Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone says tapping in the Americas is long-term plan – Formula 1 news
Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone said that he is not sure whether F1 will be a big hit in America.
He explained that America is just as big as Europe and even though there are going to be two new circuits in the US, Austin and New Jersey, it is still not enough. He suggested that F1 will need a lot more races in the country and a lot more TV coverage
to make it really big. That is something that cannot be achieved overnight and it will take the next decade to make sure the sport gets the due attention and popularity in the country.
He also said that Americans like to see some profit before they start up a project and that is something which in not realistic at the moment. The first few years will only establish the sport better in the country and the profit will start to pour in later.
Korea is facing a similar situation, where even after two Grands Prix held in the country over the span of two years, it has not been able to generate a profit for the organisers. It remains to be seen though how much of a difference 2012 for the venue in
terms of profit.
Formula 1 has been adding new circuits for a few years, India was another big inclusion, and is being heralded as a big hit, but there is still room for a lot of improvement and profit in that part of the world.
“We're going to be in Russia in 2014, South Africa, probably in 2013 even,” Ecclestone said.
“We have enough countries waiting but I think we have to stop now,” he said. “It's difficult for the people who work in Formula One with all the travelling. They never see their family, that’s the big problem.”
Ecclestone though realising the limitations of time said that it is not possible to race all over the globe as everyone involved with the sport especially teams and drivers hardly see their families and that is very hard to do.
He said that he intends to introduce F1 back to South Africa and wants to add few more circuits in the Americas but that is a long-term plan.
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