Combining major sporting events, like Forumla 1, with travel plans
appeals to many. If you're like me, you might want to visit a Grand Prix race or two on
your travels. So, with one eye on the F1 calendar, we've done the research for you.
Some would say that Formula 1 racing became boring with Michael
Schumacher's dominance in the sport; 'Schumi' fans apart, that is.
With the German's retirement at the end of 2006, the
2007 season brought Lewis Hamilton into the limelight; although he was piped to the finish
line by Kimi Räikkönen.
I'm not a Formula One fan, in the truest sense of the word, but I do
like travelling and I do like being 'where something is going on'.
I've been to many Grand Prix races in my time, Monaco remains my
favourite, and there's a special atmosphere at all of these events.
Australia, when the Grand
Prix was held in Adelaide, was a real 'party atmosphere'.
Hindley Street was closed for the weekend and much of Adelaide turned
into an open grill, with the sizzling sausages and ice-cold 'tinnies' second only to
Christmas lunch on Bondi Beach.
The Australian Grand Prix used to be held at the end of the season;
summer, in Australia. Now it gets the F1 racing season into gear.
In order to try and make the sport more interesting, the powers that
be (The FIA)
continue to introduce new rules to the sport of Formula 1 and change the racing calendar
from time to time.
In 2008 there are two new street circuits to visit: Valencia (European
Grand Prix) and Singapore (for night racing).
Future F1 hosts are the Abu
Dhabi Grand Prix, to be held at the Yas
Island Circuit in 2009; then India and Korea in 2010.
The dates given here are the Sunday race dates but you might like
to plan for the warm-up and qualifying days beforehand; where tickets are cheaper and you
can often get better photographs of the cars, without too many heads in the way.
Formula
Tours:
Worry-free Formula 1 hotel and ticket packages. Paddock Club tickets are also available;
for the ultimate in world-class hospitality.
Australia - March 16th
Albert Park: (Melbourne
- Australia)
Stylish Melbourne is Australia's centre for shopping, restaurants,
sport, arts, culture and big events. And it doesn't get much bigger than the F1 weekend.
Australia might not be on the race calendar after 2010, if they don't
change their starting time, so get there while you can for Grand prix racing with a
'barbie' atmosphere.
Malaysia - March 23rd
Sepang Circuit: (Kuala
Lumpur - Malaysia)
Located in the heart of Malaysia's Multimedia Super Corridor, the
Sepang Circuit is only a 10-minute drive from Kuala
Lumpur International Airport - voted the 'World's Best Airport'; in the 2005 AETRA
awards and 2006 ACI-ASQ awards.
Bahrain - April 6th
Bahrain
International Circuit: (Manama
- Bahrain)
The only race to take place in the Middle East, the Gulf Air
Bahrain Grand Prix won the FIA Race Promoters' Trophy, for the organisation of the best
Grand Prix in 2004.
The BIC shuttle makes pick ups from the Ritz Carlton,
Sheraton, Radisson SAS,
Crowne Plaza,
Hilton, Regency
Intercontinental, Gulf,
Panorama, Novotel
Al Dana Resort, Movenpick and
Ramada
hotels.
Spain - April 27th
Circuit de
Catalunya: (Barcelona
- Spain)
The Spanish Grand Prix is raced on the Circuit de Catalunya.
Sagalés Coaches take spectators
to the Circuit from the centre of Barcelona, at the junction between Passeig de Sant Joan
and Diputació St.; arriving at the Circuit’s East Area. Or you could use the
Montmeló railway station with the other 10,000 passengers.
Turkey - May 11th
Istanbul
Park: (Istanbul
- Turkey)
Turkey was a new addition to the Formula 1 race calendar for 2005. The
track is located in the Tuzla Tepeören area, on the Asia side of Istanbul.
It can be very hot in Turkey, during the month of August, and it's
quite a trek up to Istanbul for the sun-worshippers staying in the Mediterranean resort of
Antalya - but the journey is feasible from Izmir or Ankara.
For 2008, the Turkish GP has been moved forward from August to May;
which makes it a little more comfortable for race fans.
Monaco - May 25th
Grand Prix de Monaco:
(Monte
Carlo - Monaco)
As you already know, the Monaco Grand Prix is my favourite.
As the race often co-incides with the Cannes
Film Festival (14-25th May, 2008), some of the stars also make an apearance on the
streets of Monte Carlo during race weekend.
If you decide to drive to the South of France,
you can even take your car around the 'track' in the evening; when the street circuit is
open to the public. True, you can drive around Monaco anytime but it is a little
special to drive around when the race barriers and chicane are in place.
Canada - June 8th
Circuit Gilles
Villeneuve: (Montreal
- Canada)
The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is beautifully situated on an island in
the St. Lawrence River and conveniently served by the Montreal metro system
(Jean-Drapeau).
2008 marks the 30th anniversary at the circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.
Wear comfortable shoes and get to the circuit early, as you may have a
2km walk to your grandstand seat.
Connected to Île Sainte-Hélène and the Lachine Canal bike path, the
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (on Île Notre-Dame) is also an ideal place for cyclists and
in-line skaters during the summer months.
It's no longer possible to spend a week in North America, visiting two
GP races, as Indianapolis has been dropped from the F1 calendar.
France - June 22nd
GP Magny-Cours: (Nevers
- France)
The French Formula One Grand Prix took first took place at Magny-Cours
in 1991.
A visit to Nevers, halfway
between Paris
and Lyon, can be combined with a
tour of the Loire
Valley.
The Federation Francaise du Sport Automobile (FFSA) slashed their prices last year, to make the French
Grand Prix one of the cheapest races for European Formula 1 fans. Shuttle buses operate
from Nevers.
If you haven't been to Magny-Cours before, it's not certain how long
this one will stay on the circuit; so maybe make this your year!
Great Britain - July 6th
Silverstone:
(Great Britain)
Silverstone Circuit - current home of the British Grand Prix - is
situated on the A43, between Towcester and Brackley.
Exit the M40 at Junction 10 (from the South) and follow the A43
signposted to Northampton, or exit at the M40 at Junction 11 (from the North) and follow
the A422 to the A43.
Alternatively, you can exit the M1 at Junction 15a and follow signs
for the A43 Oxford.
Germany - July 20th
HockenheimRing:
(Hockenheim
- Germany)
The German Grand Prix, as opposed to the European Grand Prix (formerly
also held in Germany), takes place in the middle of summer.
Hockenheim
is easily accessible from Karlsruhe and Mannheim by train, where you'll find a shuttle
bus from the train station to the Ring. On foot, it's a good 30 minute walk from the
station.
The German Grand Prix will now alternate between Hockenheim and
Nürburgring.
Hungary - August 3rd
Hungaroring: (Budapest
- Hungary)
The Hungaroring circuit is 19km from the centre of Budapest, alongside the M3 motorway, near the
village of Mogyoród (map).
The track is in a natural valley, surrounded by 50 hectares of rolling
hillside. This amphitheatre setting gives spectators a magnificent view of the race from
just about anywhere around the course.
If you're in the Lake Balaton region, during Grand Prix weekend, there
are plenty of coaches (including race ticket) to Hungaroring for the Grand Prix.
Grand Prix of Europe - August 24th
Circuito Urbano: (Valencia
- Spain)
Calling a Formula One race the European Grand Prix now seems
another way of saying this country has two Grand Prix events on the season's race
calendar.
Whatever, the Valencia
street circuit makes its F1 debut in 2008; an event I even fancy travelling to myself
this year.
A lap is 5.473km with 25 turns; 14 left-handers and 11 right-handers.
With an estimated top speed of around 323km/h lap times could come in around the 1min 37s
mark.
Circuito
Urbano - Valencia:
A preview of how Europe's newest F1 street circuit looks, around the harbourside of
Valencia.
The Valencia street circuit should not to be confused with Circuit Valencia, a racing circuit located just
outside Cheste; 20km from Valencia.
If you are interested in Circuit Valencia, leave Valencia along
Avenida del Cid and take the A-3 dual carriageway, direction Madrid. After about 20km,
take exit 334 (Urbanizaciones - Circuito).
During race events, the circuit’s train station on the suburban
train (Cercanías) C-3 line is open for fans arriving by rail. Autocares Buñol also provide a Valencia-Cheste
bus service.
Belgium - September 7th
Spa-Francorchamps:
(Spa
- Belgium)
Early September is a good time for rain in Belgium, so take an
umbrella.
Although the original circuit was shortened in 1983, Spa still has the
longest lap length of all the Grand Prix race tracks. Part of the course uses public roads
and the whole setting, in the rolling Ardennes hills, makes Spa-Francorchamps a favourite
of many.
Centrally located (50km south-west of Aachen, 50km south of Maastricht
and 50km south-east of Liege).
The circuit is easily accessible through motorways E40, E25 and E42;
making this a popular race weekend for Formula 1 fans from England, France, Germany and
Holland.
Italy - September 14th
Autodromo
Nazionale: (Monza
- Italy)
The Italian Grand Prix, not to be confused with the Imola Grand Prix
(also in Italy), has been raced at Monza for over 50 years.
Monza is located 15km north-east of Milan,
in northern Italy, and is an easy daytrip for race fans based in Switzerland.
Many Formula One fans travelling to Monza choose to stay around the
Lake Como area.
Singapore - September 28th
Singapore Grand Prix: (Singapore)
New to the Formula 1 calendar in 2008, the Singapore Grand Prix will
be raced around the city state's Marina Bay at night; making it the first fully lit street
race in Formula One history.
That should be interesting. With no lights on the cars and relying on
powerful overhead lighting, things could prove tricky if it rains.
The F1 Singapore Grand Prix will also be the first street race to be
held in Asia and is one of three races in the 2008 F1 calendar to run anticlockwise.
Earth
Singapore:
Experience the Singapore F1 route in 3D.
Formula
1 at Night - Singapore:
At the Chingay Parade in February 2008, a night-time preview was given of what night-time
Formula One racing might look and feel like in Singapore, come September.
Mark
Webber Tests Singapore F1 Street Track:
Mark Webber drives around the proposed Singapore GP Track in a Renault road car; as seen
on the Star Sports show.
Japan - October 12th
Fuji
Speedway: (Oyama - Japan)
Grand Prix racing was first held in Japan in 1976, at the Fuji
circuit, then moved to Suzuka a decade later. Fuji made a return in 2007 but will hand
back to Suzuka in 2009; when the two Japanese circuits will alternate holding the Grand
Prix races.
With Mount Fuji in the background (on a clear day), Oyama's Fuji
Speedway really does symbolise motor racing in Japan for the purists.
With Japan's efficient transportation network, getting to Fuiji Speedway is easy
enough; although the diagrams seem to have been put together by someone more conversant in
computer language than literary communication.
China - October 19th
Shanghai
International Circuit: (Shanghai
- China)
Shaped like the Chinese character 'shang', the Shanghai Circuit made
its Formula 1 appearance in 2004.
The F1 Circuit is located five minutes from the northern part of the
suburban ring road; 40 minutes from People's Square.
Hong Qiao airport is about 30 minutes away.
Brazil
Interlagos
Circuit: (São
Paulo - Brazil)
The Brazilians are almost as passionate about Formula 1 as they are
about football and samba. But then that's not surprising considering they have produced
some racing car legends in Emerson Fittipaldi, Nelson Piquet and Ayrton Senna. Now there's
Rubens Barrichello and Felipe Massa to keep the Brazilian interest alive.
The Brazilian Grand Prix (Grande Prêmio do Brasil) is held at the
Autodromdo Jose Carlos Pace, in the Interlagos district of São Paulo. On race days there
is a special bus service to the autodromo from downtown São Paulo.
Interlagos was the initial home of the Brazilian Grand Prix in the
1970's, then lost the event for a decade to Rio de Janeiro (Jacarepagua), before taking
the driving seat again in 1990.
Jacarepagua may be demolished, to allow the city of Rio to build new
facilities for its 2016 Olympic Games bid.
Germany
Nürburgring:
(Adenau - Germany)
Formerly a European Grand Prix, Nürburgring (near Adenau) attracts German campers in their
thousands; the 300,000 square metre camping oasis is directly next to the Grand Prix
course.
Nurburgring lies 90km southwest of Cologne
or 60km northwest of Koblenz,
with the nearest airports at Köln-Bonn
(80km) and Düsseldorf (120km). If you choose
to drive, you'll be pleased to hear that the car-parking is free. There may also be a
bus-shuttle to Nürburgring, from the main station in Koblenz.
The German Grand Prix now alternates between Hockenheim and
Nürburgring.
Japan
Suzuka
Circuit: (Suzuka
- Japan)
Suzuka's figure of eight track is unique in Formula 1 racing.
After being dropped in 2007, to the Fuji Speedway, the Suzuka Circuit
will return to host the Japanese Grand Prix in 2009. The race will then alternate between
the two circuits.
The closest airports to Suzuka are Nagaya and Osaka's Kansai
International.
Tokyo
is further away but the bullet train is a comfortable enough option of travelling to the
race from the capital.
San Marino
Autodromo
Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari: (Imola
- Italy)
Although called the San Marino Grand Prix, it was actually raced in
Imola, Italy; from 1981 to 2006.
San Marino might return in 2009.
USA
US GP Indy: (Indianapolis
- USA)
The United States Grand Prix used to be held at Watkins Glen, then
Long Beach, Dallas, Detroit and Pheonix; before re-establishing itself again at Indianapolis - famous home of the Indy 500 - in 2000.
Although not on the calendar for 2008, a possible Grand Prix return to
Indianapolis in the future has not been completely ruled out.
The Indianapolis
Motor Speedway is located on the west side of Indianapolis, close to Indianapolis
International Airport.
From I-465: Take Exit 16A, Crawfordsville Rd. Head east approximately
1.5 miles; the Speedway is located on the north east corner of Crawfordsville and
Georgetown Roads.
Fantasy
Racers:
If you are more than a traveller who likes to visit top sporting events and really know
about the drivers, you might enjoy this little competition.
Michel.
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