contact with the circuit people almost on a weekly basis and all I see from them now and in March 2004 when I actually LIVED at the circuit is complete professionalism. Had it been anything else they would not have won the best F1 event last year.
You should go there now yourself and talk to the people. You will find them young, enthusiastic, eager and professional all the way from the top-down.
F1 Street Circuit in Dubai?
I’ll talk whatever I want, until the moderator tells me to do different.
Bahraini is run by Bahrainis?? Who told you that?? Did you get that from the GDN?? Every single government ministry in Bahrain has expats in key positions running everything. If you don’t believe me check yourself.
And again, I said we can have a huge discussion about this, but this is not the place.
S
Gulf Living
ok guys, take it up in the forum. I’ll start a “Gulf Living” forum and I’ll get the ambulances and first aid ready. That’s one option, the other of course is banding together and creating something that we all can be proud of to face the world with… up to you how the discussion goes.
Give me a few minutes and I’ll set up another forum for this
F1 Street Circuit in Dubai?
Kuwait – always a leader – will most likely host F1-GoCart races! Yala Shebab!
Re: F1 Street Circuit in Dubai?
First of all the Dubai Autodrome is NOT a Formula 1 race track! Its is FIA class 1 certified but not for Formula 1. Eddie wouldn’t race there anyways as it was not designed by Tielke! 😉
Then why does all exciting has to happen in Dubai anyhow? Keep your eyes and ears open for some awesome, exciting new international race series to come to Bahrain. Am not saying more at the moment but I KNOW there will 😉 The BIC is doing an excellent job and will rise the profile of Bahrain internationally big time.
Cheers for now! Sunny