http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/story/117581.html ----- Formula One is set to return to Austria next year after Red Bull announced it had struck a deal to bring a grand prix back to its circuit in Spielberg. In a short statement, Red Bull told Austrian media that the race will take place at the Red Bull Ring on July 6 after co-owner Dietrich Mateschitz agreed a deal with Formula One CEO Bernie Ecclestone. F1 last raced on the circuit in 2003, when it was called the A1 Ring, but has a long history at the venue which used to be home to the daunting Osterreichring. Since 2003 Red Bull has redeveloped the track and it currently hosts a number of racing series, including DTM. There was talk that the Red Bull Ring could become a replacement for the postponed New Jersey Grand Prix this year, but after a stand-in race could not be agreed on the FIA signed off a 19-race calendar instead. An Austrian Grand Prix in 2014 would have to receive the approval of the FIA's World Motor Sport Council to be granted a place on the calendar and, alongside the proposed races in New Jersey and Russia, could bring the total number of grands prix to 22 next year, although question marks remain over Korea's future. Formula One teams have made clear they do not want have more than 20 races per year, and with four two-day in-season tests planned after select European rounds in 2014, it is not clear where the new races will fit in. Austria's date of July 6 is the same as the one that currently appears on Silverstone's ticket sales website for the 2014 British Grand Prix and is the same weekend that the German Grand Prix took place on this year. The FIA has yet to make a draft calendar for next year public. © ESPN Sports Media Ltd. -----
Here a link to a classic race from the old track: [video=youtube;SoTWD_7wmfM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoTWD_7wmfM#at=120[/video] Commenting from Heinz Prüller (the "Murray Walker" from Austria). Check out Balestre at the podium.... and Helmut Marko talking to Lauda, fun stuff! Also interesting: the sound of the turbos! Kind of a preview for 2014.
I have no clue yet how they will get all the necessary ecology approvals from the government. We've got some really weird anti-F1 peeps here in Austria, so i wonder how this will work out.
Well, we're only going there because Red Bull have been lobbying, but at least it's in Europe and it has a pedigree and we're not designing a brand new track for no apparent reason. However, that's quite a lot of races now due on the calendar next year surely?
Here's hoping it's Yeongam! Tomcat, maybe you could make a poll for which race should be dropped. Oh no, you can't see this because you're ignoring me
Red Bull racing teams, Red Bull racing circuits, Red Bull employed commentators - Hoorah for Red Bull! (other brands of drinks company billionaire owners are available) Hoorah!
Did some research. With the addition of Austria to next year's calendar as well as the new races in New Jersey and Sochi the calendar currently stands at 21 races. Wiki has them all down as contracted for 2014 as well. In box, all the contract lengths for tracks currently on the calendar. Spoilered for length. [nsfw]Abu Dhabi - 2014 Australia - 2018 Bahrain - 2015 Belgium - 2015 Brazil - 2015 Britain - 2026 Canada - 2014 China - 2017 Germany - 2018 Hungary - 2016 India - 2015 Italy - 2016 Korea - 2014 with options for five additional grands prix until 2019 Malaysia - 2015 Monaco - 2017 Singapore - 2017 Spain - 2016 USA - 2023[/nsfw] The only current question mark is over the location of the Spanish Grand Prix which is still unclear - Valencia is in dire financial straits, and Catalunya (which was initially meant to alternate with Valencia) has put tickets for the 2014 Spanish Grand Prix on sale. The contract, however, is pretty watertight. The teams have been adamant they will not stand for more than 20 races and the Austria announcement clashes with the previously announced date for next year's British Grand Prix... something's got to give here!
You forgot to mention all the Red Bull raised (No water added) drivers. Now replace "Red Bull" with "Ferrari" and imagine the uproar.
Literally, the pile of papers by my desk very nearly got a load of coffee on them. It's interesting to watch Red Bull take over, arguably more successfully than Ferrari. For example Ferrari have frequently said they could run 3 cars, but Red Bull have come in and started running 4 in a far shorter time period.
Now how funny would it be that they ban all other merchandise other than Red Bull like they did at Fuji 07 with Toyota?
