Australian GP to switch from F1 to IndyCar (2nd Update)

UPDATE #2 Australian Grand Prix Corporation chief executive Andrew Westacott has confirmed it has discussed the idea of an IndyCar race with the government in the wake of the furor over quieter F1 engines.

The extreme option of severing ties with F1 and moving to IndyCar was floated by AGP chairman Ron Walker, also the head of the F1 Promoter’s Association, in the British paper The Independent.

Four-times F1 champion Sebastian Vettel also came out in the press decrying the quieter engines.

“It’s s..t," Vettel slammed. “I was on the pit wall during the race, and it is quieter than in a bar! I think for the fans it is not good."

Westacott confirmed to Speedcafe.com that the subject of possible options including the American-based IndyCar Series have been raised with the Victorian government.

Contract negotiations with Formula One Management (FOM) have struck several obstacles highlighted by the backlash amid the muted noise levels of the new-spec F1 1.6litre turbo engines.

There have also been concerns over F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone’s offer of a ‘watered down contract’ that compromised the future of V8 Supercars support races and associated entertainment.

It is understood Ecclestone’s motive is driven by flexibility in order to appoint more global partners and not be commercially restrained from local arrangements.

Westacott has confirmed the AGP is in constant discussions with FOM and its legal team in a bid to resolve concerns ahead of renewing another F1 contract for the Albert Park event.

“We’ve been working with F1 for 19 years and we want to have the biggest and best motorsport in the world," Westacott told Speedcafe.com

“(But) we’ve got a situation here where the chemistry has changed.

“When F1 goes to those European circuits and they are nowhere near as loud or getting the emotion that the spectators can get from GP2 and GP3, the brand itself is going to be put to the test.

“We are in contract renegotiations and we’ve just got to make sure that we are getting the best product.

“It will probably be shown that the best product remains F1 but IndyCar is also a very, very good product out there in the world and it comes at a fraction of the cost.

“There is a degree of credibility from that point of view. “

“You go to an AC-DC concert and you expect it to be blaring out. You go to F1 and you expect it to be the most exciting hit on your senses and it wasn’t."

Westacott confirmed the government has been briefed on possible options if F1 is lost to Melbourne.

“Generally yes," he said over the subject of IndyCar being raised with the government.

“Every person who works in events, whether it be a major events company in Victoria or NSW, what we’ve got to do is compare and look at all the options.

03/27/14 Australian Grand Prix chairman Ron Walker has flagged the prospect of legal action over this year’s quiet cars and raised the possibility of Melbourne scrapping its Formula One race in favor of a cheaper-and louder-alternative (IndyCar).

Taxpayers could save more than $46 million a year if Victoria switched from a Formula One race to US-style IndyCar racing at Albert Park.

As global legal action brews against Formula One management over quieter cars introduced this year, Mr. Walker said Victoria had to consider hosting an IndyCar race for about $3.5 million against an F1 event for about $50 million.

Mr. Walker, the guardian of F1 racing in Melbourne for 19 years, branded the new, duller sound at this month’s opening race “disgraceful’’ and likely to drive down attendances.

He told the Herald Sun he had written to F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone to say the sound was “not acceptable’’ and revealed circuit operators around the globe were lining up to sue Mr. Ecclestone and FIA, the sport’s governing body.

But he will remain chairman of the Formula One Promoters’ Association, representing 19 races around the world, and said the group would meet in Bahrain in a fortnight to discuss formal legal action.

“Legal action would not be very difficult,’’ he said.

“Bernie is clearly in breach of his contract, because this is not what we bought. I didn’t buy a wimp … I bought a giant with noise.

“It’s got to change this season,’’ he said.

“It’s a global concern.’’

Mr. Walker said he expected promoters around the world to drop F1 in favor of IndyCar and similar categories to keep fans, unless the trademark squeal returned.

“We may as well go and buy an IndyCar race for $3.5m. It would be hugely louder," he told London’s The Independent.

“It would be a drastic change to switch to IndyCar, but we cannot go on like this."

Mr. Walker this week revealed he would stand down as Australian Grand Prix boss after next year’s race, the final event on the current Victorian contract.

The State Government is currently considering a contract extension for the Melbourne Grand Prix, negotiated by Mr. Walker at the request of Premier Denis Napthine.

IndyCar racing has bigger and louder engines than those now used in F1. One of its drivers is Queenslander Will Power. Herald Sun

03/25/14 Ron Walker, the Australian grand prix chief who is a key Bernie Ecclestone ally, is leading the charge to bring the F1 screaming engines back by threatening to sue the sport and switch to IndyCar racing after hearing the sound of the new turbo V6 engines.

"It would be a drastic change to switch to IndyCar but we cannot go on like this," he told F1 business journalist Christian Sylt in the Independent.

Walker blames the FIA for presiding over the changes in spite of F1 chief executive Ecclestone's opposition.

"We did a survey of the fans and they don't really care about saving fuel," he said. "They want to go and see gladiatorial drivers fighting each other and not worry about the fuel that they use."

But the loss of the normally-aspirated engine scream, Walker argues, is the main problem.

"It is hard enough to sell tickets now but this is arrogance at the worst from Jean Todt," he said. (See related Hotnews stories – The day F1 died)

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