33 replies to this topic

[tmekt]

A Finnish tabloid Ilta-Sanomat reported today that Marja-Leena Lappalainen (whose husband promoted a DTM and ITC races in Helsinki in the 90s) has had some very early discussions with Bernie during the Hungarian GP weekend considering a possible F1 race in Helsinki. link (in Finnish)

 

Needless to say, unlikely to happen at best but deserves a mention and I couldn't find a general thread for rumored races (feel free to merge if it exists, mods).

 

 

Oh, and the proposed track itself (cover your eyes before looking at the picture):

 

Another useless street circuit as you can see but I don't care, I want a Finnish Grand Prix   

 

 

[Disgrace]

The circuit looks like a feminine hygiene product. Got to be a wind up.

[ANF]

Great, this could be the first F1 race that is run on a street.

[midgrid]

I don't understand the circuit diagram.  Is it a throwback Point A-to-Point B race? 

[tmekt]

Great, this could be the first F1 race that is run on a street.

Partly on cobblestone as well  should make for unpredictable racing

[LORDBYRON]

Needless to say, unlikely to happen

[ANF]

Great, this could be the first F1 race that is run on a street.

...with rails.

[JHSingo]

File with 'never going to happen' along with New Jersey.

[Volcano70]

Is that Finnish Baku (blancpain version) 

[PayasYouRace]

Great, this could be the first F1 race that is run on a street.

 

After AVUS 

[noikeee]

On a first glance the track looks so ridiculous I really want this to happen.

 

Knowing F1 they'll assign Tilke to it and he'll design an "innovative stadium loop at 20km/h"

[ollebompa]

Finnish GP needs to be at Ahvenisto!

[FerrariV12]

The debate about circuit aside, I've always found it strange that there's never been a world championship Finnish GP. Three world champions, plus other drivers such as Lehto and Bottas, you'd assume the fan base would be there.

 

Yes, yes, I'm well aware that that is fairly low down on the list of FOM's priorities, I guess I'm just saying if this ever does happen I won't exactly be complaining.

[Wingcommander]

Not gonna happen. Not in a million years. 

[Ali_G]

GT1 World Championship ran a street race in Helsinki in the late 90s. Similar course ?

[johnmhinds]

GT1 World Championship ran a street race in Helsinki in the late 90s. Similar course ?

 

No:

 

https://en.wikipedia...elsinki_Thunder

 

Edited by johnmhinds, 08 August 2015 - 00:56.

[MattPete]

Does Pirelli make suitable tires for Finland?

 

[Kalmake]

The debate about circuit aside, I've always found it strange that there's never been a world championship Finnish GP. Three world champions, plus other drivers such as Lehto and Bottas, you'd assume the fan base would be there.

 

Yes, yes, I'm well aware that that is fairly low down on the list of FOM's priorities, I guess I'm just saying if this ever does happen I won't exactly be complaining.

NIMBY laws are too strong and politicians aren't corrupt enough.

 

(Technically there was a Finnish GP, in 1939)

[Kalmake]

Formula E would a realistic target for Helsinki. Even the Greens might get behind it.

[SilverArrow31]

An F1 race in Finland is about 30 years overdue, I would love to see it, weather might be a problem though.

[Kalmake]

Winter isn't much longer than in Montreal.

[BRG]

 I want a Finnish Grand Prix  

 

They ran the Finnish Grand Prix last weekend - around Jyväskylä.

 

You have the greatest rally in the world, isn't that enough?

[Balnazzard]

The debate about circuit aside, I've always found it strange that there's never been a world championship Finnish GP. Three world champions, plus other drivers such as Lehto and Bottas, you'd assume the fan base would be there.

 

Yes, yes, I'm well aware that that is fairly low down on the list of FOM's priorities, I guess I'm just saying if this ever does happen I won't exactly be complaining.

 

Well in the end Finland is such small market area...yes F1 has been hugely popular here and the race weekend would likely be huge success, and it CERTAINLY would make more business sense than freaking South-Korea for example...I mean just look at the picture above from 2006 when Toyota F1 team came to show their care to streets of Helsinki (sure it was free event, but still).

 

anyways Finland has never been seen as "attractive" option for GP weekend and also then there is the question, can we afford it? One thing is certain, we simply cant afford to build F1 track from scratch, thus it would need to be street race...but there would be many here who would oppose the idea and also then there are the yearly feeds we would have to pay, something that for example German tracks have struggled to get together recently.

 

And even though we have had success in F1 with drivers like Häkkinen and Kimi who both are hugegly popular, I think this is still something that will never happen....it certainly would be amazing, but I just dont see it happening...also that suggested track profile sucks...

Edited by Balnazzard, 08 August 2015 - 19:23.

[motorhead]

Well in the end Finland is such small market area...yes F1 has been hugely popular here and the race weekend would likely be huge success, and it CERTAINLY would make more business sense than freaking South-Korea for example...I mean just look at the picture above from 2006 when Toyota F1 team came to show their care to streets of Helsinki (sure it was free event, but still).

 

anyways Finland has never been seen as "attractive" option for GP weekend and also then there is the question, can we afford it? One thing is certain, we simply cant afford to build F1 track from scratch, thus it would need to be street race...but there would be many here who would oppose the idea and also then there are the yearly feeds we would have to pay, something that for example German tracks have struggled to get together recently.

 

And even though we have had success in F1 with drivers like Häkkinen and Kimi who both are hugegly popular, I think this is still something that will never happen....it certainly would be amazing, but I just dont see it happening...also that suggested track profile sucks...

Yeah, I don´t believe it will happen. There was some 120 000 spectators in Helsinki DTM races so the tickets would sell. The investments are huge though, just too much for one entrepreneur...and I don´t think that city of Helsinki nor the government are interested in investing this...well hopefully I´m wrong

[ViMaMo]

The circuit looks like a feminine hygiene product. Got to be a wind up.

Looks more like the male reproductive cells.... well they too race along don't they?

[Wally123]

Bernie really winds me up, instead of creating brand new, soulless circuits that are raced on for one Grand Prix and then left to rot why don't you pump more money into the existing circuits that have disappeared and will attract the fans!!!

[ren]

Everything about this screams "never gonna happen".

 

The only thing that matters with new entries to the calender is how much they're able to pay for the race and facilities. With very high expenses like this the funding would have to be from the government and there's no way the general public would support using tax-payer's money for something like this so no politican has any reason to try to make it happen.

 

Bernie's positive comments mean nothing IMO, any new track that wants to come along just means more money for him. Even if just to use as leverage when negotiating fees with other organizers so of course he's going to encourage prospective new organizers.

 

Even their own track plan is unusable because as the wannabe organizer says, the streets are too narrow. In fact I can't think of any location in Helsinki that would be suitable for an F1 race, track demands have come a long way since the 80s. A permanent race track is out of the question simply because it would cost a fortune, and I don't see how it could operate profitably in a small country like this.

 

Like someone already mentioned, Formula E would be a realistic target if someone wants an international single-seater race in Helsinki. The costs would be a fraction and based on last season's races the tracks can afford to be narrow and well... a bit crap, so figuring out a suitable layout close to downtown should be possible.

[Anja]

Finnish GP needs to be at Ahvenisto!

 

Ahh, if only that was possible.

[Lotusseven]

Please be true ! Amen.

[chadwick8505]

Does Pirelli make suitable tires for Finland?

 

 

Does Pirelli make suitable tires for any race?

 

I'm all for a Finnish GP, but that layout looks horrendous, more like a Formula E track.

[Dan333SP]

 

The FIA GT layout from '97. Huge crowds! Probably helped that the Finn JJ Lehto led from pole in the Mclaren. Love that car...

[Boing Ball]

That race was boring compared to what WEC can offer. Overtaking was virtually impossible on that track, which was better suited for DTM cars.

[August]

Well in the end Finland is such small market area...yes F1 has been hugely popular here and the race weekend would likely be huge success, and it CERTAINLY would make more business sense than freaking South-Korea for example...I mean just look at the picture above from 2006 when Toyota F1 team came to show their care to streets of Helsinki (sure it was free event, but still).

 

anyways Finland has never been seen as "attractive" option for GP weekend and also then there is the question, can we afford it? One thing is certain, we simply cant afford to build F1 track from scratch, thus it would need to be street race...but there would be many here who would oppose the idea and also then there are the yearly feeds we would have to pay, something that for example German tracks have struggled to get together recently.

 

And even though we have had success in F1 with drivers like Häkkinen and Kimi who both are hugegly popular, I think this is still something that will never happen....it certainly would be amazing, but I just dont see it happening...also that suggested track profile sucks...

 

I wonder if a street circuit is much cheaper than a permanent road course? Especially Valencia and Sochi are unusual for street circuits, they're more like road courses in urban environment. Purchasing the land seems like the only difference between building a permanent road course or a street circuit. Otherwise in the case of a street circuit, you have to build the pit building, erect grandstands, repave the streets, and annually install the barriers.

 

Anyway, hard to see this happening as even Germany or France can't afford an F1 race. And with the salty ticket prices (we call very expensive as salty), I'd expect the attendance figures drop pretty fast plus given the high prices of accommodation and food in Finland, I doubt the race would attract many tourists.

 

For sure, the Finnish GP would be pretty cool and I'd be supportive of it if it involved no state funding. Though, if it happened, I wouldn't go there unless the tickets got a lot cheaper. 

[Bleu]

That race was boring compared to what WEC can offer. Overtaking was virtually impossible on that track, which was better suited for DTM cars.

 

 I was there every year (1995/1996 races, 1997 qualifying) and agree. GT event was overall the worst of three. Partly maybe because the date wasn't very good as GT drivers needed to concentrate on Le Mans. 1995 and 1996 events were held in June when schools were already ended so there were more people on holiday already.