Comments on: Did Bernie Ecclestone really pull the South African Grand Prix over apartheid?

By: GURoadrunner

GURoadrunner — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:42:49 +0000

First, and foremost, it was Jean-Marie Balestre who gave the final command to not run in South Africa after 1985. He made the announcement days after the ’85 race.

Bernie is overstating as his words in history speaks differently. In 1985 in advance of the race he said: “There isn’t anything called sport left in Grand Prix racing,” said Brabham Team owner Bernard Ecclestone, president of the Formula 1 Owners Association. “Formula 1 is a commercial entity under the sporting power of the FIA (Federation International l’Automobile). It’s a business, not a sport. We have contracts with promoters which say we must take part if a race is scheduled, otherwise we are in violation of the contract.” — Citation: Gordon Martin, “The Apartheid Controversy Reaches Formula 1 Racing.” San Francisco Chronicle. Sep 17, 1985. pg. 63.
Maybe he had a change of heart, but at that time Bernie was all business AFAIK.

By: Monji

Monji — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 07:13:51 +0000

Babur comments are the best

By: Babur

Babur — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 15:10:12 +0000

Bernie: We need this SA GP to go on!!
TV Networks: No, not going to broadcast.
Bernie: How about giving me the money then.
TV Networks: No, sorry.
Bernie: You all are racists! To the color “green”. I am moving the GP somewhere else.

By: Pink Peril

Pink Peril — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 00:40:48 +0000

Bernie doesn’t care about the colour of peoples skin, he cares about the thickness of their wallet.

By: Jolene

Jolene — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 19:04:03 +0000

Whatever his reasons were for pulling the SA grand prix. Bring it back please!!! Might be my only opportunity to see a live race. Keith, any chance of that happening?

By: theRoswellite

theRoswellite — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 14:54:49 +0000

No question really…Mr. Ecclestone doesn’t judge people on anything as superficial as skin color; and he should be allowed his own bit of revisionism, it being so difficult to judge motive after such a period.

He is what he is, and that is a business man with few peers…which should not be necessarily taken as a compliment.

By: Keith Collantine

Keith Collantine — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 10:50:08 +0000

As Pitpass points out this morning, Ecclestone was the first team owner to give a test drive to a black racer, Willy Ribbs, in 1986. More here: First black Formula One driver...

By: Michiel

Michiel — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 09:41:07 +0000

I think, If the F1 wasn’t this expensive, we could have several more teams. so Bernie: MAKE F1 CHEAPER… is better for your broadcasting because more people wil look at the races and it wil be more fun to look as F1-fan as well…

By: IDR

IDR — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 07:35:42 +0000

Money walks… and Bernie talks!

By: Nick

Nick — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 23:07:00 +0000

Bernie needs to get paid!