The challenges facing F1's venues

Another week, another grand prix project...

With Ukraine and Vietnam during the last fortnight of 2010 announcing plans for the construction of Formula 1-standard circuits within their borders, and news about a Thai venue breaking shortly before that, the statement that starts this piece certainly has legs, particularly as the new year opened to (seemingly unfounded) rumours about not one but two grands prix on islands in the Mediterranean.

During the year just passed, Bulgaria and South Africa reaffirmed their intentions of hosting grands prix in the near future, while the long-rumoured Sochi event moved a step closer to realisation with the inking of a seven-year contract (2014-2020) for an F1 race on the Black Sea. Add the Austin, Texas deal announced in May and the recently-confirmed Indian Grand Prix to Romania's stated aspirations, constant rumours about a return to France, and plans for a supposedly F1-standard track in Argentina, and it's one for every month in 2010.