16 replies to this topic

[FlyingSaucer]

I have been following the situation of the Pau GP for a few months, and it seems that last Sunday (8), the decision was made that the race will not be held again in 2025. 

 

For me this is sad news, given that the Pau GP is one of the most traditional stops in international motorsport.

 

From what has been said, three main problems have prevented the event from becoming stable again: firstly, the serious financial difficulties of the institution responsible for organizing the event, the Association Sportive de l'Automobile Club Basco-Béarnais, which is one step away from bankruptcy; two, the difficulty in finding a partner/master sponsor for the event in the last couple years; three, the absurd local low carbon emission policy, which basically scared away any moderate-scale category that could be interested in racing there. 

 

As we all know, Pau is a sacred place for any motorsport lover, and seeing the event languishing like this breaks my heart...

 

For those interested in having a deeper insight into the seriousness of the situation, here are some links (in french):

 

https://www.sudouest...re-21694014.php

https://www.sudouest...le-21239794.php

https://www.larepubl...te-22454614.php

https://www.sudouest...le-21239794.php

 

EDIT (13th DECEMBER): The discussion here at TNF inspired me to publish an article on the subject, which I think it's the first in English that talks about the seriousness of Pau's current situation - so I take the opportunity to contribute with other data to the topic:

 

https://www.dive-bom...-s-slow-decline

 

(For the pay-per-view articles, a simple trick: turn off your wifi just before the pages loads. I do not endorse/like that, but I just recommend it to read these specific articles, which are very interesting by the way)

Edited by FlyingSaucer, 13 December 2024 - 01:31.

[DCapps]

 

I have been following the situation of the Pau GP for a few months, and it seems that last Sunday (8), the decision was made that the race will not be held again in 2025. 

 

For me this is sad news, given that the Pau GP is one of the most traditional stops in international motorsport.

 

From what has been said, three main problems have prevented the event from becoming stable again: firstly, the serious financial difficulties of the institution responsible for organizing the event, the Association Sportive de l'Automobile Club Basco-Béarnais, which is one step away from bankruptcy; two, the difficulty in finding a partner/master sponsor for the event in the last couple years; three, the absurd local low carbon emission policy, which basically scared away any moderate-scale category that could be interested in racing there. 

 

As we all know, Pau is a sacred place for any motorsport lover, and seeing the event languishing like this breaks my heart...

 

For those interested in having a deeper insight into the seriousness of the situation, here are some links (in french):

 

https://www.sudouest...re-21694014.php

https://www.sudouest...le-21239794.php

https://www.larepubl...te-22454614.php

https://www.sudouest...le-21239794.php

 

(For the pay-per-view articles, a simple trick: turn off your wifi just before the pages loads. I do not endorse/like that, but I just recommend it to read these specific articles, which are very interesting by the way)

 

 

Wouldn't a Formula E event it the bill on this point?

[pacificquay]

Pau would be a great Formula E location

[LittleChris]

I very much doubt you'd see Formula E in a small provincial french town 

[matra120]

Pau is certainly NOT a small provincial French town. It is the prefecture of the Pyrénées Atlantique département with a population of 77000 people!

[BRG]

Medium sized provincial French town then.

[LittleChris]

To be fair I was being sarcastic in that FE isn't seemingly interested in being seen anywhere but large cities ( all that corporate schmoozing I guess ) which is one of the reasons I have absolutely no interest in it whereas towns like Pau, Perpignan, Nimes, Aix Les Bains etc were the bedrock of motor sport especially post WW2

[FlyingSaucer]

Besides the simple reason that Formula E likes to race in big cities to show itself off and to be a category that can be disputed in the middle of a metropolis environment (and all that bla bla bla), I doubt that Pau would accept receiving the category for one simple reason. 

 

From what has been discussed during 2024, Pau's objective was never to have an full electric car race, but rather to hold competitions for combustion cars that use biofuels. Well, that sounds interesting, but the problem is that almost no single-seat category of considerable weight that I've ever heard of has its cars powered by this type of fuel - only grassroots categories, like F4 (which was, by accident, the mainstream category on the last Pau GP, in 2023).

Edited by FlyingSaucer, 13 December 2024 - 01:34.

[Doug Nye]

The core problem surely is the organising/promoting club's apparent failure to attract adequate sponsorship to run races for any category whatsoever.  Formula E would seemingly go wherever a lucrative deal might be offered...anywhere it would seem from Baffin Island to Billericay...if they hear of a wallet being opened, they appear none too choosy.

 

DCN

[F1matt]

The core problem surely is the organising/promoting club's apparent failure to attract adequate sponsorship to run races for any category whatsoever.  Formula E would seemingly go wherever a lucrative deal might be offered...anywhere it would seem from Baffin Island to Billericay...if they hear of a wallet being opened, they appear none too choosy.

 

DCN

 

 

The same as F1, WEC, and MotoGP then. 

[Bordino]

The Mayor of Pau is now the new French Prime Minister.

[BRG]

The Mayor of Pau is now the new French Prime Minister.

If Barnier's brief tenure is any example, Bayrou will hnee d to move quickly if he wants to get the French GP moved to Pau!

[10kDA]

 

...but rather to hold competitions for combustion cars that use biofuels. Well, that sounds interesting, but the problem is that almost no single-seat category of considerable weight that I've ever heard of has its cars powered by this type of fuel - only grassroots categories, like F4 (which was, by accident, the mainstream category on the last Pau GP, in 2023).

 

IndyCar

[opplock]

If Barnier's brief tenure is any example, Bayrou will hnee d to move quickly if he wants to get the French GP moved to Pau!

 

Especially as there hasn't been one since 2022. I've only been there once, for the F2 meeting in 1984. A fantastic circuit and will be a great loss. 

[FastReader]

Especially as there hasn't been one since 2022. I've only been there once, for the F2 meeting in 1984. A fantastic circuit and will be a great loss.

Only once for me too, F3000 in 1990. A great event and I'd always hoped to return but now I don't think I ever will, at least not for race meeting.

[LittleChris]

IndyCar

 

There was talk of an Indycar race there a few years ago which, from memory,  would've involved an extension whereby the track turned left at the current chicane onto Av de Bereges down to the junction with Rue Georges Clemenceau and thence back to Av Gaston Lacoste just before the s/f 

[DouglasM]

The core problem surely is the organising/promoting club's apparent failure to attract adequate sponsorship to run races for any category whatsoever.  Formula E would seemingly go wherever a lucrative deal might be offered...anywhere it would seem from Baffin Island to Billericay...if they hear of a wallet being opened, they appear none too choosy.

 

DCN

 

Billericay not really, the roads are too narrow and too hilly. However Basildon is a possibility with wide roads and as flat as a pancake. 

 

 

Edited by DouglasM, 14 December 2024 - 02:04.