Thailand officially off 2014 F1 calendar
After the Grand Prix circuit through the streets of Bangkok around the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew approved by the FIA (International Automobile Federation) has been abandoned, it was almost certain and it now official: Thailand will not be on the Formula 1 season 2014 calendar. No decision has yet been taken to relocate the race somewhere else. But it won’t be in Bangkok center town.
Bangkok Grand Prix original circuit
A first draft of the 2014 provisional calendar has been distributed to teams ahead of this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, but must be approved at a meeting of the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council due to take place in Croatia on September 26-28. But the country have no chance to appear in the final calendar. The existence of the Grand Prix of Thailand is quite compromised in the future also. Phuket had volunteered to host the Grand Prix but Bangkok was a lot more attractive for FIA especially with a circuit where aerial views of the most beautiful monuments of the Thai capital city would have enchanted viewers around the world and been a great promotion for the country. Concerns about the impact the vibrations could have on the monuments had forced authorities to reconsider the project a few months ago.
Draft calendar for the 2014 Formula One season:
March 16 – Australia (Melbourne)
March 23 – Malaysia (Sepang)
April 6 – China (Shanghai)
April 13 – South Korea (Korea International Circuit)
April 27 – Bahrain (Sakhir)
May 11 – Spain (Barcelona)
May 25 – Monaco (Monaco)
June 8 – Canada (Montreal)
June 22 – Austria (Red Bull Ring)
July 6 – Great Britain (Silverstone)
July 20 – Germany (Hockenheim)
July 27 – Hungary (Budapest)
August 24 – Belgium (Spa)
September 7 – Italy (Monza)
September 21 – Singapore (Marina Bay)
October 5 – Japan (Suzuka)
October 19 – Russia (Sochi)
October 26 – Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina)
November 9 – Mexico (Mexico City)
November 16 – USA (Circuit of the Americas, Austin)
November 30 – Brazil (Interlagos)
