Todt says SA is not interested in F1

[Willie Trombone]

What a chop
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/79018

Speaking in an interview with the Telegraph newspaper, Todt played down the importance of the role of F1 Commissioner, suggesting countries like South Africa are not interested in Formula 1.

"The FIA has over 172 mobility clubs and sporting clubs," Told told the Telegraph. "And I am not sure that they are concerned with who is going to be the F1 Commissioner.

"Do you think people in South Africa care what is happening in F1?"

 

[Thestealth]

A real bung hole! My sig is for you, Kermit!

 

[Shake&Bake]

Really stupid and arrogant comment.

-1000 to Todt.

Hook me up with an Enzo and I'll change my opinion

 

[reddevilandy10]

Damn Jean, if you think like that I hope Sir Jackie or Vatanen gets the FIA Presidency. How about a street circuit in Cape Town!!!???

 

[Creag]

The South African motorsport body has slammed FIA presidential candidate Jean Todt for comments made about the country.

You kiss SA's vote goodbye!

"Do you think people in South Africa care what is happening in F1?"

Makes me to see such arrogance. Perhaps this is some desperate measure to protect the future of the race in Italy?

Massive negative brownie points to you, Mr. Todt! Lost any respect I once had ...

 

[sox63]

Vatanen FTW!

 

[killadoob]

Burn him at the stake!!!!!!!.

 

[Creag]

Burn him at the stake!!!!!!!.

I don't think there will be too many bystanders

 

[HapticSimian]

Well, he is half-right. South Africa is definitely NOT interested in Todt. Muppet.

 

[milomak]

in terms of worldwide audience, does SA make an impression at all?

even within the FIA structures?

 

[Willie Trombone]

in terms of worldwide audience, does SA make an impression at all?

even within the FIA structures?

Ja - I think this is what he was getting at - but like the chop on Morning live today who kept rattling on about Islamaphobia and the white supremists, you have to realise that you can't generalize with anything if you want to be taken seriously anywhere.

 

[milomak]

it would also be interesting to see the actual interview transcript. the questions leading up to such answers are often themselves quite informative.

 

[JK8]

Interesting...
I think I know why. The FIA wants to have a GP in Africa, but they DONT want it at Kyalami.
So if SA had a better track they might change their mind, as for street tracks, we cant compete with their current tracks, Monaco and now Singapore... we far behind.

I say build a new world class track, then F1 will come here.

 

[milomak]

Didn't some SA body recently announce something to the effect that they would not be stumping up money for a GP? and no other body has since put its hand up?

 

[HapticSimian]

Interesting...
I think I know why. The FIA wants to have a GP in Africa, but they DONT want it at Kyalami.
So if SA had a better track they might change their mind, as for street tracks, we cant compete with their current tracks, Monaco and now Singapore... we far behind.

I say build a new world class track, then F1 will come here.

I'm sorry, but Kyalami is the only world-class track in the country. The facilities might be lacking, but the track itself is up there with the likes of Imola and Catalunya.

I'm growing increasingly disparaged with these utter shyte tracks that Bernie and Max are forcing onto F1. There have been a few great additions, but Singapore is USELESS, Valencia is a snore-fest and Hockenheim after being slashed in half is a shadow of its former self. Bahrain and Malaysia I can live with, but if it comes at the cost of greats like Spa and Canada?

The real issue is money. We are a poor country & to put up the numbers required by Bernie and Max in order to gild their porcelain thrones isn't feasible. But for Todt to make a blanket statement like that smacks of exactly the arrogance that made Ferrari the abysmal farce of a sporting team they became under his leadership. I say again... muppet.

 

[Ou grote]

Didn't some SA body recently announce something to the effect that they would not be stumping up money for a GP? and no other body has since put its hand up?

There were a few threads about Cape Town building a track between the airport and CT film studios.
I remember Simon Grindrod pushing for it.

 

[JK8]

They dont want Kyalami. I also dont think its upto scratch, at the A1 GP it was kinda bad... poor facilities, Stands were bad, parking. The track itself might be well designed but its old now, no glitz and glamour and besides F1 was there already.
F1 is looking for something new, the sport is dying, they need fresh tracks new places that sort of thing, bringing it back to Kyalami wont help them much.

Our street race in Durban was a flop. If we dont get a better track we wont get F1, they also have the rest of the world to consider.
India for example have creat alot of hype around racing, they in F1, A1 and theyve had some F1 drivers, we lagging behind.
Dont take Jeans statement personal, he knows what he is saying.

 

[milomak]

He does seem to have pulled the South Africa reference out of the air - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/mo...ith-FIA-presidential-candidate-Jean-Todt.html

 

[Ou grote]

Found it - ain't gonna happen it seems.

.

Cape Town to bid for F1 race
01/03/2007 10:44
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Cape Town - A private sector initiative to build an F1 race track near Cape Town, has been announced on Thursday
Mayoral committee member of economic development and tourism, Simon Grindrod has announced his department's support for a private sector initiative which is proposing a R4 billion investment into the Cape Flats.

The proposed multi-billion rand investment will take the form of a Formula One race track, as well as a commercial and industrial park that would see thousands of jobs being created for the surrounding poorer communities.

The development envisages a site adjacent to Cape Town International Airport and includes land owned by Acsa, the city and the province.

Grindrod, whose portfolio is tasked with creating private sector investment and jobs, said:

"I believe that Cape Town would benefit enormously from securing a world-class Formula 1 race track on land that largely could not be used for housing due to its close proximity to the airport.

"The fact that Bernie Ecclestone has offered such a facility to South Africa is an enormous opportunity. Cape Town and the province must waste no time in exploring the feasibility of this project before a city like Durban snaps it up."

Executive deputy mayor Charlotte Williams has also highlighted the job creation and social upliftment possibilities offered by the proposal.

The project has not yet been formally endorsed by the Province. Grindrod has been asked to present the proposal to the city mayoral committee and will recommend that the city take full advantage of the initiative.

"This initiative can create a life-belt for the poorer communities, especially those that surround the proposed development of the F1 race track," the deputy mayor said.

A series of meetings have been held to date at provincial and local government level with representatives of the SA Grand Prix Corporation, but Grindrod on Thursday committed his department to doing everything in its power to make this project happen.

Grindrod stated that senior officials in the Economic Development department were available to sit on a Local Organising Committee which must be formed to urgently co-ordinate and undertake all the activities necessary for a viable F1 licence application to be presented to F1 supremo, Bernie Ecclestone, during the course of this year.

It is proposed that a steering committee comprising of representatives of the SA GP Corp, ACSA, Wesgro, Western Cape Government and city officials, will explore the viability of the commercial and industrial development of the currently vacant state land that lies to the south of the proposed new F1 circuit and to the west of the new Symphony Way extension between the Stellenbosch Arterial road and the N2.

The Chief Executive of the SA Grand Prix Corporation, David Gant, said that the proximity of the developable land to the planned new airport runway made it unsuitable for housing and that the surrounding community, the airport itself and the F1 track would derive enormous benefits from the commercial and industrial development thereof.

Gant said that the development of the F1 track and infrastructure and the commercial and industrial development of the adjacent land could require an investment of some R4bn over time and would provide huge job opportunities representing a much needed economic boost for the area.

"Unlike most other countries that host the F1 Grand Prix, we are not asking Government to subsidise the event, but we need to financially underpin the construction of the circuit and produce the guarantees for the licence to stage the F1 and MotoGP events.

"This can be achieved from the revenue streams from the proposed commercial and industrial developments."

Gant said that Cape Town had been identified as one of the top 10 best locations in the world to hold sports events and that a world class soccer stadium combined with a state of the art motor sports venue would promote sports tourism for the province and the city in an unprecedented way.

 

[HapticSimian]

There was a similar mooted project to revive the area surrounding Kyalami as well - it reached the point of Hermann Tilke (the designer of the tracks at Bahrain, Malaysia, Abu Dhabi etc.) actually having visited the site 2 or 3 times.

It seems to have run out of steam, though.

And still, Todt is a muppet.