Korean Grand Prix

Korean Grand Prix
Korea International Circuit
Race information
Number of times held 4
First held 2010
Last held 2013
Most wins (drivers) Germany Sebastian Vettel (3)
Most wins (constructors) Austria Red Bull (3)
Circuit length 5.615 km (3.48 mi)
Race length 308.825 km (191.4 mi)
Laps 55
Last race (2013)
Pole position
Podium
Fastest lap

The Korean Grand Prix (Korean: 코리아 그랑프리) was a Formula One race held in the Republic of Korea, from 2010 until 2013, when it was dropped from the Formula One calendar.[1] After four seasons the race was dropped having proved unpopular with fans, leaving many empty seats in the grandstands for each Grand Prix. That in part was caused by the circuit’s geographical location and the lack of accommodation in the surrounding area.[2]

History

After months of speculation, on October 2, 2006 it was confirmed that the event would actually take place in 2010, and would be hosted by the Korea International Circuit, in Yeongam. It was also revealed that the race would be promoted by a public-private company. The deal was for seven years with a five-year option that would ensure the race to be held until 2021.[3]

Despite this earlier confirmation, the Korean Grand Prix was not included on any of the provisional 2010 calendars floated by Formula One Management. Following approval of funding for the event,[4] however, Korea was given the date of 17 October on the 2010 calendar published by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) on 21 September 2009.[5] On December 10, 2009, the organisers of the event announced that they were on schedule, with a plan to finish the circuit on July 5, 2010, though they admitted that their largest problem lay in finding accommodation for all Formula One staff and spectators.[6] The organisers also ruled out the possibility of staging the race at night until they have more knowledge of and experience in running a Grand Prix. Despite all the confirmation there was still a risk that the circuit might not be on time,[7] however this was denied by the race promoter who said that the circuit was ahead of schedule.[8]

After several postponements, the FIA scheduled a final inspection of the circuit on 11 October 2010, 13 days before the Korean Grand Prix was scheduled to begin.[9] After the FIA inspection, Race Director Charlie Whiting declared that the race would go ahead.[10]

In 2011, organisers of the Korean Grand Prix expressed dissatisfaction over the terms of their contract with Bernie Ecclestone and Formula One Management, particularly with regards to the cost of race-sanctioning fees, and sought to renegotiate the contract, seeking more-favourable terms.[11][12] However, Ecclestone ruled out renegotiations, stating that the initial negotiation process had been difficult enough, and that the organisers were aware of the terms of the contract when they first signed it. Ecclestone has stated that in the event that race organisers can not pay sanctioning fees, the Korean Grand Prix will be removed from the calendar.[13] The final calendar, released in December 2011, kept the Korean Grand Prix intact.[14] Shortly after the 2012 Australian Grand Prix, organisers of the race in Korea announced that they had reached a new deal with Formula One Management that would save $20.5 million (₩23 billion) in costs.[15] However, Kang Hyo-seok, director of race organisation for the Korean Grand Prix, admitted that the race was still far too expensive for Korea, anticipating an estimated loss of $26 million (₩29 billion) in 2012. The race went ahead in 2013.

Cancellation

A preliminary calendar for the 2014 season listed a provisional date for the Korean Grand Prix,[16] however the race was left off the final calendar for 2014.[1][17]

Initially, the race was not included in the provisional 2015 calendar,[18] however, a later calendar released in December 2014, gave the Korean Grand Prix a slot on 3 May 2015,[19] having been moved from towards the end of the calendar in previous years, towards the start of the calendar. On 12 December 2014 Bernie Ecclestone explained that Korean Grand Prix had to be added to 2015 calendar for legal reason citing contract obligations but that organizers are not keen on having the race. However later it was announced that it had been axed from the calendar by the FIA because the organisers were not keen on hosting it. They have plans to revive the Korean Grand Prix in 2016.[20]

Winners

All Korean Grands Prix were held at Yeongam.

Year Driver Constructor Report
2013 Germany Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault Report
2012 Germany Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault Report
2011 Germany Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault Report
2010 Spain Fernando Alonso Ferrari Report

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "FIA confirms revised calendar for 2014". formula1.com. 4 December 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  2. ↑ http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/9604377/Bernie-Korea-not-keen-on-hosting-race
  3. ↑ "Korean Grand Prix set for 2010". manipef1.com. 2006-10-02.
  4. ↑ Noble, Jonathan (2009-09-18). "South Korea still pushing for 2010 race". autosport.com (Haymarket Publications). Retrieved 2009-09-18.
  5. ↑ Elizalde, Pablo (2009-09-21). "FIA announces 19-race 2010 calendar". autosport.com (Haymarket Publications). Retrieved 2009-09-21.
  6. ↑ Noble, Jonathan (2009-12-10). "Korean GP preparations on target". Autosport.com. Retrieved 2009-12-11.
  7. ↑ "autosport.com". Autosport.
  8. ↑ "autosport.com". Autosport.
  9. ↑ "Korean GP inspection set for October 11 | Korean Grand Prix | Formula 1 news, live F1 | ESPN F1". En.espnf1.com. 2010-09-29. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  10. ↑ "Korean Grand Prix given go-ahead". BBC News. 2010-10-12.
  11. ↑ Noble, Jonathan (18 October 2011). "Korea seeks to renegotiate GP contract". Autosport (Haymarket Publications). Retrieved 28 October 2011.
  12. ↑ Noble, Jonathan (18 October 2011). "Q & A with Korean Grand Prix promoter Won-Hwa Park". Autosport (Haymarket Publications). Retrieved 28 October 2011.
  13. ↑ Noble, Jonathan (27 October 2011). "Bernie Ecclestone casts doubt on future of Korean GP". Autosport (Haymarket Publications). Retrieved 28 October 2011.
  14. ↑ Collantine, Keith (7 December 2011). "United States Grand Prix remains on unchanged 2012 F1 calendar". F1 Fanatic (Keith Collantine). Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  15. ↑ Oh Kyu-wook (18 March 2012). "South Jeolla cuts costs for F1 Grand Prix". The Korea Herald (Park Haeng-hwan). Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  16. ↑ "FNew Jersey, Austria, Russia, Mexico added to 2014 calendar". formula1.com. 27 September 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  17. ↑ "Korea, Mexico and New Jersey dropped as 2014 F1 calendar is confirmed". f1fanatic.co.uk. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  18. ↑ "World Motor Sport Council 2014 - Beijing". FIA.com (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile). 12 September 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  19. ↑ "World Motor Sport Council 2014 - Doha". FIA.com (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile). 3 December 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  20. ↑ http://www1.skysports.com/f1/news/17722/9602933/bernie-ecclestone-explains-south-koreas-inclusion

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Korean Grand Prix.