GP of Belgium in danger -> 2007

Principessa · Post 20 Mar 2006, 19:48

Now the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps in 2007 is in danger too

!
Bernie Ecclestone will come to Belgium tomorrow to talk with the Walloon government. 2 weeks ago a Walloon televisionstation broadcasted the story about the Belgian GP being axed in 2006 and Bernie Ecclestone and they weren't really nice for the F1 supremo. Bernie even wanted to press charges, but didn't.
The Walloon government was going to invest 18million Euro if Bernie would organise the GP in 2007 and the years beyond that. But now they don't have the money, that is something I read in a Belgian newspaper. Bernie isn't sure if the Walloon government wants to organise the Grand Prix or not, so he's coming to Belgium.
Hope the Walloon idiots can borrow someone else's brain to use during talks with Bernie or we won't have a GP at Francorchamps in 2007

manchild · Post 20 Mar 2006, 19:55

I think that Belgian GP is an event of national interest and that federal government should take it over from local goverment. Perhaps even the EU should interfeer because GP in Spa is one of 3 oldest GPs in the world and as such one of the most important motorsport events in the EU.

Scuderia_Russ · Post 20 Mar 2006, 19:58

Suzuka, Monza, now Spa.

Principessa · Post 20 Mar 2006, 20:02

Well in Belgium there are still a lot of political issues! I really don't get it. The circuit of Zolder (in Flanders) has no money problems and they don't have a F1 Grand Prix on their schedule. They just make sure that there are enough other events on the circuit, so they have good income. In Spa (in Wallonia) they have money problems and one of the people talking during the documentary I was refering too earlier pointed the difference out between Zolder and Spa. On the circuit of Zolder they have over 200 events a year and Spa is counting on the GP to make the most of their profits.
So perhaps they should have another promotor for the race track in Francorchamps, a capable man like in Zolder.

(For the ones that don't know Zolder, it's the circuit where Gilles Villeneuve died)

Post 20 Mar 2006, 20:05

Look it's all quite complicated here in Belgium. Small but a Federal state, meaning that it has a national government, but also a Walloon, Flemish and one from Brussels.

The situation is as such that in Flanders we are making money, extras on the budget, margins a lot better than Europe expects. However, Wallonia loses money over and over again, so through federal government, money is handed over to them. That is why a large group of people here wouldn't mind to much splitting the country.

That said, the 2003 problem was already because of Wallonian parties (socialists and environmental) that pushed the anti-tobacco law ahead of the European ban as of 2007.

I'm not really surprising with that, as there's always something going on there. There have been a lot more scandals in Wallonia this year, and I'm quite tired of it. How can they not realise the potential of a GP while other (less rich) countries can.

Sawtooth-spike · Post 20 Mar 2006, 20:17

shall we open up a paypal account to funraise for them?

Principessa · Post 20 Mar 2006, 20:23

Wallonia already gets enough of our tax money....they should be able to afford it, because it brings money to Wallonia, tourists and makes that there is work for people living in Wallonia!!

Tom · Post 20 Mar 2006, 21:01

Also they don't have to pay for the upkeep of many grandstands.

Whats happening to Monza?

Principessa · Post 20 Mar 2006, 21:04

viewtopic.php?p=21859#21859
This is about the current situation of Monza!

I really think that it would be a great loss if the GP at the circuit of Francorchamps wouldn't go on in 2007 as well! All the fans and drivers love the circuit, it's a race full of spectacle, every year!
Why are they destroying the old tracks? We should cherish them!!