Thinking about it; I don’t think I’ll be making many new friends with this blog...
As the Formula 1 circus is setting up on Ile Notre-Dame for the Canadian Grand Prix, Montrealers, Quebecers, and Canadians are asking themselves when the new contract for a the Canadian Formula 1 race -- good until 2024 -- will officially be renewed.
Talks between the event promoter, Octane’s Francois Dumontier, and Bernie Ecclestone started in June of last year. F1’s supremo was asking for a slight annual increase of the costs of hosting F1 in Montreal (at $15 million), as well as the construction of a new pit building to house garages, a medical centre, and a media centre.
A few months ago, the different levels of government involved were all in favour of the conditions set by Ecclestone and for the construction of a new pit facility.
However, things have dragged on since then. Dumontier reassured everyone by saying there was no rush since the current contract includes next year.
Everything looks good, but let’s not forget that Quebec City is working on hosting a round of the IndyCar series, starting in 2014.
Will taxpayers need to contribute to making this street race happen as it is the case for the F1 race in Montreal?
I’m not saying that his race will not be a success, but let’s agree that it won’t be easy at all.
Why? Because the ChampCar series (previous name of the IndyCar) never found a home in Montreal, despite the presence of local drivers like Tagliani, Tracy, Ranger, and Carpentier. The same series did not attract huge crowds at Mont-Tremblant, and IndyCar was not a success in Edmonton. Even the NASCAR Nationwide event ended abruptly in Montreal despite the participation of several local competitors.
The reality is that Formula 1 -- a truly international motorsport championship -- attracts to Montreal thousands of visitors from around the globe. These deep-pocket visitors book hotel rooms, eat in restaurants, go out to bars, and spend a lot of money, which is excellent news for the economy. If the Quebec City IndyCar race only attracts local fans, it will not generate fresh money to the local businesses.
The key to attract large crowds of fans is to have local competitors in the field. If there’s only Alex Tagliani in there, it won’t be enough. “Tag” will not race in the IndyCar series forever. Sadly, there are virtually no new young drivers in the making.
In fact, maybe the organisers of the Quebec race should have called DTM officials to stage one race of the highly popular series that features one hot Canadian, reigning champion Bruno Spengler. Why not?
As the Formula 1 circus is setting up on Ile Notre-Dame for the Canadian Grand Prix, Montrealers, Quebecers, and Canadians are asking themselves when the new contract for a the Canadian Formula 1 race -- good until 2024 -- will officially be renewed.
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| Photo: WRI2 |
Talks between the event promoter, Octane’s Francois Dumontier, and Bernie Ecclestone started in June of last year. F1’s supremo was asking for a slight annual increase of the costs of hosting F1 in Montreal (at $15 million), as well as the construction of a new pit building to house garages, a medical centre, and a media centre.
A few months ago, the different levels of government involved were all in favour of the conditions set by Ecclestone and for the construction of a new pit facility.
However, things have dragged on since then. Dumontier reassured everyone by saying there was no rush since the current contract includes next year.
Everything looks good, but let’s not forget that Quebec City is working on hosting a round of the IndyCar series, starting in 2014.
Will taxpayers need to contribute to making this street race happen as it is the case for the F1 race in Montreal?
I’m not saying that his race will not be a success, but let’s agree that it won’t be easy at all.
Why? Because the ChampCar series (previous name of the IndyCar) never found a home in Montreal, despite the presence of local drivers like Tagliani, Tracy, Ranger, and Carpentier. The same series did not attract huge crowds at Mont-Tremblant, and IndyCar was not a success in Edmonton. Even the NASCAR Nationwide event ended abruptly in Montreal despite the participation of several local competitors.
The reality is that Formula 1 -- a truly international motorsport championship -- attracts to Montreal thousands of visitors from around the globe. These deep-pocket visitors book hotel rooms, eat in restaurants, go out to bars, and spend a lot of money, which is excellent news for the economy. If the Quebec City IndyCar race only attracts local fans, it will not generate fresh money to the local businesses.
The key to attract large crowds of fans is to have local competitors in the field. If there’s only Alex Tagliani in there, it won’t be enough. “Tag” will not race in the IndyCar series forever. Sadly, there are virtually no new young drivers in the making.
In fact, maybe the organisers of the Quebec race should have called DTM officials to stage one race of the highly popular series that features one hot Canadian, reigning champion Bruno Spengler. Why not?