Circuit Paul Ricard

[Jeffsvilleusa]

Number 1, replacing Spa is bad idea- I know Spa has faced a lot of resistance in the last few years, so it may be a kind of compromise, but it is like replacing Monaco. Even to alternate it is bad- I was upset when Fuji displaced Suzuka!

Other than that, I like the fact that F1 is willing to go to a new preexisting track! I think it is ridiculous that they only add a track to the calendar if it is built to order when there are so many great tracks that have been abandoned. I know infrastructure is a concern, which also throws a question mark to Paul Ricard, because I think I read before that there aren't many grandstands there?

Sprinklers? Now it starts to make a little sense why Bernie might want to go there... No offense to our older members, but sometimes old people have the craziest ideas.

Paul Ricard makes for great photography with all the stripes, but perhaps a little nausea-inducing on the TV.

[raymondu999]

Are you folks pulling my leg that Paul Ricard has sprinklers, or does it actually have sprinklers installed?

[mep]

How about going back to A1 ring or Imola?
Especially a race in Austria would make a lot of sense when Redbull is so successful at the moment.

[raymondu999]

You mean Red Bull Ring

[mep]

Whatever they call it now.

[gridwalker]

I read about Paul Ricard being able to simulate wet conditions quite a few years back. I can't cite a source off the top of my head, but I'll go take a look.

*EDIT*
After a quick google, I found this article from 2002 : http://www.motorsport.com/#/f1/news/pau ... ther-tests

Come to think of it, I remember reading about the track's capability when the French Grand Prix was dropped from the calendar. I think ESPN ran through a list of alternative venues that could be used in France, so gave a breakdown of the upgrades that Bernie had paid for since he bought it.

[HampusA]

It´s mainly a testing track, that´s why you have more run-off area then racing surface.

It´s probably the safest track in the world.

[gridwalker]

A slightly more up to date link : http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/ ... 11508.html

[PlatinumZealot]

How about going back to A1 ring or Imola?
Especially a race in Austria would make a lot of sense when Redbull is so successful at the moment.

Heard the Austria track is very boring..must be true because I certainly don't remember it after so many years of watching F1.. and I know it was on the calender when I began watching.

[marcush.]

the a1 ring as it was called was anything but boring..call Hockenheim or Nurburgring GP a boring circuit .

[Jeffsvilleusa]

Alonso called A1 ring his favorite. I think it is a short lap, like a minute flat.

[raymondu999]

Lap record is Ferrari F2003, Schumacher. 1:08.

[Mandrake]

A1 Ring is one hell of a track, long straights into uphill sharp turns, a lot of up and down, beautiful landscape......I don't understand how you cannot remember it

[Richard]

Bernie is repeating his Silverstone trick with Spa.

The difference this time is that Paul Ricard is more of a threat than a dodgy geezer with cash flow problems digging up a field in Donnington

[mep]

The A1 Ring is newbuild now so I don't know how it looks like at the moment. In this mountains you can have a hell of a track with nice up and downhill sections.
Fast sweeping corners like they used to be in the old times and natural grandstands.
Well once I have heard that some guy bought something like a castle close to the track and now has nothing better to do than complaining about the track and trying to get rid of it.