Hong Kong is considering hosting Formula 1
As the Formula 1 calendar continues to expand, Hong Kong is now positioning itself as a potential candidate to host a race, following in the footsteps of Buenos Aires and Mexico earlier this year.
On the occasion of a Red Bull demonstration in the streets of Hong Kong, the president of the Honk Kong Automobile Association, Wesley Wan, interviewed by the South China Morning Post, expressed support for the arrival of the F1 Circus in the streets of the Pearl of the Orient. « [This demonstration] is the first step towards gaining the support of the population. We want to enhance the exposure of F1 with this show, and I hope that one day it will enable Hong Kong to organize a race ».
« My dream is that our city becomes, like Singapore, Malaysia or China, a stop on the calendar » also declared the president of the Hong Kong Automobile Federation. The latter also mentioned that, as early as the 1990s, the Formula One Management, through Bernie Ecclestone, had already approached what was still a British colony with the idea of hosting a race of the championship there. Once Hong Kong was handed back to China in 1997, at the end of the lease signed in 1898 with Great Britain, the Chinese Grand Prix finally returned to Shanghai.
An eventual Grand Prix of Hong Kong would obviously take place on an urban track: « Regarding a city circuit, if Monte-Carlo and Singapore can do it, why not Hong Kong? ». In addition to these two urban events, the 2011 calendar also includes the Grand Prix of Europe in Valencia, as well as two semi-urban events, Melbourne and Montreal.
If Wan warns that the organization of such an event would not be free, he is counting on the significant economic benefits and the massive arrival of tourists that it could cause in order to try to convince the authorities and the inhabitants of the city.
Nevertheless, nothing is set in stone as several countries have already expressed their desire to host Formula 1 again. Indeed, Argentina first, through the « Velociudad project, located in Zárate in the northwest of Buenos Aires, whose realization has been entrusted to Populous, the group of architects who worked on the modification of Silverstone. This circuit, which is expected to be completed in two years and approved by the FIA, would primarily serve to develop Argentine motorsport and could eventually host the premier discipline, even if the organizers do not wish to rush.
Another country that has shown interest is Mexico, with the Mexico City circuit which has already hosted several Formula 1 races between 1963 and 1970 and then between 1986 and 1992. This circuit was recently visited by an FIA delegation led by Charlie Whiting. While few details have emerged about this visit, the issue of safety at the iconic Peraltada corner, famous banked turn before the pit straight, could be a problem and might delay a potential official candidacy.
In an already overloaded schedule, not everyone will be able to be satisfied.
