Ecclestone to finance the London GP

[Falkor]

The Times reports that F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone will sink £35 million into the plans, which he claims "would be fantastic, good for London, good for England — a lot better than the Olympics".
The proposed 3.2-mile circuit would run past sites including Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and Big Ben, and the paper claims that the race would instantly rival Monaco as the most eye-catching on the calendar.
The 81-year-old Ecclestone is reportedly desperate to make the London race happen, so much so that he will offer to promote it himself - an unheard-of offer at a time when governments across the world are willing to pay £30m for the rights to stage a grand prix.
Billionaire Ecclestone - who is currently in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons after a banker he paid £10m to was jailed on bribery charges - claims that the race would pay for itself, attracting 120,000 spectators and generating up to £100 million for the British economy.
London played host to a Formula One demonstration event in 2004 in which cars raced up and down past Piccadilly Circus.
"With the way things are, maybe we would front it and put the money up for it," he told the newspaper.
"If we got the okay and everything was fine, I think we could do that."
Any future grand prix in London would have to be in addition to the British GP, as Silverstone has a long-term deal in place.

Make this happen please would be amazing, i thought it was bollocks when first talked about but actually sounds like a gooer

 

[Aadam]

I would take anything he says with a pinch of salt. It's not the first time he has said something like this. However, if this were to happy I think it would easily be better than Monaco. How f***ing awesome would it be to have those cars racing through London?

 

[Deleted member 18477]

hope they keep silverstone as well though. its a great race track unlike monoco. id rather this london one was like valencia as you can actually race around that track, again unlike monoco!

 

[shaolinpunk]

They'll have to make sure they account for congestion charges

 

[Bozza]

It would be stunning for sure, but they'd have to close large parts of central London for at least a week to get it set up and then removed. I just can't see that happening.

 

[Falkor]

hope they keep silverstone as well though. its a great race track unlike monoco. id rather this london one was like valencia as you can actually race around that track, again unlike monoco!

He has said it would not effect Silverstone they will find a slot for it, i guess it would be the new European GP

 

[Turkey]

As much as I'd love it to happen, I don't think it will. Decent article here on why not: Formula One London Grand Prix? The devil is in the detail | Formula 1 | F1 features | ESPN F1

 

[JBizzleBeard]

It would be awesome but just can't see it happening. Shame.

 

[Comedy Steve]

How Bernie works:

BE: "Hey, let's do a London GP! I'll pay for it and everything!"

London: "Ok then... we'd need to shut these roads, provided these alternatives, police it, rebuild these areas, provide pits..."

BE: "Fine. I'll pay for it all. Just get it done."

(Everyone commits. Contracts are signed. Then, 4 months before the event)

BE: "Unfortunately financial situations have changed and the contract is null and void and this company no longer runs F1 management..."

London: "Eh? But we've committed and everything!"

BE: "Not to worry. If you can still make it happen we can make sure the race goes ahead with our new F1 company, but we won't be able to pay for it."


'Ecclestoning'

 

[Basil Fawlty]

It would be like Forza Motorsport on XBox 360, but in Real Life. Please Bernie make this happen!!!

 

[Fitzcarraldo]

I am sure £35 million would be an absolute steal for Bernie Ecclestone to hold a GP in the centre of London. That would barely cover the policing/security.

As an aside, F1 really is shit.

 

[JBizzleBeard]

As an aside, F1 really is shit.

No pleasing some people eh? Best start to an F1 season for years for goodness sake man! Usually the people that say that are the ones wanting to see more accidents, now that really is shit.

 

[Fitzcarraldo]

No pleasing some people eh? Best start to an F1 season for years for goodness sake man! Usually the people that say that are the ones wanting to see more accidents, now that really is shit.

I can't say I want to see more accidents, I want to see more overtaking. I think F1 lost me at some point over the period of Maclaren/Ferrari dominance when each race was a foregone conclusion and the only interest was to be had in the first corner.

 

[beorhthelm]

its a nice idea. financially though i doubt there would be a net benefit to London, with many £millions of regular tourism and shopper displaced. where exactly is the pits going to be for this? not really practical.

 

[JBizzleBeard]

I can't say I want to see more accidents, I want to see more overtaking. I think F1 lost me at some point over the period of Maclaren/Ferrari dominance when each race was a foregone conclusion and the only interest was to be had in the first corner.

Since the introduction of KERS and the DRS it's LOADS better though.

 

[Falkor]

I can't say I want to see more accidents, I want to see more overtaking. I think F1 lost me at some point over the period of Maclaren/Ferrari dominance when each race was a foregone conclusion and the only interest was to be had in the first corner.

Clearly don't watch it enough the winner last week started 11th the chap in 3rd started 18th, for a track that hardly ever has any over taking it was a fantastic race

 

[JBizzleBeard]

Clearly don't watch it enough the winner last week started 11th the chap in 3rd started 18th, for a track that hardly ever has any over taking it was a fantastic race

Not to mention 7 races and 7 different winners! F1 is the best it's ever been

 

[Hillian1]

Not to mention 7 races and 7 different winners! F1 is the best it's ever been

Rubbish. It's loads better than it was but no-where near as exciting as it was in the 80's and 90's.

 

[Falkor]

Rubbish. It's loads better than it was but no-where near as exciting as it was in the 80's and 90's.

The death years you mean

 

[Hillian1]

The death years you mean

Yep, when the drivers went wheel to wheel knowing any mistake could cost them their lives but still did it anyway.