Out of potential disaster, Korea somehow created remarkable event at Yeongam
Get your hopes up, and you might see yourself brutally disappointed. Hyped-up sports events also end up being seen as a fizzle because they match possibly match expectations. Then there's the occasional
event which no one expects much from, yet seems to mesh beautifully at the last moment.
This brings us to the Formula One Yeongam Race that inaugurated the country’s first Grand Prix on Sunday October 24. And if anyone expected anything, it was that the whole affair was certain to be a disaster
so big, it would make the debacle of The Indian Commonwealth Games look like a highlight reel from the
Cirque du Soleil. However, now that the race is over and the eyes of the F1 world are turning towards Brazil, many have noted that Yeongam will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most interesting highlights on the 2010 calendar.
Of course, no one expected it to be a success. Ironically, it was these abysmal expectations going into the race that made even the most minimal successes seem like great triumphs. The slew of delays
and set-backs that hampered the track’s construction, generated negative speculation since June and July, and caused many F1 officials to believe that the whole Korean Grand Prix was going to be a proverbial car accident in slow motion.
The fact that the final track inspection was pushed back from September to late October (just a week prior to the race) had many F1 teams fuming as they were forced to practice the new, untested track
on virtual simulators as opposed to getting real, first-hand knowledge of the circuit.
Add in the fact that on the Wednesday prior to the race, Korean officials had to mobilize the army to help finish the construction of the grandstands as well as help sort out the plethora of niggling details
on the track itself, and it was no surprise the F1 world was convinced the event would turn out to be a disaster.
But it wasn’t just track problems that had people nervous. Logistical issues like transport arrangements to-and-from the track, the shoddy internet connections, and the lack of proper accommodations,
did little to ease people's concerns.
This shortage of sleeping facilities meant that Formula 1 team personnel and media who were not lucky to get themselves a room near the track, had to stay in the much talked about 'love hotels' for the
weekend. Given that these rooms sported mirrors on the ceilings, baths for two people, vending machines equipped with much of the paraphernalia found in most adult stores, as well as lotions, massage oils and skimpy night-time outfits that were complementary
gifts from the house, such accommodations have never been standard operating procedure on the F1 tour.
However, despite the inaugural hiccups, by the end of the weekend, the event was regarded in a positive light. Although an initial culture-shock, journalists and F1 teams regarded their love hotels with
good cheer and a sense of humour. The track itself overcame its growing pains and many believed it was one of Hermann Tilke’s most interesting designs. The overwhelming, grass-roots response to the F1, coupled with an appearance by the newly elected Prime
Minister, Kim Hwang-Sik, gave the event an authentic and sincere charm. What the Korean Grand Prix lacked in planning and precision, it made up for by the sheer interest and enthusiasm of its many fans.
As F1 teams gear up for the two remaining circuits of the 2010 season, Yeongam organizers vowed to improve and expand their facilities for 2011. Yet, despite all the glitches and against all the odds,
they managed to pull the proverbial rabbit out of the hat – delighting Korean fans for the first time with the magic of the Grand Prix.
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