So good they postponed it twice

05/12/2013
FEATURE BY CHRIS BALFE

It's not the wording of the press release from Grand Prix of America regarding the postponement of the 2014 event that frustrates but the timing.

Of course, having confidently predicted for some time that the race will not take place - certainly not as we know it - it came as no surprise when the FIA's official schedule for 2014 arrived confirming that along with Korea and Mexico, there would be no F1 on the streets of New Jersey next year.

However, just minutes later, with predictable arrogance, the statement from GPA followed, declaring that "promoter Leo Hindery Jr, and his team are working on restructured financial arrangements for a 2015 race".

It was pure deja vu; on 28 September 2012 GPA proudly announced that the event at Port Imperial was on the FIA's provisional calendar for 2013. Less than a month later GPA announced that "the inaugural race has been moved from June 2013 to 2014 due to ongoing construction issues".

Low and behold, on 27 September 2013, the FIA's provisional calendar for 2014 had New Jersey on the calendar, the event scheduled for 1 June to form part of a three weekend back-to-back schedule with Monaco and Canada.

"The race will be the first Formula One race in the New Jersey/New York area," boasted GPA, "a fitting celebration of the world championship's 65th year of competition.

"The entire Grand Prix of America team is thrilled to join the 2014 FIA calendar and we look forward to bringing world-class Formula One racing to New Jersey," said Hindery.

Then came yesterday's announcement, this time Hindery citing money problems as he revealed that he and his team are "working on restructured financial arrangements".

"Our entire management team and our supporters in New Jersey, New York and throughout the Formula One community obviously want to see the inaugural Grand Prix of America at Port Imperial take place as soon as possible," he added. "Bringing a world-class race to the world's largest media market is a huge undertaking that has required balancing construction of our road course, without tapping any public money, with the Sport's own timing demands.

"I want to thank Formula One Management, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Mayors Richard Turner and Felix Roque, Roseland Property Company and the other local property owners involved for their patience while we've worked to get this right so that we can finally go racing in 2015."

No thanks to those fans who have shown equal patience as the race gets 'postponed' yet again, but there you go.

As we have said previously, getting on to the provisional calendar is the easy bit, all you need is a couple of hundred thousand dollars to pay the fee... it is finding the hundred million plus to stage the event and pay FOM's fees that is the real problem.

The apologists remain convinced that the event will eventually happen, not least because it is Bernie Ecclestone's dream to have a race with the world's most exciting city as its backdrop.

For those new to the sport, might we suggest that neither Bernie nor his partners - you know, the people that actually own the sport - have little room for sentimentality. Much as they might want to see New York on the calendar it won't happen until the money is securely in the bank.

We have already gone into great detail in terms of the practical and physical aspects that stand in the way of the proposed circuit and we have seen and heard absolutely nothing to convince us otherwise. Indeed, looking ahead to 2014 we believe that the current ambitious construction programme in the area will lead to even more (physical) obstacles in the way.

However, as for the money, what does Hindery have that would possibly convince anyone to invest, after all, as we previously revealed, such is his utter confidence in the race he is willing to give up his own stake in the project should the right partner be brought on board. Yeh right.

America is still not convinced by F1, and this event being postponed twice is hardly going to help the situation. Nor is the fact that Korea is out after just four races and India two.

We come off the back of one of the most one-sided seasons in living memory, certainly the second half of it. The sport's supremo is currently on trial in London for alleged bribery with further cases on both sides of the Atlantic pending on the outcome. A number of teams face highly uncertain futures and talented drivers are being overlooked in favour of journeymen with pockets filled with sponsors cash.

When New Jersey appeared on the provisional calendar (again), the apologists claimed that this was proof the event would happen, just a few days later it was even revealed that Ecclestone had sold GPA the track barriers previously used on the Valencia Street Circuit. Even more proof it will happen, we were told.

Dismissing the fact that the cancellation of the Valencia event came after just five races, selling the barriers was a typical Bernie move. He gets the dosh for the barriers from a purchaser who has little choice in the matter because to say the barriers were not needed would be tantamount to admitting that the event will not be held. This was a move typical of Bernie who, post-war, could be found, along with other notorious notables such as Colin Chapman, selling second-hand cars on Warren Street.

Rather than continually telling us that it will be next year, thereby risking bringing the sport into disrepute, further frustrating fans and undermining potential investor confidence, perhaps Hindery and his team should go away and do some serious thinking for all that is happening at present is that damage is being done in terms of a race in New York, possibly irreparable damage.

Make no mistake, along with the apologists we want to see F1 in New York, however, much like the Quantum Motorsport deal with Lotus, nothing we see inspires confidence. Quite the opposite.

While one might be tempted to look at the whole Port Imperial project and recall the Monty Python dead parrot sketch, Mr Praline's insistence that "this is a dead parrot", we prefer to take Lou (Mr New York) Reed's view… and suggest "stick a fork in its ass, it's done".

Chris Balfe
Editor

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Published: 05/12/2013
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