20 replies to this topic

[Puntataco]

Does anyone know when, more or less, this wave of new countries wanting to enter F-1 started?
I remember that Hungary came in 1986 and more or less, I remember that after this, every year one new circuit was proudly announce the plans to host F-1...I remember Mexico being some years at the "edge" to be discarded in the early 90s....

Is it fair to say that this whole "wave" started in the late 80s and that in the last 10 years we have seen the top of this "wave" with China, Turkey, Korea, Malaysia and so many other circuits arriving and replacing the more traditional places?

[Tim Murray]

I'd have said it began at the start of the '80s, with San Marino in 1981, Portugal in 1984, Australia in 1985, Hungary and Mexico in 1986, Japan in 1987 etc, plus all the odd venues for US Grands Prix in that period.

[Arjan de Roos]

I'd have said it began at the start of the '80s, with San Marino in 1981, Portugal in 1984, Australia in 1985, Hungary and Mexico in 1986, Japan in 1987 etc, plus all the odd venues for US Grands Prix in that period.

Indeed, Puntataco use the search function to find more on the Moscow GP, Fuengirola GP in Spain, Paris GP, Rotterdam GP and others announced from the beginning of the eighties. After Las Vegas everybody thought it ought to be possible.

[arttidesco]

Have there ever been two seasons with exactly the same schedule since 1950 might be a more interesting question ?

[AleSi]

it wouldn´t be so hard to accept this new asian wave, but these circuits are so ugly on tv. Ok, they are very good for the spectators and the people who are actually there, but that´s all.

Shame that Hungaroring was build year before Masaryk Circuit, because this two tracks competed for place at F1 calendar.

[AleSi]

Have there ever been two seasons with exactly the same schedule since 1950 might be a more interesting question ?

1989, 1990 and 1991 seasons had exactly same calendar

[Tim Murray]

Yes indeed, and in 1990 and 1991 the races were held in exactly the same order, too. 1963 and 1965 also featured the same races, but not in the same order, likewise 1973 and 1974.

[Altitude]

1989, 1990 and 1991 seasons had exactly same calendar

Slightly different tracks though. In 1990 the Brazilian G.P. had moved to Interlagos from Rio, and in 1991 the Spanish G.P. had moved to Barcelona from Jerez, and the French G.P. had moved from Paul Ricard to Magny Cours.

Edited by Altitude, 21 July 2011 - 13:48.

[arttidesco]

Thanks Alesi, Tim & Altitude

While I am sure since 1981 BCE has actively been lining up more possible venues than available race slots, to bump up the revenues he received, stable schedules year on year have been the exception rather than the rule.

[Stephen W]

I'd have said it began at the start of the '80s, with San Marino in 1981, Portugal in 1984, Australia in 1985, Hungary and Mexico in 1986, Japan in 1987 etc, plus all the odd venues for US Grands Prix in that period.

There was of course a Mexican GP held in 1963 through to 1970. Likewise there were Portugese GPs in 1958, 1959 & 1960.

The weirdest GP was the Swiss GP of 1982 held at Dijon-Prenois in France!

Edited by Stephen W, 21 July 2011 - 14:50.

[Duc-Man]

There was of course a Mexican GP held in 1963 through to 1970. Likewise there were Portugese GPs in 1958, 1959 & 1960.

The weirdest GP was the Swiss GP of 1982 held at Dijon-Prenois in France!

They also raced in Mexico from '86 through '92.
Portugal was held '51 - ' 60; '64 - '66 and from '84 - '96. Funny enough most of the races before '84 were for sportscars apart from '58 - '60.
There was also a non-championship Swiss GP in Dijon in '75.

I'm always open to see new tracks in the calender...as long they are NOT designed by friggin' Hermann Tilke!

[chdphd]

Two Luxembourg Grands Prix were held at the Nürburgring.

[ChrisJson]

Let us not forget the San Marino Grand Prix.

[Mal9444]

Have there ever been two seasons with exactly the same schedule since 1950 might be a more interesting question ?

Notwithstanding that AleSi has answered the immediate question... presumably there are two eras - pre-Bernie and post-Bernie - with very different rationales and agendas. Post-Bernie it is easy to see whence and whither the process - but what about pre-Bernie. Who in the Fifties and then Sixties decided which were WDC races and which not? One reads repeatedly of Grands Prix of that era phrases such as 'not in that year counting for world championship points' yet Ferrari, Maserati, Vanwall et al all entered cars that were driven by Moss, Fangio, Hawthorn et al - even though the race was not a championship race.

And presumably it was Bernie (or was it simply the teams, fearful of injury to their drivers?) who stopped what we now call F1 drivers driving sports cars, saloon cars and all the other stuff that Our Heroes did?

Edited by Mal9444, 21 July 2011 - 19:49.

[Doug Nye]

Let us not forget the San Marino Grand Prix.

...and the French Swiss Grand Prix...

DCN

[Arjan de Roos]

Let us not forget the San Marino Grand Prix.

Was Gibraltar 1956 or 1957?

[Rob29]

There seemed to be a rule at one time that a race had to be held as a non-championship race before it was alllowed to count for the championship.Germany & Spain 1950.Holland 1951.Argentina '52.Morocco '57.Portugal sports car races covered this rule it seems? USA-'58 Riverside sports cars.S.Africa'61.Mexico '62.Spain(revival)'67.US West '71.Argentina(revival)'71.
1957-Pescara was the first time an extra race had to rustled up after the start of season.I think 1958 was the first year no rounds were were cancelled.

[Allan Lupton]

One reads repeatedly of Grands Prix of that era phrases such as 'not in that year counting for world championship points' yet Ferrari, Maserati, Vanwall et al all entered cars that were driven by Moss, Fangio, Hawthorn et al - even though the race was not a championship race.

Don't forget that money was important then, but in short supply. If a race organiser offered reasonable starting money for front-running cars driven by top drivers the teams would enter, whether it counted towards the championship or not.
The other thing to remember in these championship-obsessed days is that each race win was important for advertising in its own right and the oil and accessory companies would also pay more if you raced and won more.

[Arjan de Roos]

Don't forget that money was important then, but in short supply. If a race organiser offered reasonable starting money for front-running cars driven by top drivers the teams would enter, whether it counted towards the championship or not.
The other thing to remember in these championship-obsessed days is that each race win was important for advertising in its own right and the oil and accessory companies would also pay more if you raced and won more.

Also organisers focussed more on the local effect of the race. I mean many GP's have been organised with a view to attracting tourists to town. Particularly around the Mediterranean (Marseille, Barcelona, Napels, San Remo, Rome, Bari, Pergusa, etc). The race was in the same category as circus coming to town, or a fair.
Of course today this is still the case. But its more a national affair, considering budget and exposure.

[Macca]

They also rustled up an extra GP in 1993 - was that after the beginning of the season? Was the French GP cancelled or something? Anyway, wasn't it called the European GP, even though it was held on an offshore island near Europe at a place called Donington Park.

Paul M

[Duc-Man]

They also rustled up an extra GP in 1993 - was that after the beginning of the season? Was the French GP cancelled or something? Anyway, wasn't it called the European GP, even though it was held on an offshore island near Europe at a place called Donington Park.

Paul M

Changing the calendar after the beginn of the season: are they gonna race in India this year or not? I think I picked something up earlier this year that it might get cancled.