[Sky Sports F1]

The Canadian Grand Prix has been dropped from the 2009 Formula One calendar.

Canadian Grand Prix dropped

[WestCoast]

Burn in hell FIA #@#$%^*&^$

[Bob Tanner]

Holy moose droppings, Batman!!!???

Where, in the name of common sense, did THIS come from?

This might be a bit subjective but I would bet the total auto sports fan base of Bahrain, Turkey and Malaysia would equal about half of the following F1 has in North America. Maybe I'm way off base but I look at this as a slap in the face of Americana Norte race fans. If the Montreal track wasn't sufficient, why didn't they return it to Mosport?

I would chalk this up to transportation costs but is it any cheaper to go to China or Japan than it is Canada?

I can only deduce that Max Mosley and the powers that be at F1 are secret readers of GTG Motorsports Forum and they have decreed that North America is to be punished for our collective sins. (That's a joke but it's the best rationale I can come up with on short notice)

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

This might be a bit subjective but I would bet the total auto sports fan base of Bahrain, Turkey and Malaysia would equal about half of the following F1 has in North America. Maybe I'm way off base but I look at this as a slap in the face of Americana Norte race fans. If the Montreal track wasn't sufficient, why didn't they return it to Mosport?

I would chalk this up to transportation costs but is it any cheaper to go to China or Japan than it is Canada?

I think you've missed the point. with Max & co. it's not about fan base, or even about racing; it's about money. Obviously GP Canada is not as lucrative as some other "remote" spots...

[WestCoast]

I don’t get it, you would think that the North American market would be of some value to the auto manufacturers and sponsors, if Indy does’t matter, what’s Montreal.
It amazes me, how little say the people paying the bills have.

[Racer Duck]

except for BMW, North America isn't a big market for most of the F1 marques (rappers just don't drive Ferraris)

also, there's no F1 teams owned/stationed in North America. So,as far as Mosley/Ecclestone are concerned, NA is way down the list of "desirable" places to host a race .. there's not even a crown prince or other royalty to hob-nob with!

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

I think you've missed the point. with Max & co. it's not about fan base, or even about racing; it's about money. Obviously GP Canada is not as lucrative as some other "remote" spots...

<<SLAP!>> Thanks. I needed that.

Silly me! There I go again, thinking about fan base and competition and not business management or global relations. When will I ever learn?

Bob's Postulate #107: In the 1920 the gangster walked around carrying Tommy Guns in violin cases. In the 21st Century the gangsters walk around carrying MBA's in Gucci brief cases.

[Racer Duck]

Seems the French are getting behind the idea of having their GP at Disneyland in 2010!

Draft plans for a formula one circuit on the grounds of Disneyland Paris have been prepared, as the French racing federation considers options for the country's grand prix in 2010 and beyond.

F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone is desperate for his sport to move away from Magny Cours, an isolated circuit in the rural centre of the country.

There are alternatives to Disneyland, which is about a half hour drive from the French capital, but it is reportedly Ecclestone's preferred venue.

The French language newspaper La Presse reports that Lagardere Group, formerly the racing car company Matra, in collaboration with Disneyland's owners Euro Disney, have devised plans for a temporary F1 track.

The circuit would use some existing roads, and require some purpose-built sections, the publication said. Lagardere Group would not confirm the claims.

It is expected that the French racing federation FFSA will publish a shortlist of four potential 2010 grand prix venues on October 15, and that Ecclestone will then make the final selection.

Source: Paddock Talk

I guess Bernie just loves to ride the teacups .. maybe if there were a Disneyland Montreal....

[DOF_power]

It's very simple the reason, get government subsidies or get lost.

It's a shame because this was a really good track. The car manufacturers do want the NA market BTW and lobbing for the return of the US GP.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by DOF_power

It's very simple the reason, get government subsidies or get lost.

It's a shame because this was a really good track. The car manufacturers do want the NA market BTW and lobbing for the return of the US GP.

"Get government subsidies or get lost..." These "government subsidies" are, of course, financed by the tax payers, the majority of whom probably have little to absolutely zero interest in motorsports of any type, and who will benefit from subsidizing a race only tangentially, if at all.

Sad, really sad.

It's good to hear the manufacturers are in favour of having a US GP, or at least on in North America. That's a bit of news which if is actually published in this country, it's buried under tons of superfluous ca-ca.