An interesting item from the Automotive Focus Group following the news that the much publicized Bangkok F1 GP appears to be dead in the water. However, Southeast Asia has a very large appeal for motorcycle manufacturers due to its strong sales and cheap labor force and MotoGP racing is exponentially growing in its appeal in this part of the world. There is also a Thai competitor, which helps.
MotoGP’s organizer Dorna’s Carmelo Ezpeleta said, “There are other projects in Asia also,” and this other project could be the Buriram International Circuit in Thailand that is about 400 km north of Bangkok.
Representatives of the new track, which was designed by Hermann Tilke, recently met with Ezpeleta for talks at Mugello who said that a spot for a race in Thailand could be made available on the 2015 calendar.
Newin Chidchob, the former Thai politician from Buriram province and president of Buriram United, said that he decided to construct the new racing circuit because he is a “motorsport lover, especially motorcycle racing because there are no circuits in Thailand that are able to cater to world-class events.”
The circuit will be completed and ready for use by October 4 of next year at a cost of US$60 million.
Since Dorna has no intention of adding more races to the calendar, to make room for an event in Thailand, Dorna could axe one of the American rounds, which they are already considering, with Indianapolis already making noises that MotoGP is no longer feasible, or one of the four Spanish races.
