Bernie Bite's

[Tazio]

(GMM) Russia is back on Bernie Ecclestone's F1 radar, according to media reports.

The news agency 'Agence France-Presse' says the north western city of St. Petersburg has made a proposition to the F1 supremo about a future race.

"We have good contacts with him," sports minister Viatcheslav Fetissov is quoted as saying.

Ecclestone is understood to have targeted St. Petersburg or Moscow as ideal locations for a Russian GP in 2005, after making at least two visits to the country.

"It won't take forever (to organise) because I won't be around for ever," he said at the time, "and I want to see it!"

76-year-old Ecclestone is also quoted by the Spanish newspaper El Mundo Deportivo this week as saying that his sport has entered a "new era".

"We need places like China, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi," he insisted, "which have something to offer. At places like Imola or Magny Cours, we don't know what we can offer our guests."

Oh I don't know Bernie.
Traditional f-1 courses
What is it these other places have to offer(besides money)
Alot of non-European F-1 fans like the Idea of spending a little time in France, and Italy as part of an F-1 holliday

[luvracin]

2005??

[zoostation]

2005??

yeah bernie wanted a 2005 russian gp, but it never happened.

anyone else worried that we will end up with most of the races being in the middle of nowhere on bland tracks with about 100 people watching? (and all because of Bernie's 'new markets')

[wmcot]

anyone else worried that we will end up with most of the races being in the middle of nowhere on bland tracks with about 100 people watching? (and all because of Bernie's 'new markets')

Not Tilke!!!!

[ShiftingGears]

I don't want more sterile tracks on the calendar...I want a track that is undulating, shaped by the nature surrounding it, not a flat location that's decided by the wallets of those around it. It seems that with this attitude towards circuits that the former is something that was and will never be again.

[ioan]

anyone else worried that we will end up with most of the races being in the middle of nowhere on bland tracks with about 100 people watching? (and all because of Bernie's 'new markets')

To be honest Magny Cours is at least as much in the middle of nowhere as any new track might be.

[jso1985]

I'm with Bernie if his objetice is to take Imola and Magny Cours off the calendar!

[wmcot]

I'm with Bernie if his objetice is to take Imola and Magny Cours off the calendar!

And any other track as long as he can find a new one that pays more!

[tinchote]

Any news here? What are we talking about?

[futuretiger9]

I agree, ANY track in a new market can't be much worse than Magny Cours. I would much prefer the French GP back at Paul Ricard anyway. At least it's got some atmosphere.

As for Russia, well I suppose it makes sense from a financial point of view. The sponsors may like it, and why NOT Russia? The only worry would be the nature of the track.