The mover and shaker of Buriram, Newin Chidchob, has announced that his new track will be on the calendar for next year’s Japan Super GT championship.
The new track, to be finished by October 2014, will have the Japanese Super GT round in that month as well, so it could be tight, but Nevin is confident that all will be right for the Hermann Tilke designed track by then.
Buriram is already notable for its football club and Nevin states that “Buriram Province will become a sports city.”
With the future of our local Bira circuit still up in the air, local competitors may have to get used to the five hour trip to Isaan. Other tracks include Bonanza at Khao Yai (three hours), Kaeng Krachan (four hours) and the Enigma track (one hour).
Despite what you may have heard, I do not believe this track will be brought up to F1 standards, so that Thailand can join the F1 countries. To get a GP, takes more than just having a track. Fees in the realms of billions of baht have to change hands as well!
Which brings me to the future of our local Prince Bira track. It has supposedly been sold, but probably more likely for the sale to be under negotiation. These negotiations can go on for years. The Pro Racing Series has also shifted the rounds scheduled for the Kaeng Krachan circuit to now be held at Bira. This has been done because the motorcycle racing group who felt that KKC was a little too dangerous for them. However, the Bira Circuit has also seen a motorcycle competitor killed last meeting. All motor racing is indeed dangerous.
My reading of the subject is that Bira will continue as a race track into next year (but don’t shoot me if I’ve got it wrong).
