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Potential FIA Grade 1 Circuits


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#1 JeordieX

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Posted 20 April 2014 - 22:03

What circuits around the world could get a FIA Grade 1 rating with little improvement required?

 

Losail?

Brno?

Rio del Hondo?

Phillip Island?


Edited by JeordieX, 20 April 2014 - 22:08.


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#2 PayasYouRace

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Posted 20 April 2014 - 22:30

Losail probably wouldn't need anything other than the right paperwork.

 

Brno would be interesting. I think it was built with the idea of hosting F1. Standards have changed since then, but it might not require much work because it's quite wide with good runoff.

 

Not sure about Rio del Hondo.

 

Philip Island might be a bit tough because of how its set out, though I find it hard to believe that a circuit safe enough for top level bikes wouldn't be safe enough for cars.



#3 docronzo

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Posted 20 April 2014 - 22:46

Imola

#4 Physicist

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Posted 20 April 2014 - 23:17

Here's the FIA list as of the end of 2012.  Don't know if there's a more recent one out there.

 

http://www.fpak.pt/h...OS FIA 2013.pdf

 

I think the relevant section would be at the bottom of the Grade 2 listings, as it lists tracks that also hold a 1T grade, which allows for F1 testing.  I can't imagine a huge amount of work would be needed to upgrade to a full Grade 1 license.


Edited by Physicist, 20 April 2014 - 23:20.


#5 Andrew Hope

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Posted 20 April 2014 - 23:34

Barber Motorsports Park and VIR come to mind. Mont Tremblant?


Edited by Andrew Hope, 20 April 2014 - 23:35.


#6 HaydenFan

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Posted 21 April 2014 - 00:36

Barber Motorsports Park and VIR come to mind. Mont Tremblant?

 

For VIR, I'd suspect they'd have to cut the tree down at the hairpin. That's the biggest feature of that track to me. Love Barber, just it's like Laguna. A great bike circuit, but outside Turn 5, not that interesting to me as a car racing circuit. 

 

Tremblant was struggling for safety standards when Champ Car ran in '07. And those cars are about the same speed, if not slower than GP2. They used the chicane at Turn 1 due to the speeds. 



#7 Victor_RO

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Posted 21 April 2014 - 07:39

For VIR, I'd suspect they'd have to cut the tree down at the hairpin. That's the biggest feature of that track to me.

 

Wasn't that tree knocked down by a lightning strike recently?



#8 MikeV1987

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Posted 21 April 2014 - 08:49

A race in Bowmanville would be nice! (Canadian tire motorsports park, aka mosport)



#9 TheManAlive

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Posted 21 April 2014 - 08:57

VIR would be interesting, elevation changes, long straights etc. The tree is gone, though to be honest it was at the inside of the corner so not a problem. I think to host F1, though, the run off would have to be changed to tarmac which would be awful.



#10 alfa1

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Posted 21 April 2014 - 09:09

Wasn't that tree knocked down by a lightning strike recently?

 

Not knowing what tree you guys were talking about, I took a look and found VIR has been done with google street view (and some other cars (Ariel Atom?) on track also).

"Oak Tree Turn" is the one, yes?

 

http://virnow.com/20...ak-tree-down-2/

 

“We are in shock and mourning,” said track owner Connie Nyholm.



#11 Fastcake

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Posted 21 April 2014 - 12:05

Here's the FIA list as of the end of 2012. Don't know if there's a more recent one out there.

http://www.fpak.pt/h...OS FIA 2013.pdf

I think the relevant section would be at the bottom of the Grade 2 listings, as it lists tracks that also hold a 1T grade, which allows for F1 testing. I can't imagine a huge amount of work would be needed to upgrade to a full Grade 1 license.


I believe the only difference between Grade 1 and 1T are paddock and media facilities. It'll be similar for many other circuits as well. The track itself is generally fine for F1, the only changes required outside of the facilities would be run-off areas at certain corners.

#12 JeordieX

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Posted 21 April 2014 - 13:41

What about Kyalami or Taupo?



#13 Vepe1995

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Posted 21 April 2014 - 14:04

What about Kyalami or Taupo?

 

I'm not sure, but I think Kyalami is Grade 2 adn Taupo Grade 3.

 

I think most Grade 2 tracks would be sufficient enough to be in Grade 1, and it's also cheaper, since Grade 1 is useless for most tracks.



#14 demet06

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Posted 21 April 2014 - 17:35

It still doesn't seem right without a French GP, after all the French started all this business in the first place, so I would go with Paul Ricard rather than Magny Cours. Dijon was a better track than both of them but it would need more work.


Edited by demet06, 21 April 2014 - 17:37.


#15 ezequiel

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Posted 22 April 2014 - 18:39

Termas de Río Hondo is definitely close to a Grade 1. A couple of years ago it was said that Potrero de los Funes only needed permanent pit installations to be eligible for Grade 1 though I'm not sure if that's exact. I'm no expert but in order to get Grade 1 has the FIA got into account things like Hotel accomodation, proximity to international airports, etc? Cos Potrero is somewhat in the middle of nowhere.