The Turkish Straits Seriously Threatened
On the Formula 1 World Championship schedule since 2005, Turkey might disappear as soon as next season.
Highlight of last season, the Turkish Grand Prix, the next stage of the 2011 Formula 1 World Championship, might not be part of the calendar next season. At least, that’s what Murat Yalcintas, the president of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, involved in the negotiations between FOM and the Republic of Turkey, suggests.
« Every year, we pay 13 million dollars to Ecclestone. But now he is asking for 26 million dollars. This figure is far too high. This is why there will be no more Grand Prix in the future » he stated on his Twitter account.
The increase in the requested amount is certainly not a coincidence. In 2009, Bernie Ecclestone stated that the Turkish event was the worst investment of [his] career. At a time when many markets are opening up to Formula 1 and each season sees an additional Grand Prix added to the calendar, the selection process apparently involves a tightening of budgets.
In this game, Turkey is an easy prey: the circuit has been in constant deficit since 2005. The public is far from attending, and the immense infrastructures built for the occasion remain invariably empty, even on race days (32,000 spectators for 150,000 available seats in 2009). The proximity to a significant population area, Istanbul, and especially the noticeable decrease in ticket prices, have not been enough to stop this disfavor, in a country where football is king.
Unsettling facts that do not seem to affect the confidence of Turkish newspapers. One of the country’s daily newspapers, Milliyet, even showed some faith in the future: Even though there is no contract for next year, it doesn’t mean there will never be F1 in Istanbul again. There might be other agreements in the future. Not sure Bernie Ecclestone would agree.
