Thailand GP track route confirmed for 2015 race

2015 F1 season

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The proposed route for the track which will host Thailand’s round of the 2015 F1 season has been approved by the government.

Thailand Sports Authority governor Kanokphand Chulakase approved the layout, which is made up of streets around the Grand Palace, on Thursday according to the Bangkok Post.

The start and finish area will overlook the Chao Phraya River. “We may be able to build the main stands in the river,” said Chulakase, “It would also be convenient for transportation of equipment.” Seating for up to 150,000 spectators is planned around the course.

From the waterfront the cars will follow a clockwise route which takes in Ratchadamnoen Avenue which Mark Webber drove along in a demonstration run for Red Bull in 2010.

A final track layout will require formal approval from the FIA before the race takes place in two years’ time. Race organisers intend Thailand’s first grand prix to take place at night.

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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160 comments on “Thailand GP track route confirmed for 2015 race”

  1. Ah lovely, another street track that’s EXACTLY what the Calendar needed. God forbid an actual circuit was approved.

    1. Go for Long Beach though

    2. I’d rather see 20 street circuits than one more China/Malaysia/Bahrain/UAE/Korea track …

      1. @starbuck

        Seriously, what is with the hate for that Chinese circuit. I has a couple of good overtaking zones and a mix of tricky corners. The last 3 races there have all been excellent.

        Sepang is arguable Tilke’s best work too. It’s probably my favourite track after Spa.

        Even Bahrain isn’t THAT bad now they’ve reverted back to the old configuration. Granted tracks like Abu Dhabi, Korea and India are a bit dull to watch but there is nothing wrong with China in my opinion.

        1. @nick-uk – I don’t like whatever the hell that first corner complex is (I suppose it’s unique though) and the hairpin after the back straight but yea the rest of it’s okay.

          I do like Malaysia also (although I wouldn’t go as far to say it’s the second best track on the calendar) and actually Bahrain is okay also (it’s just in a terrible location)! Korea, Abu Dhabi and to an extent India are pretty terrible though I think…

          1. @vettel1

            Yeah my love of Malaysia is a personal opinion. I’ve had great races there on F1 2010 haha!

            Malaysia’s turn 7 and 8 remind me a lot of Degna 1 and 2 at Suzuka and the Lezmo corners at Monza (my spelling of those is probably way off, sorry haha). I just wish there was gravel almost imediately as run off, like turn 11 (I think) at Malaysia (where Maldonado went off this year).

          2. @nick-uk – you were pretty close, it’s *Lesmo ;)

            I’ve quite liked driving Malaysia in the F1 games but Suzuka’s my personal favourite!

    3. I’m with you, @infernikus. It quite simply looks crap. One mid- to high-speed corner and a shed load of straights and right(ish)-angles . There is space for tracks like that, but only limited space. I’m quite happy for there to be another race in Asia, though South America or Africa might be better from the global sport viewpoint, but it’s sad when great tracks are neglected and crap layouts like this are welcomed in.

      1. @starbuck
        China a horrible track? Have you been watching F1 for the past 4 years?

    4. Seriously, you guys need to view this on google street view to see how bad this is…. there’s no way they can turn this into an F1 circuit without demolishing all the buildings alonside the road, digging up all the roads and encasing the whole thing in a tunnel of armco.

        1. @marlarkey It’s 4 lanes. It looks absolutely fine when the image isn’t squashed. It is at least as wide as certain sections of Singapore, and twice as wide as parts of Monaco.

          1. You have to cater space for barriers and marshals operating behind them… That’s at least 2 lanes gone. Unless you want marshals waving flags from the building windows, I don’t see how this can remain ‘four lane wide’ for F1…

          2. But as I said, it’s at least as wide as certain sections of Singapore, and twice as wide as parts of Monaco. I’m comparing them as they all are normally.

          3. It all the things ABOVE the track that concern me… they’ll all have to be removed which means rewiring all that part of the city.

        1. Only one of those images shows a particularly narrow road (the second to last), and that is no worse than at other Grand Prix’s which make do with similar sections.

          1. 1. particularly narrow with a building right at the edge of the track… at that point safety barriers would narrow the road considerably.

            2. another building on the rigth right at the edge of the road

            3. A nice corner but buildings and street furniture (lampposts etc) which would need to be enclosed with safety barriers.

            4. Look at all those lamposts and wires on the left and trees on the right – a lot of safety barriers at this point

            5. Trees on right, electricity/telehpone pylons on the left which would have to be removed, lampposts overhanging the circuit… lots of this would need removing and/or encasing in safety barriers

            6. Very narrow section with trees on both sides and overhanging the track – all of which would need to be removed

            7. Look at all the lampposts and signage overhanging the track which would have to be removed. Lots of buildings either side which would need to be encased in safety barriers

            8. And finally:
            http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/5931/mapsgooglecoukmapsqchao.jpg
            Squashed screenshot – sorry – but its not the narrowness of the road here but all the signage and wires crossing above what would be the track, the lampposts and trees… all of which would have to be removed and/or encased in safety barriers.

            I’m not saying this couldn’t be done but it would involve so much work in a downtown area (not a commercial port or newly developed area) that I can’t see it happening. And it would involve so much armco it would look dreadful.

      1. Well .. All the roads have to be repaved according to F1 specifications anyway. F1 cars cannot race on normal roads ….

    5. do we see ladyboys in place of grid girls

  2. useless useless track

    1. @venom02 I’d wait until we see the finished thing before making any judgements.

      Though whether F1 needs another sightseeing tour bus street track is up for debate…

      1. Ok, maybe i was too rude. but that layout is really boring: long straights and slow corners. even Valencia was better than this.
        Monaco or Macau are interesting layouts, not this

      2. If I’m not mistaken, it will be only for a year, won’t it?
        Looks like common A1GP street circuit. whether it gonna be better than Singapore and Valencia, I don’t really care. The circus just have to do one-off, take the money, and never come back.

        1. @adityafakhri

          The circus just have to do one-off, take the money, and never come back.

          Bernie typically signs a new event up for a seven-year contract.

        2. “The circus” does not equal “Bernie.” But he won’t be around forever. (Ouch, that hurts, he’s only a couple of years older than I am.)

      3. Not only the track looks boring, but we don’t need another race in Asia. I wonder, which race it will replace. Unless it’s Korea, otherwise there will be only few races left in Europe.

        People are complaining about tyres, about DRS, but if we are going to fill F1 calendar with new tracks in Asia, we will see artificial gimmics many more years to come. I’d rather prefer F1 coming back to such tracks as Imola, Magny-Cours, which are more fun watching even if there’s not much action on track during the race.

        1. I wouldn’t exactly call Magny-Cours or Imola “fun” to watch but whatever floats your boat…

      4. Have any of you viewed this route on street view ?

        I can’t see that they have a hope in hell of this becoming an F1 circuit.

        Its not an empty port (Valencia) or newly built area (Singapore) or long-established and developed with the F1 in mind (Monaco). It is a downtown road layout with masses of narrow streets, buildings close up to the kerb, lots of street furniture, electricity pylons, telephone poles and wires, very narrow sections with central reservations with trees and grass.

        The only way they could convert this for use would be to demolish virtually everything alongside or above the road and encase the whole thing in a tunnel of armco.

        Seriously, use google street view and have your own look at the layout.

        1. I’d just like to add, there is nothing on this circuit that is any narrower than certain sections of Singapore or New Jersey, and is as narrow as all of Monaco. Where there are central reservations, there is adequate space for racing cars on one side. I honestly don’t know what you’re looking at.

          1. I’m particularly looking at all the stuff that is ABOVE the proposed track. Overhanging trees, electricity and telephone cables, traffic signs and lights.

            I’m not saying it couldn’t be done but all of that would have to be removed.

            This isn’t a newly developed area (Singapore) or a a park (New Jersey) or a port (Valencia). The nearest would be Monaco but racing has been going so long Monaco that the area of the track has been developed around the racing rather than the track being imposed on a downtown area.

    2. I’m amazed at everyone rubbishing the layout within 10mins of it’s announcement.

      Firstly, it’s not yet FIA approved, but secondly, if there’s a track that’s going to provide close racing, it’s a track with lots of straights and not many corners… Cars will be able to follow each other closer, and should allow us to reap the benefits.

      Sure, some may make an example of Phoenix or Valencia, but the current generation of cars provided a great spectacle last year, and Phoenix, while having presumably similar characteristics to this circuit, was another generation of cars altogether.

      I’ll be interested to see if the FIA approves the circuit, and you can be sure that if the race goes ahead, I’ll be fascinated!

  3. What a dull and bland layout. At least Sochi has lots of corners. FIA would be fools to let this track host the race. Singapore is special but this is a pathetic ripoff!

    1. Why are so many hating on this track for not having a lot of corners?

      People hate Abu Dhabi and Singapore for having a ridiculous overload of corners, and now they hate on this circuit for keeping it simple? Jeez, some people need to make up their minds.

      Easily the most basic track since A1 Ring. I quite like it.

  4. How will they call it? LONG BEA(T)CH?

    1. The Kok-Ring.

      1. Good one!

      2. Wow, that gets an automatic nomination for comment of the year – wish I’d thought of it : )

  5. What a rubbish race this is going to be. The circuit looks like something I would have created when I opened a geometry set for the 1st time.

    Bernie really doesn’t care about the fans of the sport, as long as his wallet is thick everything’s fine.

    1. @todfod – How can you reasonably judge the merits of a circuit based on a two-dimensional plan of the layout, considering that the plan is not the final layout and is instead an educated guess by Keith based on the description given by organisers? I’m particularly interested to know why you seem to think it will be a “rubbish race” bearing in mind the above.

      I challenge you to create an alternative layout for the circuit based around the Wat Phra Kaew to show us what you think would be a good layout. I don’t know if you’ve done it before; if you haven’t, I recommend that you use the GMaps Pedometer to draw it up.

      1. @prisoner-monkeys
        If thats the path they’ve chose they do not have a lot of flexibility in modifying it. Its not like they can add some high speed corners or sweeping lefts to right turns on the circuit. They are limited to adding chicanes and making the race even more ‘stop and go’ in nature. Valencia and Singapore are very stop and go tracks as well, as they are street based circuits.

        I dont think I could do a better job making a circuit (since its not what I do for a living). I would not have chosen this location to make into a street circuit in the first place.

      2. http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=5905514

        I always like having a go at these, even if I do suck at them :P

    2. I’m probably alone on this, but actually I think the track incorporates some interesting elements, such as the roundabout (which from the size of it should be a pretty fast corner as long as it isn’t tempered with), and the long sweeping corner in the middle of the lap looks pretty good also.

  6. @keithcollantine You based this route solely on the street names that were given in that article, right?

    If that’s so, then this definitely isn’t the definitive lay-out: like the Singapore track, they will probably change or add corners. But actually the basic lay-out doesn’t look that bad imo.

    1. @andae23 And the indicated length of around 6km, yes.

      And yes, as with Singapore it’s likely the FIA will request changes in places e.g. to create more run-off. Hopefully Thailand won’t have a ‘turn ten problem’ like Singapore does.

      1. @keithcollantine Do you have a link to the original Singapore proposal?

        1. @matt90 – I believe this was it. It was to be run in the direction shown.

      2. To be fair I quite like t10 at Singapore because it’s pretty much the only interesting part of the entire circuit

  7. Well, this track could have used a few more corners. Although it must be said that the other streets might be too narrow for a F1 race. Having been in Bangkok four months ago, to be exact on December the 28th and January 6-8th, it looks this track is just about getting as much tourist attractions on the side of the track as possible. The hotel I stayed is actually located along the northern run next to the Chao Phraya River. A personal tip to anyone who is interested in going, if you feel like an afterparty you may try Khao San Road within the northern loop of the track. There are some great bars and clubs there.

  8. I quite like it. I think that one of the problems with circuits like Korea and Singapore is that they try too hard to provide drivers with a challenge through complexity. And while they do have corners that present a genuine challenge – like the final sector of the Korean International Circuit – they have too much riding on this, and the end result is that there is no real opportunity to pass unless a driver makes a mistake, which they rarely do. But here, I count thirteen corners; half as many as seems to be the normal for a new circuit these days. I find that refreshing, and the six-kilometre length means that there should be some nice long and fast sections.

  9. Having fewer corners than normal doesn’t mean it’ll be a bad track. Abu Dhabi has far more corners than it needs squeezed into it’s 5.5555555555km length, and I’m sure that 98% of us agree that it’s awful, especially when it was built with infinite money on a completely blank canvas. Valencia isn’t much better either.

    Look at the A1 (Red Bull) Ring. It essentially has 7 corners, and it produced some great racing in the late ’90s/early ’00s. I always found it one of the more fun race tracks to race in games. Likewise Monza. Counting a chicane as a single entity, it has 7 corners too, and it’s considered a classic.

    So if this is a fairly accurate depiction of the circuit’s route, I applaud it for being simplistic. It looks remarkably fast for a street circuit. It’s just that once again another new circuit has been added in a country with next to no racing history, no current drivers, no race winners, wrapped around the tourist attractions and all under floodlights to add to the gimmick. It’ll be gone in a few years, I should think.

    1. … no race winners …

      In all fairness, the Thai Prince B. Bira was actually quite succesful between 1930-1955. I mean, he was no Nuvolari, Varzi or Fangio, but still.

    2. I believe that Red bull is 51% owned by some Thai billionaire so…

    3. It’ll be gone in a few years, I should think.

      I guess that with Red Bull (the other half / original of it) is behind getting a race on, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this being long lived actually @ajokay.

      I agree with you that for a street circuit its remarkably devoid of endless 90° turns, instead even have in nicely folwing part and some of it could make for a reasonably fast track.

  10. It doesn’t look amazing, but it is refreshingly simple. Only 13 corners, of which 3 make up a chicane. I imagine it has a short lap. So weirdly, despite a layout which on paper only has 1 interesting corner, I’m fairly interested in this one. I was fearing some twisting mess like the labyrinth which is Singapore (although to be fair, New Jersey is more recent and is actually a very interesting design). It reminds me of Adelaide a little, and I get the impression that people loved that circuit.

    1. Apparently, it’s around 6km, so not short.
      Personally, I’m allergic to tight radius corners of anywhere near 90 degrees with no runoff. They make me want to shout at the rack designer.

    2. I agree, I like the simplicity of it. Pretty much every new track in the last decade has had a mixture of fast corners, slow corners and long straights and it’s getting boring. I like that this circuit has gone for fewer corners and a simple design (if this is indeed the design), it will give it some character.

    3. It doesn’t look amazing, but it is refreshingly simple.

      @matt90 my thoughts exactly!

      1. I also agree with @matt90

  11. We don’t need another Asian venue, there’s too many of them anyway, unless its replacing Korea, which is what I think it is. As for the layout, constant radius corners linked by straights, never the most challenging circuit known to man.

    And not to mention the country, I would never want to travel there. A really dangerous place to go, but its never reported like that.

    And based on previous events in the city, the crowd at the ROC was an absolute disgrace, we don’t need these venues in countries with nothing more than a bit of dough, rather than a genuine interest in motor racing.

    1. the crowd at the ROC was an absolute disgrace

      The Race of Champions was barely promoted.

    2. ahhh i’m australian and i’ve lived in thailand for the last 7 years, it’s not any more dangerous than most places. I’d go to Bangkok over Bahrain or China anyday.

      Also, I was at the ROC, first day was pitiful, but not much was on so to be expected, next two days were much busier though, decent turn out considering the environment. Racing here is as about as popular as it is in Malaysia. If you’ve been to Sepang (i go every year), you will notice it’s not busy at all.

      1. How about at night? That’s when they want to run the race.

  12. Now I know this’d be pretty dangerous… But looking at the layout and the chicane’s a roundabout. Wouldn’t it be fun if they used the full roundabout and drivers had a choice of going left or right around it. It’d look so cool with two cars really close and you just see them split each side of it and return side by side on the exit :P

    Other than that it looks pretty simple, but I imagine there’d be some pretty good wheel to wheel racing as the difference between the driver’d be less than normal as there’s little challenge for the most skillful drivers to overwhelm the weaker ones like at say Suzuka.

    1. That is such a great idea : ) Very fun to watch ehehhe

    2. thatscienceguy
      27th April 2013, 4:04

      It’s one of the cool sights in cycling when the peloton splits to either side of a roundabout.

  13. We have got Mexico, Russia and Turkey in 2014 and now Thailand in 2015. There is far way too many races coming but 1 or 2 need to go from the calendar. As much as I will enjoy on having more races on the calendar. I expect Korea to go

    1. Todd (@braketurnaccelerate)
      26th April 2013, 11:22

      Don’t forget New Jersey, maybe…

      1. Oh man. I forgot New Jersey, honestly how could I forget that but thanks @braketurnaccelarate

    2. I’m pretty sure Bernie has said he may increase the calendar size to 22 races, which basically gives room for three new ones: Thailand, New Jersey and Russia.

      You’ve mentioned Mexico and Turkey though: I’ve heard proposals (and no more) for the former and nothing about the latter, so do you have any links about that @william? If true though, I expect Korea to get the boot – it’s made a net loss, has little interest in it and with the current tensions in Korea I think F1 will be gone fairly swiftly if they don’t cough up the cash (which I don’t see happening).

      1. I am well and truly expecting Mexico to join in either 2014 or 2015. I don’t have a link for Mexico other than the link I have already posted. Sorry about the long wait but here it is http://www.ajansspor.com/formula1/genel/h/20130425/f1_istanbula_donebilir_.html?ref=satb1

        1. @william I can definitely see Mexico as a possibility but I’m not convinced with Turkey – it promoted little interest initially and was dropped and an attempt to revive it this year failed.

          Oh and sorry but I can’t read that article – I’m pretty uni-inguinal (I can read basic French) and the translation from google makes no sense – sorry! I’ll have a look into it myself!

          1. It’s alright if you can’t read the article. I am always keeping an eye out on the calendar and drivers plus Bernie

  14. My prediction for 2015 season:
    Round 1. Malaysia
    Round 2. China
    Round 3. Thailand
    Round 4. Bahrain
    Round 5. Qatar
    Round 6. Monaco
    Round 7. Canada
    Round 8. Jersey
    Round 9. Britain
    Round 10. Hungary
    Round 11. Italy
    Round 12. Singapore
    Round 13. Korea
    Round 14. Japan
    Round 15. Russia
    Round 16. India
    Round 17. Abu Dhabi
    Round 18. Mexico
    Round 19. United States
    Round 20. Brazil

    1. @wsgro
      That is most ridiculous calendar where is Australia, Germany and Spain there will be angry fans drop Qatar

      1. and how I could I forget Turkey

        1. @william Ridiculous maybe… but entirely possible. Plus, why would Turkey be on there?

      2. And Spa!

        Also, why would you want to keep Korea. It’s a horrible horrible circuit in the middle of nowhere with no passion or excitement.

        1. @william @loomx92

          This is @wsrgo ‘s prediction, not an ideal calendar. He’s basically predicting that Bernie will continue adding Asian venues in place of popular or European ones.

          1. @david-a@wsrgo ‘s prediction doesn’t have the great circuits Australia, Germany, Spain and Belgium

          2. @david-a Thanks for clarifying on my behalf :)

            @william Australia is in trouble, even the mayor of Melbourne wants it out. The German and Spanish Grands Prix might run into trouble due to one of the hosts(Valencia for Spain and Nurburgring for Germany) of each being in a sticky situation. Belgium, well Bernie has been threatening that it has been causing noise pollution and everything.
            I’m not saying I want this to happen. It’s just that Bernie will search for the smallest excuse to minus European circuits from the calendar.

      3. Not to mention that Malaysia is more likely to drop out than ever coughing up the money to be first race @william, @wsrgo.
        And having Bahrain and Quatar right after eachother is never going to happen, actually with Bahrain supposedly wanting to pay up for that first race status we might see Bahrain have the first race, so maybe if you just change around these 2 it would be pretty likely.

        1. Australia is not in trouble it will be still on the calendar in 2015 and it could be easily be moved to the Adelaide Street Circuit or even Bathurst. Qatar won’t happen. I doubt that Spa, Spain or even Germany will go because there are world champions who compete for those that represent those countries. I agree with you guys that some of European rounds won’t exist after 2015

          1. How would F1 race at Bathurst? It’s nowhere near F1 specification, no matter how good-a-track it is.

          2. I doubt that Spa, Spain or even Germany will go because there are world champions who compete for those that represent those countries.

            Jérôme d’Ambrosio is coming back? And he will be a world champion by 2015? Hmmmmm.

          3. @mike-dee Dunno about d’Ambrosio..but there is one Stoffel Vandoorne..

          4. @Wsrgo, the Australian gp isn’t in any trouble, the Victorian government voiced concerns over expenses, and then the nsw government basically said if you don’t want it we’ve got a lot of great circuits we could use, and south Australia has hosted a grand prix very successfully before. I agree bathurst will never be on the f1 calendar though, and I never want to see it there, because if hockenheim and osterreich are anything to go by, bathurst would get the tilke treatment to make it ‘safe’. That would certainly mean the removal of all the tight, twisty section on top of the mountain, opening of the forests elbow and con rod straight, and miles of tarmac run off added, which would tear out the soul of the circuit. It would end up sterile and boring, like the a1 ring and current hockenheimring. Stay away from bathurst Bernie!! Personally I would like to see f1 at Sydney motorsports park, or Queensland raceway, which is all open corners, and very fast in v8 supercars, so it would be mental in f1. Even Phillips island would make an excellent f1 track. My point is Australia simply won’t disappear from the calendar. We have an enormous motorsport culture here and at least 10 suitable circuits, most better than 70% of the current calendar. Hell we even have multiple states wanting a gp, even tasmania has circuits that are more interesting than half the current calendar.

          5. thatscienceguy
            27th April 2013, 4:18

            F1 won’t return to Adelaide, I can promise you that. I doubt the circuit would pass safety regulations nowadays anyway.

            Queensland Raceway? Ha, not a chance. Have you seen the facilities there?

            Bathurst – nope. It could never be brought up to safety levels needed, and I’d say that the city council are probably quite happy with the V8 Supercars and the Bathurst 12 Hour (which is growing in stature every year) as their two marquee events. A regional council will never be able to afford F1.

            If NSW government wanted it they’d put it in Sydney.

            Phillip Island is at least an international level facility, but I’m pretty sure when it comes to F1 it would produce unbelievably dull racing.

            Fact is, if Melbourne can’t afford it, Adelaide and Bathurst can’t afford it, and if the QLD government were going to throw money at it they wouldn’t hold it at flippin Ipswich (which would require essentially an entire rebuild), they’d put it at Surfers or in Brisbane for better marketing. Same with the NSW government, they’d put it in Sydney.

    2. I see the calendar being extended to 22 races actually, no Qatar and Korea being ditched. Spa’s contracted until 2015 so that’s unlikely to go, Germany won’t go and Spain is unlikely to as long as Alonso’s around but I could see Australia going sadly.

      @william I still don’t think you’ve quite understood, this isn’t an idealists calendar, rather what @wsrgo thinks Bernie will make the calendar look like! I’m pretty sure Bernie doesn’t care for ‘great circuits’!

      1. @vettel1 Thanks for clarifying on my behalf!!

        1. I think that by 2015 its quite possible that Korea will have been dropped too though @wsrgo

      2. Sorry fellas its only for Spain and Germany

      3. Aus, Mal, Chi, Bah, Spa, Mon, Can, NJ, Bri, Ger, Hun, Bel, Ita, Sin, Tha, (Jap), Ind, Abu, Rus, Usa/Mex, Bra. Bahrain want to be first race and will pay/add a test. Can only happen though if things there calm down a little. But Australia will be hard pressed to move from it’s date.. Unless Bahrain started the season earlier? Japan’s place is dependent on it continuing to pay for the race despite no manufacturers and drivers anymore – contract up for renewal soon and it won’t be cheap as many races want to come in. But they do have a passionate fan base so hopefully this helps them break even (Ka-Mui!). Russia could move to a better slot from 2015 onwards, maybe into Bahrain or Japan’s current place? Mexico will come on strong and put pressure on Austin – Bernie won’t ease up on them as his mate Tavo is not there now. Was it 60% of the crowd being Mexican :D? Argentina have no money and Turkey don’t want a race. This year was basically a bargain basement slot 20 offered to them – way less than $10m one off, and they turned that down. Things must have really soured since they got fined for having the ‘President of Turkish Cyprus’ on the podium (shame as it’s a great track). Considering new tracks are now starting at $61m per year? I’m surprised Turkey declined! But not that Korea can save money by settling a fee and canning races from it’s deal!

    3. You’re scaring me man! Hopefully your prediction will not come to pass. It’s entirely possible, though.

  15. Let’s see: one fast corner, one hairpin, a roundabout (hopefully with some point of interest in the middle of it, like the fountain of Long Beach), and a liberal amount of 90-or-so degree boring corner… Unimpressed. Only elevation changes could make it more interesting, but I’m not optimistic on this one either.

    1. @atticus-2

      a roundabout (hopefully with some point of interest in the middle of it, like the fountain of Long Beach)

      The roundabout is the one in the picture, with the Democracy Monument in the middle of it.

      1. @keithcollantine Thanks for the info, it looks good indeed.

      2. Abdurahman (@)
        27th April 2013, 3:12

        There is no such thing as elevation changes in BKK. Flat, flat, flat.

  16. The last/start of first sector, look just awful. Typical rubbish street track.. There are plenty of way this track can be improved, and the potential is there for a good street track (although it will never have anything on the classic permanent and purpose built race tracks)..
    Here’s a quick one I mocked up, and i’m sure there’s many other variations that could be much better than the proposed..

    1. Idiot forgot to attach the link D:

      http://www.quikmaps.com/ext2/238736

      1. Honestly, I think that’s a little too short. The problem is that the northern end of the circuit is very narrow, so the leaders are going to get pinned behind lapped traffic for half a lap. And parts of it are definately going to demand a Singapore-style chicane to slow the cars down.

        1. For the record, this is probably what I’d do, but once again, we run into the problem of narrow streets. That’s the problem with street circuits: you’re limited by the existing geography.

          1. To be fair, That is a very good layout on paper.. But you hit the nail on the head with the existing layout being the deciding factor at the end of the day, either through narrowness or lack of run off..

  17. I actually like this design. Sure, it’s not going to be a classic driving circuit, but in its simplicity it is still very different to almost every race on the calendar. And that’s what F1 needs – variety.

    My only gripe is the length – there are far too many 5-6km tracks in F1. We need more short tracks. I’d be happy if there were a circuit where drivers could get around in a minute. More traffic, more laps and ultimately more action for the fans in the grand stands.

    1. @jackysteeg

      There are far too many 5-6km tracks in F1. We need more short tracks.

      Hear, hear.

    2. Agreed, a short, fast lap would be more entertaining to watch and also increase the potential penalty for making a mistake in qualifying (as there’ll be less time to recover).

      1. There’s also a less chance of making a mistake per lap because of fewer corners.

        1. @tmekt – true, but again that could lead to close qualifyings if that was the case which is hardly a bad thing!

          1. @vettel1

            Sure, yeah, I agree

    3. So yes, maybe make it like a Monaco length

  18. It looks like a power hand drill :/ …

  19. Here’s my prediction for 2015:
    Round 1. Bahrain
    Round 2. Australia
    Round 3. Malaysia
    Round 4. China
    Round 5. Turkey
    Round 6. Spain
    Round 7. Monaco
    Round 8. Canada
    Round 9. New Jersey
    Round 10. Britian
    Round 11. German
    Round 12. Hungarian
    Round 13. Belgian
    Round 14. Italy
    Round 15. Singapore
    Round 16. Thailand
    Round 17. Russia
    Round 18. Japan
    Round 19. India
    Round 20. Abu Dhabi
    Round 21. Mexico
    Round 22. Texas
    Round 23. Brazil

  20. It looks like a blast, I can’t wait. Sure, there’s no Eau Rouge or Turn 8 or anything like that, but I’m hopeful the layout will produce good racing.

    It might also work as a venue. Bangkok is a popular tourist destination, so it should be easier to find affordable flights and accommodation, for instance compared to Korea, or even Spa or Silverstone for that matter.

    So how likely is the event to happen?

  21. I highly doubt this will happen. the whole area is gridlock every day of the week. like 4 hours to get 1km style of gridlock.

    just to go 5km to get to the race of champions took 1hr. the amount of people who will fight to get it stopped will be huge. these are the same people who fought to stop a monorail project because it’ll take up too much side walk space… they complain about traffic, but don’t want anything to change.

    1. Exactly.

      Attending the ROC was an absolute nightmare. Very very narrow back road and the traffic on the main road is just…dreadful.

      Not to mention that the road quality is just plain bad.

  22. Alright everyone, I’ve finally finished my photo tour of the track using Street View. I can’t imagine F1 cars going along some of the streets I looked at.

    http://cliptheapex.com/threads/photo-tour-of-the-proposed-thai-gp-route-to-come.6201/

    if someone could post that on here that would be great :D

    1. Nice and thorough. The biggest problem I see is that the pit straight is on one of the narrowest sections, and the lack of run-off in some places. I don’t really see and issues with circuit width though.

    2. Thanks for this. I did the same thing and found some issues.

      About half this track would be great…. the long sweeping sections along the wide boulevard, the roundabout and the seciton by the palace.

      But the other half is a race along a downtown backstreet with all the associated problems of run-offs, buildings, narrowness… but in particular I think they would be problems with all the stuff that is hanging over the track – which would have to be removed – trees, electricity wires, cables, signs, traffic signals, etc.. and the very low bridge that it passes under.

      I picked out these few photos in addition to yours to illustrate some of the worst problems.

      This first one is really squashed – but look at all the wires above the track:
      http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/5931/mapsgooglecoukmapsqchao.jpg

      Quite narrow once you add in appropriate safety barriers:
      http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/5931/mapsgooglecoukmapsqchao.jpg

      Narrow with central reservation and trees overhanging – would need remodelling significantly:
      http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/5931/mapsgooglecoukmapsqchao.jpg

  23. Let’s see… The streets and roads of Bangkok are capable of handling just over 2 million vehicles a day without too much of a problem, however there are over 7 million vehicles in the city. The closest you can get to this area using mass transit is the terminal station of the underground (MRT) and that drops you just about in China Town. One still has to get to the race site and back using surface roads. The area is a major tourist attraction and is easily on of the most congested ares in Bkk, so closing down roads to st up a circuit will be a nightmare for locals.
    The 3rd race of this season was April 12 – 14. Thai New Year (Songkran usually lasts for 5 days here) was officially on the 13th of April this year and many Thais go back to their villages to celebrate, this and the fact that most public schools are on break may ease congestion a bit, but it’s also the biggest party time of the year and that isn’t going to help.
    This is also typically the hottest time of the year in Thailand. It did in fact rain a bit this year which is a bit unusual, but when the rain stops and the skies clear, the sun will burn the top of your head off. We had temps @41C with a heat index of 44C.
    I can go on forever as to why there shouldn’t be a GP in Bkk. I plan to be out of the city when and if it happens.

    1. My comments regarding Bkk as the 3rd race of the season was based on William (@william)’s predictions. ;)

      1. @alex-bkk
        It was not even my prediction as it was a different person not me

    2. Working in Thailand, I agree with you on this. How on earth are spectators and crew going to get there and back? If you block such a central part of a city that is already congested for 20 hours a day, how is ANYTHING going to move?

      Also I was at the Race of Champions last year at Rajamangala, and only like 10,000 seats were taken up. For this to be anything close to a succes, ticket prices must be payable by atleast middle class Thais, and I am afraid they wont be.

      On a further note, what happens to all these plans if the King dies? Many people are expecting quite a political stir if this happens, and I would expect that a new political leader would mean a new look on an F1.

      1. They would have to close the downtown area for at least a week for the race… and how much disruption would all the building work entail ?

  24. I think people are forgetting that F1 is a world focused sport, and with Asia being the biggest emerging market for sponsors and fans of course they will have more races. The only way to grow the fan base around the world is to equally distribute races on each of the continents which means Europe will obviously lose races. It obviously means some fans won’t be happy but it is for the ‘greater good’ so get on with it.

    1. “Asia being the biggest emerging market for sponsors and fans”…then why are the Korean,Chinese,Bahrain and Abu Dhabi races so poorly attended?? The only Asian races which have been highly appreciated by the local fans are Japan(but its not a recent addition to the calender),Malaysia,Singapore and India(to a lesser extent). Infact,the poor attendance we see in Asian races is one of the major gripes which i have against Bernie’s “look-East” policy…

      1. That’s the most ridiculous argument I’ve ever heard … Why do you care about attendance ? .. No one does as long as the racing is good !…
        Anyway you’ve got your data all wrong … Only Korea and maybe Bahrain is poorly attended, China has been very well attended for the last 2 years. All the others are doing well… Singapore GP has been sold every year since it’s inauguration.

      2. Attendance will surely increase as more people get exposed to the sport, plus the organisers must make it affordable for the locals to actually go and see the racing on the track and not just tv. The Indian GP has done a great job with the tickets with the cheapest being £20, and with Force India being in the sport there is actual interest so hopefully attendance will grow to more than the 65,000 it was last year.

  25. Um… is that a roundabout after the hairpin…?

    1. @tommy-c – Yes, it is. Although it could be a roundabout on the approach to the hairping.

      However, that image of Webber going past the monument is taken from the roundabout. In the centre of the roundabout the is Democracy Monument, and the road itself is Ratchadamnoen Avenue. Ratchadamnoen Avenue is one of the main thoroughfares through Bangkok. If you check out the satellite view of the city, you’ll see that the road is actually five or six lanes wide there – the King of Siam who had it built used to have massive royal parades down it – so it’s not going to be much of a chicane. The cars will take it at or near full throttle.

    2. Sure is, the one on the picture on top too @tommy-c

  26. David not Coulthard (@)
    26th April 2013, 15:36

    If the FIA doesn’t add corners to that, then it looks good. (New) Tracks with long straights and few corners are as rare as motor racing fans wanting to go to Aintree, I think, so I see something refreshing.

    A great reason to remove Bahrain, though perhaps not good enough to BE, among others?

  27. So to see a new, challenging course… Is Bernie wanting the F1 drivers of 2015 to also have to dodge the karts that will be racing on the track as well?

  28. Korea was meant to have been last race last year, the promoter is still insisting, i can’t see it continue past this year, the single big issue to it is the location, it’s so far from the Seoul and a disaster as the planned development never came through.

    There was talk of a F1 race in Gangwon province – Inje which is 120km from Seoul in a touristy province but the track is 3.9-4km and grade 2 FIA only, due to be finished this July and having LMP, Ferrari WEC, Formula Nippon F2 starting in August.

    Thailand is awesome, you can get everything 1st world food/drinks and services for 3rd world prices.

  29. This track is going to look incredible, especially at dusk.

  30. It looks more like Samurai Jack’s leg. With swollen hamstrings.

  31. Ah, I see once again Bernie is preparing to sell out to the asians, and probably end up removing a proper quality circuit. If you ask me, we don’t need more street tracks, but a French GP should be held once more or the european gp held there.

    1. Europe have no money ! … Who is paying for the technology currently invested in F1 ? .. The paltry 5 to 10 million paid by most existing European circuits ? ….
      F1 is becoming very popular worldwide, Europeans are not the only people watching anymore… Stop complaining.

  32. Oh good, another irrelevant street course in a city/country with no motor sports heritage or Formula 1 fan base…

    1. Indeed…

      Can’t wait to see the turn out for this. Probably around 25 not including all staff, promoters and rich nobodies.

      1. I don’t think so. Most of the Asian races haven’t actually targeted major cities. With this location people will struggle to avoid it- the biggest problem could be ticket prices keeping locals from giving it a look.

    2. @classchris Sorry but your statement is not true. Thais are absolutely crazy about cars and motorsport, and don’t forget it is the home of Red Bull (atleast 51% of it). Most of Thailands racing is Touring and GT cars, but fans also follow F1 and Le Mans.

      Being a full time racemechanic in Thailand, I can tell you that if F1 delivers a good show at a fair price, the basis for succes is huge. If the Thais fall in love this GP would be awesome, but if they are denied acces (by fx ticket prices), it will take them further away from F1.

      At Bang Saen GP last year (a 4-day event on a small beachside/street track 100km southeast of Bangkok) there was an attendance of over 200,000 people! The racing was a mix of GT and touring car races. The event also attracts million dollar sponsor contract by companies such as Coca Cola, Singha, Toyota etc.

      Also Thailand actually has had an F1-driver:

  33. Looks good to me. All the best tracks only have a few corners. All the recent streetish tracks have way too many turns – Valencia, Singapore, Abu Dhabi and Korea.

  34. Abdurahman (@)
    27th April 2013, 3:10

    If your gonna do a street circuit, might as well make it somewhere interesting. Let’s see, an abandoned olympic park in Russia, or downtown Bangkok. Which one do you think will be a more interesting weekend???? I think the whole idea is wild and fantastic.

  35. Can you imagine a country like France which has given a lot to motor sports and has a lot to offer to motor sports ( Alain Prost, Renault, Magny Cours ) has no race but a places like Thailand, Korea are considered more worthy ? Wth.

    We already have a lot of established actual race tracks that are not put on the F1 calendar like Imola, Magny Cours, etc. We don’t need more street tracks.

  36. My 2015 Calendar, And no New Jersey

    Round 1: Australia
    Round 2: Malaysia
    Round 3: Thailand
    Round 4: Bahrain
    Round 5: Monaco
    Round 6: Canada
    Round 7: United States
    Round 8: Mexico
    Round 9: Belgium
    Round 10: Germany
    Round 11: Spain
    Round 12: Hungary
    Round 13: Italy
    Round 14: Russia
    Round 15: Japan
    Round 16: China
    Round 17: Singapore
    Round 18: Russia
    Round 19: Abu Dhabi
    Round 20: Brazil

    1. I think my calendar is more accurate what will happen. Even though Turkey is not there

    2. @hawkaussie – the British Grand Prix is staying, as long as Ecclestone’s in charge and the vast majority of the teams are based in Britain.

      1. How did I forget that

  37. Another Singapore, i.e. a triumph of backdrop at the expense of track design.

  38. Just think it was only a decade ago when I & many others were all saying “thank god F1 is one series we’ll never see race at night”, and look come 2015 we’ll have atleast 3 possibly 4 night races (Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Bangkok & possibly Bahrain).

    Part of me is like ‘cool another street race in an exotic country & because of the time difference it’ll be a great viewing time here in the States’….. But then part of me is like ‘blah another boring street race in some crappy country that we won’t get to see any of anyway because it’ll be nighttime not to mention said country has like no racing history’….. But then again at the same time I would love for the Shanghai race to be replaced with a night race on the streets of Hong-Kong with all kinds of neon shop signs along the side of the track (think the fantasy Gran Turismo tracks, though most of those are Japanese).

  39. James Marten 1977
    30th April 2013, 3:28

    It’s really difficult to see how the city could handle a Grand Prix. Traffic and roads are pretty bad here. Interesting take on it from a local reporter here… http://asiancorrespondent.com/106686/bangkok-approves-track-route-for-formula-1-city-night-race/

  40. Lewis Cotton
    28th May 2013, 21:18

    My ideal calendar:
    1. Australia
    2. Malaysia
    3. China
    4. Bahrain
    5. San Marino
    6. Monaco
    7. Canada
    8. Spain
    9. France
    10. Britain
    11. Germany
    12. Austria
    13. Belgium
    14. Italy
    15. Singapore
    16. Thailand
    17. Japan
    18. Abu Dhabi
    19. United States
    20. Brazil

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