Carey interested in Rio de Janeiro race
- Published on 20 Nov 2018 13:19
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- By: Matthew Gretton
Chase Carey has reportedly visited Rio de Janeiro and believes a Grand Prix in the city would work well. The Liberty Media boss visited the city following the conclusion of the Brazilian Grand Prix in Sao Paulo.
Interlagos is currently undergoing privatisation which could cause an issue with future deals at the race circuit. Brazil is one of F1’s biggest markets, and the fans always produce a special occasion when Formula 1 visits the country.
The circuit, which has decided numerous world championships, has a deal which runs out in 2020 making Carey keen to review his options. The city has hosted a number of events, including the football World Cup and the Olympics inside the current decade.
Globo, a Brazilian media company, claims that Carey met with Rio’s governor Luis Fernando Pezao to discuss the possibility of building a track in the city. He says he would like the circuit to have a sea-view making the event unique.
“Shortly after the race at Interlagos, Carey slept in Rio and had a long schedule of meetings on Monday,” the report on the Globe site said.
“When I woke up in Rio and saw the sea, I realised that it could be a good idea to bring Formula 1 to the city," Carey is reported to have told the governor when they met.
Rio de Janeiro has hosted 10 Grands Prix through a period between 1978-1989 at Jacarepagua. The circuit was demolished in 2012 to make way for the 2016 Olympic training facilities.
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Replies (16)
Login to replyjuju_hound
Posts: 180
Looking at the economical situation of Brazil, building another track, having Interlagos, isn't that sensible. They should put some of these money to make (anywhere it happens) Brazilian race much more safe for anyone who is leaving or coming to the track.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
Perhaps you haven't looked too carefully at Brazil's economy. There is plenty of money. It's one of the largest economies on the planet. The problem is inequality. I don't remember the last time a Brazilian GP wasn't full to capacity. That being said, Río has way bigger problems than having enough people that can afford the GP
f1dave
Posts: 782
Maybe they could use some of the Olympic areas, oh wait!
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Yeah, how about making sure its safe to host F1 in Brazil in the first place before considering having a second GP? It makes sense to have a second GP in L.America from a viewer PoW, but it doesnt from a safety PoW, and neither does it make sense considering the economic strain it would put on the countries. Longterm I firmly believe F1 can lead to profits for the hosts, but the shortterm costs are too high for that to be an affordable sacrifice.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
Argentina would be great, but the problem there is actually the economy. Chile could, but I don't ever hear it discussed. Perhaps because it's not iconic. But Formula E put a good show there.
Bhurt
Posts: 320
Good to know the sport is in good hands. The dude wakes up, looks out the window, likes the view and decides to put a race there. Such a carefully thought out strategy.
When he says that they should hold a race in the city, you know he's not thinking about building a race track in the city. He literally means the city. Why not run almost a full circle around some sports arena? And how about long straights along the beach? All the ingredients you need for another phallic "track" of Careyesque grandeur!
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Maybe we were in the wrong. Maybe it was Carey's parts they were drawing inspiration from for all these recent tracks?
Bhurt
Posts: 320
Quite possibly. I guess it's a good thing I'm not in charge or we'd see a whole new era of endurance style F1 tracks...
But seriously, this has to be a city track doesn't it? If they're seriously discussing 2020 there's no way on this earth they even get construction started before then, let alone have a fully built track completed and ready for racing.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Are you suggesting we would be seeing a surge of "figure 9" tracks with very long straights, harr harr?
Of course its a street track. They cant really afford building a dedicated track there, can they?
Bhurt
Posts: 320
Not by sensible standards. But who knows what this new guy in charge will want to do to display the "new" Brazil under his regime? It's not like we haven't seen ridiculous use of money in places where poverty and corruption are common place before.
But yeah, it has to be a street circuit in this scenario. Especially with Carey wanting to run it along the ocean. That property is way too expensive and lucrative to waste on a track that's only in use a couple of times a year one would think.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Well if I was the head of F1, I'd have them make a track shaped as the face of my avatar. Literally 2 circles and some teeth. Dont ask me how it makes sense, thats up to the commercial team to explain.
Bhurt
Posts: 320
I don't see how a competition to let fans design a track could possibly result in something worse than the Miami or Vietnam layouts.
And to get around the issue of no overtaking you just incorporate "alternativspåret" from Rally Cross.
mcbhargav
Posts: 1,332
Are there any plans to start a Formula 1.5 with weekly races? or may be perhaps, would use the new venues as bargaining chips to strike better deals with classic venues like Silverstone.
Danimal5981
Posts: 579
What's wrong with Interlagos? This sounds (again) as change for change's sake, not because it would improve anything.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
I think it would be a second Brazilian race, not a replacement. There is a huge audience for F1 in latin America. In theory, I like this, as it gives more fans a chance to watch an actual GP, however I dont think its a sound thing to have another race in the same country. And honestly, I dont think its a viable concept in general in latin American as of present.
Bhurt
Posts: 320
I also read it to mean they were looking at alternatives to Interlagos should the new owners be looking for something unreasonable such as a reasonable deal. So basically, putting some pressure on the owners of Interlagos to let them know that if they don't agree to lose money on the race, F1 will go elsewhere (to the nearest car park basically).