Xosé Estrada
Premium
http://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20120109/54244738065/govern-fin-formula-1-catalunya.html
It seems that 2012 will be the last year for both the European GP at Valencia and the Spanish GP at Catalunya, according to what newspapers from both autonomous communities say.
I think this is product of the crisis, but as well as the end of the F1 fever happening in the mid 00's when Fernando Alonso was at Renault. Now F1 is established still as a very followed sport but with half of the numbers it had in 2006.
I'm somewhat not happy, because you always want to have more GPs close to home, but at the same time there are many other GPs in Europe where I could go, and maybe this way France and Portugal can have their chance, which are in fact closer or as close to where I live in Spain than Barcelona or Valencia. Also Jerez or Alcañiz could step ahead for the Spanish GP, or even Valencia mantain it with the Ricardo Tormo Circuit, but considering the economical situation I think this is also a message of responsibility to the UE and a proof of the cost cutting.
I think Catalunya did well this times, in Valencia case, using Ricardo Tormo Circuit would be much more intelligent but as I said there was a "monaco-like" project planned surrounding the F1 that went so wrong.
It seems that 2012 will be the last year for both the European GP at Valencia and the Spanish GP at Catalunya, according to what newspapers from both autonomous communities say.
I think this is product of the crisis, but as well as the end of the F1 fever happening in the mid 00's when Fernando Alonso was at Renault. Now F1 is established still as a very followed sport but with half of the numbers it had in 2006.
I'm somewhat not happy, because you always want to have more GPs close to home, but at the same time there are many other GPs in Europe where I could go, and maybe this way France and Portugal can have their chance, which are in fact closer or as close to where I live in Spain than Barcelona or Valencia. Also Jerez or Alcañiz could step ahead for the Spanish GP, or even Valencia mantain it with the Ricardo Tormo Circuit, but considering the economical situation I think this is also a message of responsibility to the UE and a proof of the cost cutting.
I think Catalunya did well this times, in Valencia case, using Ricardo Tormo Circuit would be much more intelligent but as I said there was a "monaco-like" project planned surrounding the F1 that went so wrong.