F1's GP promoters miss their chance

One of the features of the Spanish Grand Prix weekend was the number of race promoters swanning about the place, with representatives from 17 of 2014's 19 grands prix present at the Catalunya circuit.

It seems Ronald J Walker, Australian Grand Prix promoter and long-standing Bernie Ecclestone-ite, called the first meeting of the Formula One Promoters' Association - an organisation founded two years ago which would, in the words of a disciple, "forever change F1's political landscape" - explaining the plethora of promoters mainly hanging about Red Bull's Energy Station.

If FOPA - an acronym shared with the sport's photographic association - wishes to impact on the landscape it must surely do better, for despite agreement among its members not to talk to the media, more than a few admitted feeling underwhelmed after flying halfway across the world, for they had sight of the agenda only upon arrival.

To their dismay they discovered their most burning shared issue - horrific race hosting fees charged by the commercial rights holder, which in turn manifest themselves in outrageous ticket prices paid by fans, whether in Montreal, Melbourne or Malaysia - was, in the words of one delegate, "totally off-limits. We agreed to discuss fees, but nobody had the balls to table it, and it was not on the agenda."

Asked on Sunday's grid by television reporters what had been agreed, Ecclestone - who, according to the official five-line post-meeting blurb, "attended the meeting in support of the promoters [ie his major customers]" - stated: "We agreed the date for the next meeting."

Retorted one attendee on Sunday: "That about sums it up, except we didn't even agree that, and, if we did, I didn't hear it..."

The blurb states that the forum discussed "various aspects of Formula 1 for the benefit of all the fans who are concerned about maintaining the unique feeling of Formula 1". Given that there is little chance of ticket prices reducing in the near future, that's one unique aspect of the sport that will surely be maintained...

The mere fact that the promoters collectively failed to share with fans - their primary customer base, remember - any detail whatsoever surely proves the meeting was thick on air and thin on substance.

That said, one of the topics was the (lack of) noise produced by the current cars, a topic which was thrashed to death during the previous four races, with the jury still out on that one.

Other items on the agenda included plummeting TV and live audience ratings and ways to arrest the wholesale slides of both, and here's betting that if the sport reduced its ticket prices by 50 per cent it would double attendances across the globe, even if the cars were dead quiet.

Melbourne's Ron Walker chats with CVC's Donald McKenzie during the promoters' Barcelona visit © XPB

That said, one of the weekend's more humorous cures for the aural dilemma was a proposal to fit silencers to GP2 and GP3 cars to reduce the contrast in noise levels for punters - not that it would solve the issue for television viewers!

Also present was a delegation from Sochi, obviously anxious to share news with this column after it last week cast doubts about the Russian GP in view of the ongoing Ukraine crisis.

Granted right-of-reply, they reinforced the thrust of AUTOSPORT's article, namely that it was likely that any decision to cancel the race would fall at the very last minute. This writer suggested it could be as late as Suzuka Sunday, when the cars would leave Japan for Russia's race a week later on October 12.

Present in Spain were Alexander Saurin, vice-governor of Krasnodar (the Russian province in which Sochi is situated) and Sergey Vorobyev, deputy general manager OJSC 'Center Omega', ie the promoter, who granted this column an exclusive interview.

Richard Cregan, former Toyota F1 sporting director-turned Abu Dhabi promoter and now acting as international consultant to Sochi, joined us later.

The obvious opening discussion point is the current status of the event, and progress made towards hosting it.

"Basically, I'm speaking about three diverse directions," said Saurin, confirming that the contract runs for seven years, with the race to be held annually until 2020.

"First, we are bound [by] the necessary legal documents, which confirm we are in good standing for the 2014 Russian Grand Prix. We have the contracts; we have the mutual obligation with the Formula One Group."

The second leg is what he termed the "constructional readiness of the facility. The construction is basically done, according to the timescale. We understand that 60 days before the race the facility will be completed. So we estimate that the constructional readiness at the moment is about 90 per cent."

The final obligation is operational readiness, and Saurin confirmed that they were working with the structures "in charge of the Formula 1 race - the Formula One Group, the FIA.

"Also, we see no operational risks regarding the hosting of our grand prix, specifically after the [Winter] Olympic experience. So when you're asking, 'Why do you consider the race will happen?' we have basically three grounds: legal, constructional and operational, and in every direction we're good."

This, though, overlooks the prevailing political situation, and he was quick to underscore that they are working to the contract, with political issues being outside their remit.

"In terms of the contract, this does not have any force majeure implications on the grand prix, so we confirm that from our side we'll fulfil all the necessary requirements: operational, sporting readiness, and safety. So we are sure the [race] will happen [from our perspective]."

Vorobyev was part of the Sochi delegation in Spain © XPB

Asked what he meant by "safety", Saurin explained that all levels of security would be implemented "for all participants and many guests of the event", the plans for which are modelled on their experiences with the Olympics.

"We have just completed the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi and the level of security at the Games is our level, our criteria, for the F1 event."

All very reassuring, but the Olympics were staged before the annexation of Crimea, the coast of which lies within 500km of Sochi.

"Sochi is basically far away, a distance from Ukraine; at the perimeter of Russia. No special difficulties with safety are occurring. And as we understand, this crisis in the Ukraine is de-escalated and solved. But anyway, we're working on the basis of the contract and confirm that all the obligations will be fulfilled from all sides."

The column had also cast doubts on spectator numbers, suggested that fewer than 20,000 would be catered for. While the group refused to speculate, Saurin did allow that ticketing details would be announced on May 20, 10 days after this interview.

"On May 20 we will announce details about the ticketing programme, how many tickets, how many spectators we expect at the first grand prix.

"We have two options at the moment; the final decision has not been made, so let's wait until May 20 when we announce the final decision. We know for sure the prices, we know the minimum ticket price and this is not high."

That said, given that the facilities are allegedly 90 per cent there, the grandstand must surely be in place...

"As for the main grandstand," he said, "it's the final finishing of that. [It was] in place even during the Olympic Games. Now we're speaking about the final roads, preparation for the final [surface] and so on. As for the temporary grandstands, a final decision as to the quantity will be announced on May 20.

"Regarding the volume, we'll announce everything on the 20th. We're now completing the final economics, and ticket sales will start soon after the announcement."

However, this column was essentially on the money with its projection, for other sources have since advised that the first model is for 23,000 spectators, with a further 5500 catered for in the high-end Paddock Club. The other model accommodates 46,000 plus 5500. The final number, said our source, would lie between the two extremes, with the Paddock Club fixed at 5500.

Either way it's a far cry from the original 100,000 the promoters targeted, and the worst-case scenario rates as the lowest planned attendance of any contemporary race.

Saurin believes 80 per cent of spectators will come from within Russia, with the rest drawn mainly from neighbouring states. But from where in Russia, given the logistics challenges outlined in last week's column?

Russian GP organisers are hoping Kvyat's presence will boost crowd interest © XPB

"Basically the whole country: we have 12 million people following Formula 1 in Russia, plus we have a national driver, Daniil Kvyat, and we have national drivers in support races as well. The interest from across Russia is quite big."

Logistics and customs inspection programmes have been developed, and Saurin anticipates no serious risks in terms of logistics, while "the logistics models that were used for the games received a high rating from the International Olympic Committee, and we are basically keeping [them]. Sochi will be a comfortable place to visit."

He also has no doubts that the paddock will be ready to host the 11 teams: "First of all, this is a flyaway race, so [motorhomes] will not be [required]. [The paddock] has permanent team buildings in place, already done. So the level of constructional readiness in terms of the facilities will be 100 per cent and operational.

"Together with FOM we'll guarantee all the procedures necessary. When cargo comes in, we'll have it unloaded, swiftly gone through customs and put in place as it should be."

Cregan underscored the arrangements: "I think what's very positive at the moment is that since the Olympics have been completed, all of the local authorities are coming together, under the direction of Mr Saurin.

"So customs, immigration, airports authority, transport - the same as in another event - this is coming together and is starting to work really well, because Formula 1 is now the main event for Sochi. I think that's very positive."

Reacting to comments in last week's column that passenger-flight capacity between major centres and Sochi is limited, Saurin advised: "The government made the decision to announce Sochi as an open-sky city, so it will be much easier; this will be done with national as well as international airlines. It will be much easier to get landing slots," adding he was "absolutely sure" the plans could be implemented by October.

He also believes the weather should be perfect for racing despite the late-autumn slot, with daytime temperatures ranging from 15 to 20C, and "no rain during this period. [Sochi] is a subtropical area; this is the only place in Russia with a subtropical climate."

He conceded, though, that spring would be more suitable, admitting: "We're also considering discussing the option of the race in spring..."

Unless politics intervene, Saurin's plan is to use his province's inaugural race to attract mainly Russian fans to "prove on an international level that Sochi is the right place for F1, so that for the next event we can have many more international visitors.

"We will prove it by the quality of the first event."