F1: A venue for a Polish Grand Prix; Turkey race in danger

By ,

From GMM

Poland could be among the next names to feature on future formula one calendars. Meanwhile, the Turkish race is possibly in danger.

The electronics firm LG, a global sponsor of the Formula 1 world championship, is backing a campaign in the central European country to select a location for an inaugural Polish grand prix.

Polish fans, whose numbers have grown enormously since the debut of Poland's first F1 driver Robert Kubica in mid 2006, are being asked to select between the locations Warsaw, Krakow, Breslau and Gdynia for a circuit.

Votes will be accepted until August, when one of the four locations will be recommended by LG to formula one authorities.

Meanwhile, at a press conference held on Monday, organizers of the Turkish GP said they are expecting a big crowd at the 24,000-capacity ground, but the same cannot be said for the fifth running of the Turkish grand prix.

Only 40,000 attended Sunday's race last year, and a smaller crowd is expected this weekend at a circuit that is closed for 362 days of every year.

The circuit is owned by the Istanbul chamber of commerce and rented by Bernie Ecclestone , who may not want to continue to promote the event post 2011, track general manager Can Guclu admitted earlier this year.


photo: WRI2