F1 Fanatic

In a situation that has parallels with the Korean Grand Prix, the organisers of the European Grand Prix in Valencia appear to be trying to change the terms of their contract or scrap the race.

Here’s a (Google) translation of an article from El Pais:

After listing the battery of measures and cuts the Consell vice president, José Ciscar, referred to large events, in which the Valencian Government has meant in the past years. Cisco has claimed that due to the exceptional situation of crisis puts the Consell major events under review, but has defended its beneficial effects for the economy of Valencia.

“It is not possible in the way that we understand so far,” he said. In that sense, suggested that the Consell has sent a letter to Bernie Ecclestone, President and CEO of Formula One Management, with whom the Government has signed a contract for the Grand Prix in Valencia, to address a possible revision. Ciscar admitted that the Government is in a position of weakness because it can not cancel this contract unilaterally, because then it would cause more economic problems you have.

“I still have not read my contract and do not know the impact it would cancel next year’s Grand Prix,” he added. The annual fee paid by the Government to Ecclestone’s Formula 1 Valencia 21 million euros. Also, Channel 9 pays four million euros a year for the broadcasting rights. The construction cost of the street circuit around the 100 million euros.

If anyone who can speak Spanish can offer a better translation it’d be useful!

“It is not possible in the way we’ve understand it so far”, he said. In that sense, he pointed out that the Consell has sent a letter to Bernie Ecclestone, president and excecutive director of Formula One Management, with whom the Generalitat has a contract signed to celebrate the Grand Prix in Valencia, to aboard a possible revision. Ciscar admitted that the Generalitat is in a situation of weakness because it can not cancel this contract unilaterally, as this would cause even more economic problems.

Roughly translated.

They are looking for a possible revision of the contract because they can’t afford this one, considering all the problems they already have. They cannot cancel the contract either, as it’d bring them more problems than they have already.

I speak Spanish, so here you have what I think is a better translation:

After listing the battery of measures and cuts, the vice president of the Consell, José Ciscar, has focused on the big events in which the Valencian Government has put a lot of effort in recent years. Ciscar has informed that due to the exceptional situation of crisis the Consell is putting under review these big events, although he has defended their beneficial effects for the Comunidad Valenciana’s economy.

“They [the big events] are not possible in the way we have understood them until now,” he said. In that sense, he confirmed that the Consell has sent a letter to Bernie Ecclestone, President and CEO of Formula One Management, with whom the Government has a signed contract for the celebration of the Grand Prix in Valencia, to address a possible revision. Ciscar admitted that the Government is in a position of weakness because it can not cancel this contract unilaterally, because it would cause more economic problems in addition to the current ones.

“I still have not read the contract and I don’t know which impact would have the cancellation of the next Grand Prix edition,” he added. The annual fee paid by the Government to Ecclestone in order to have Formula 1 in Valencia equals 21 million euros. Also, Canal 9 [the regional channel that broadcasts F1 in Valencia] pays four million euros a year for the broadcasting rights. The construction of the street circuit cost around a hundred million euros.

Perhaps someone should send Mr. Ecclestone a letter on behalf of the organisers of the European Grand Prix in Valencia, sabotaging their relationship here and there. I wonder, would Bernie really mind dropping them? Surely he has seen the same races in Valencia as we did? I can not possibly believe no one ever asked Bernie what he thought about the race right after…

The Spanish Grand Prix may not have been the most exciting racetrack on the calendar either, but at least it’s unique, being a very high downforce circuit. I like diversity on the calendar, not another streetcircuit trying very hard to be Monaco and failing miserably at it all at the same time.

Hell NO> Just drop them

@Prisoner Monkeys – Portimao is an F1 Standard circuit which is already on the F1 Testing roster of circuits, But I do agree that it seems pointless going from one cash strapped country to another.

@JK – I too love the circuit on PS3 to drive, but in reality the racing IS a bit on the Dull side and it DOES seem awfully expensive every year to throw up a few barriers and a couple of stands. My Brother and some friends went to the inaugural race and all complained at how awful it was.

yeah, damn those burger vans are pricey!