Thailand wants to bring the Formula 1 Grand Prix to Bangkok with a spectacular street circuit
(Editorial credit: motorsports Photographer / Shutterstock.com)
Thailand is taking serious steps to become a prominent destination on the Formula 1 agenda. According to F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, a spectacular street circuit is being considered in Bangkok. The growth of Formula 1 in East and South East Asia, which started in the early 21st century with races in countries such as Malaysia, China and Singapore, appears to be entering a new chapter with Thailand as a possible new location.
Despite the loss of the Grand Prix in three of the Asian countries, interest in the region has not diminished. Domenicali has plans to travel to South Korea soon to hold further talks, while Japan and China are also actively calling for more F1 events.
The capital Bangkok is mainly in the spotlight. An earlier plan for a night race in 2015 fell through, but now Thailand appears to be getting a second chance. Supported by the enthusiasm for motorsport and spurred on by the success of Red Bull Racing, which has partial Thai roots, interest in a Grand Prix on home soil has increased significantly.
Chai Watcharong, spokesperson for Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, has revealed that it is hoped to hold the race on Bangkok's Rattanakosin Island. “We are aiming for a street circuit along Ratchadamnoen Avenue, a historic location surrounded by cultural heritage such as a large Buddhist temple, the National Museum and the Democratic Monument,” Watcharong explains.
If Thailand does indeed appear on the F1 calendar, it would mean a second home race of sorts for Red Bull Racing alongside their event at the Red Bull Ring, given the involvement of Bangkok-born Chalerm Yoovidhya, who owns a majority stake in the energy drink company.
Source: GPfans
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Known as Khun Peter (62), lives alternately in Apeldoorn and Pattaya. In a relationship with Kanchana for 14 years. Not yet retired, have my own company, something with insurance. Crazy about animals, especially dogs and music.
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Formula 1 race in the streets of Bkk!! The tallest building in the world, new airports, bridges, terminals for larger cruise ships, bringing the largest music festival 'Tomorrowland' to Thailand, handing out 10.000 baht to 50 million Thais... either this prime minister has delusions of grandeur or he is printing money himself.
It might be better to give old people a decent pension so that they can enjoy a good old age
can enjoy, or perhaps do something about the air quality, or something against the annually recurring floods... so much more than building castles in the air.
Jozef
Thai politicians are largely short-term thinkers: arrange things quickly, collect the commission or tea money and then move on to the next project.
Many of these projects are socio-economic, touristic, educational, environmental and financial madness. Many also do not continue or are stopped halfway and never reach the finish line. This is partly because people never ask the population what they want now. Never understood anything about marketing. Yes, the people must want what those in power and the rich want. And the times that the people answer, they are waved away that it will all cost too much money.
Doing something structurally about the problems in this country requires long-term thinking. After all, the problems have become such a part of the country that it will take years to change things sustainably. E.g. A new education system is estimated to take 10 to 15 years: a new curriculum is written in no time, training new teachers and changing school buildings takes much more time. And so what happens? The curriculum is being rewritten, beautiful sentences about student-oriented education and the practice remains the same.
Although we plan to settle in Thailand and I have been following F70 since the early 1s, I hope this does not happen. At least, not on a street circuit. There are already far too many street circuits in the F1 season. This is at the expense of real jobs. For example, I think it is a great pity that the race at Sepang in Malaysia is no longer on the calendar.
But yes, the FOM and the FIA nowadays only think about their bank account instead of the fans. Not just in F1, by the way.
I think Thailand also has a Motor GP track. I think it would be better to make that track suitable for car races of the highest level, such as the F1 and the WEC.