Honda, Toyota in tight race to host F1 Grand Prix
09-06-05, 06:52 AM
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Honda, Toyota in tight race to host F1 Grand Prix
Hiroyuki Kato / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer
Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. are running a tight race over hosting rights for the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix in 2007 and thereafter, with Toyota touting Fuji International Speedway as the venue, while Honda is pushing for Suzuka Circuit.
As Honda's hosting right for the race at Suzuka Circuitland Co.'s circuit in Suzuka, Mie Prefecture, will expire in 2006, Toyota is seeking to have the race venue moved to Fuji International Speedway Co.'s circuit in Oyamacho, Shizuoka Prefecture.
There also is a compromise plan in which the Japanese portion of the F1 Grand Prix could be held at both circuits. Fuji International Speedway is a Toyota affiliate and Suzuka Circuitland is affiliated with Honda.
With the Japanese Grand Prix being scheduled for October in Suzuka, the contest between Toyota and Honda over hosting the race is expected to only get fiercer.
Although Toyota entered cars in the race 2002, with no victory yet, the country's largest carmaker invested 20 billion yen in April to renovate Fuji Speedway, making the circuit a state-of-the-art course as a way to woo hosting rights from 2007.
Toyota entered the race to promote its image in Europe, where F1 is very popular, and to strengthen its weak sales there. Obtaining hosting rights for F1 racing in Japan is part of Toyota's world strategy. The company is approaching senior officials of Federation Internationale de l'Automobile, which organizes the F1 Grand Prix, in an attempt to get the Japanese Grand Prix to Fuji Speedway.
Honda began participating in the F1 Grand Prix in the 1960s and won 71 races through to 1992. Honda withdrew from F1 racing between 1993 and 1999 and has yet to win since it resumed racing in 2000.
But the automaker has hosted the Japanese Grand Prix for 18 years in a row from 1987 to 2004, all at Suzuka Circuit.
Honda has had a tradition of using technology derived from racing since Soichiro Honda founded the company, and losing hosting rights would be considered a major blow to the firm.
Whenever Honda's executives met FIA officials and others, they tout their history and achievements as well as ability to draw crowds to its high-level course as reasons for renewing the contract for hosting F1 racing in Japan.
Two-race compromise eyed
In principle, the F1 Grand Prix series only has one race in each participating country, but because of the neck-and-neck race over hosting rights in Japan, officials of the F1 organizing committee have considered a plan to hold two races, one for each competing speedway.
The situation is not without precedent. In 1994 and 1995 the F1 Grand Prix had two races in Japan. This season, two races were held in Germany.
The F1 Grand Prix usually comprises of 16 races each year, but this year there were 19.
"Of course, we're considering hosting it [the Japanese Grand Prix] in Suzuka, but there also is the possibility that there could be a race for each circuit," Honda President Takeo Fukui said. Toyota also is positive about the plan to hold two races, according to sources.
The traditional Japanese Grand Prix should be limited to one circuit, some observers said. The FIA, which carries great influence over where races are held, and the Formula One Administration, the organization that officially decides where F1 races are held, will make a final decision on the venue of the Japanese Grand Prix sometime in spring.
How the squabble over the race's venue is affecting F1 sponsors is still uncertain, and Honda and Toyota's fight to host the race is expected to go down to the last lap.
(Sep. 6, 2005)
source : yomiuri.co.jp
Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. are running a tight race over hosting rights for the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix in 2007 and thereafter, with Toyota touting Fuji International Speedway as the venue, while Honda is pushing for Suzuka Circuit.
As Honda's hosting right for the race at Suzuka Circuitland Co.'s circuit in Suzuka, Mie Prefecture, will expire in 2006, Toyota is seeking to have the race venue moved to Fuji International Speedway Co.'s circuit in Oyamacho, Shizuoka Prefecture.
There also is a compromise plan in which the Japanese portion of the F1 Grand Prix could be held at both circuits. Fuji International Speedway is a Toyota affiliate and Suzuka Circuitland is affiliated with Honda.
With the Japanese Grand Prix being scheduled for October in Suzuka, the contest between Toyota and Honda over hosting the race is expected to only get fiercer.
Although Toyota entered cars in the race 2002, with no victory yet, the country's largest carmaker invested 20 billion yen in April to renovate Fuji Speedway, making the circuit a state-of-the-art course as a way to woo hosting rights from 2007.
Toyota entered the race to promote its image in Europe, where F1 is very popular, and to strengthen its weak sales there. Obtaining hosting rights for F1 racing in Japan is part of Toyota's world strategy. The company is approaching senior officials of Federation Internationale de l'Automobile, which organizes the F1 Grand Prix, in an attempt to get the Japanese Grand Prix to Fuji Speedway.
Honda began participating in the F1 Grand Prix in the 1960s and won 71 races through to 1992. Honda withdrew from F1 racing between 1993 and 1999 and has yet to win since it resumed racing in 2000.
But the automaker has hosted the Japanese Grand Prix for 18 years in a row from 1987 to 2004, all at Suzuka Circuit.
Honda has had a tradition of using technology derived from racing since Soichiro Honda founded the company, and losing hosting rights would be considered a major blow to the firm.
Whenever Honda's executives met FIA officials and others, they tout their history and achievements as well as ability to draw crowds to its high-level course as reasons for renewing the contract for hosting F1 racing in Japan.
Two-race compromise eyed
In principle, the F1 Grand Prix series only has one race in each participating country, but because of the neck-and-neck race over hosting rights in Japan, officials of the F1 organizing committee have considered a plan to hold two races, one for each competing speedway.
The situation is not without precedent. In 1994 and 1995 the F1 Grand Prix had two races in Japan. This season, two races were held in Germany.
The F1 Grand Prix usually comprises of 16 races each year, but this year there were 19.
"Of course, we're considering hosting it [the Japanese Grand Prix] in Suzuka, but there also is the possibility that there could be a race for each circuit," Honda President Takeo Fukui said. Toyota also is positive about the plan to hold two races, according to sources.
The traditional Japanese Grand Prix should be limited to one circuit, some observers said. The FIA, which carries great influence over where races are held, and the Formula One Administration, the organization that officially decides where F1 races are held, will make a final decision on the venue of the Japanese Grand Prix sometime in spring.
How the squabble over the race's venue is affecting F1 sponsors is still uncertain, and Honda and Toyota's fight to host the race is expected to go down to the last lap.
(Sep. 6, 2005)
source : yomiuri.co.jp
09-06-05, 02:07 PM
#3
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The "rule" one country - one race is more of a tradition. Tradition that means nothing.
Germany had two races since I can rememer watching F1, one is called GP of Germany and the other GP of Europe. BS if you ask me.
Same thing goes for Italy which host GP of italy and GP of San Marino. San Marino is a state within the Italy.
The reason why these two countries have two GPs is because of manufactures (one of them is Ferrari) lobbied for it. So I don't see the reason why Japan or even US could not host more than one race. Call Suzuka the GP of Japan and call Fuji GP of Pacific or Asia.
Briatore (chief of Renault team) suggested that US should have another race which would be held on streets of Las Vegas. Call it GP of North America or GP of Nevada, I don't care just do it.
Germany had two races since I can rememer watching F1, one is called GP of Germany and the other GP of Europe. BS if you ask me.
Same thing goes for Italy which host GP of italy and GP of San Marino. San Marino is a state within the Italy.
The reason why these two countries have two GPs is because of manufactures (one of them is Ferrari) lobbied for it. So I don't see the reason why Japan or even US could not host more than one race. Call Suzuka the GP of Japan and call Fuji GP of Pacific or Asia.
Briatore (chief of Renault team) suggested that US should have another race which would be held on streets of Las Vegas. Call it GP of North America or GP of Nevada, I don't care just do it.
09-06-05, 05:47 PM
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Originally Posted by AmethySC
Toyota entered the race to promote its image in Europe, where F1 is very popular, and to strengthen its weak sales there.
Monte Carlo is really a second venue in France.
No biggie having two races there - as long as it's good for the bottom line I'm sure F1 would accept both.
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