FIA GT1 went there a few years back and it was a good race. Of course GTs aren't like F1 in overtaking. There's a big hotel right on the lakefront. Not sure if it's a 5-star retreat or whatever F1 seemingly requires but it's a great place and layout. It would be awesome to see f1 there imo.
I'll try to expand on what I mean when I say "provincial back of beyond". Here go a few facts.
The closest airport authorized to handle international air traffic is around 300 Km. from the track. A 600 Km tound trip.
The hotel you mention is picturesque but has only 110 rooms (many with twin beds which could limit their occupancy) and is 4 star rated. The total lodging capacity in all types (hotels, B&B, cabins, etc) around the circuit seems to add up to around 5000 pax. No 5 stars available. The nearby provincial capital of San Luis would seem to be able to handle some 25.000 pax in all available lodgings (once again, 4 stars or less, probably down to 0 stars).
As for the track itself, I understand that the main problem is, as I mentioned, the lack of space for expanding the paddock area to what F! demands. The track is built on public roads and runs through a sort of weekend villa so there is no appropiate real estate available.I have read that if the pit area could be solved Potrero could obtain a Grade 1 status almost immediately. But...
Finally the track has a capacity for some 52.000 spectators, which puts a serious limit on the organizer's box-office takings.
In short, long distances for the F! circus to cover but also for spectators -850 Km from Buenos Aires, for example- limited hotel capacity and limited spactator areas, all work against Potrero de los Funes. Nice track, wrong location.
Edited by eirwal, 16 August 2017 - 23:15.
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