Asia is no longer some strange part of the globe, out there in the “mystic east”, but in industry has become a major player in the world economic forums. That globalization also applies to Asian motor sport these days with international competitors running in Asian formulae and European formulae now represented in Asia.
A few years ago, it was unheard of that there would be international drivers competing in Asian championships, but that has all changed. As recently as 12 years ago there was a lone Australian running in the Asian Formula 2000. He was noteworthy, being a sole competitor, but that has certainly changed.
F1 Certificate.
One of the main reasons has been the start of many Asian series of what were previously international series but confined to the Western nations. Over the past five years, there has been Formula BMW and the Porsche Carrera Cup, and even more recently, the pinnacle of motor sport – the F1 circus.
With Asia having become more involved with motor sport and new purpose-built F1 tracks in Bahrain and Turkey along with Malaysia, Singapore, India, Korea, Japan and China, Bernie Ecclestone, the F1 supremo, has made no secret of the fact that he believes the future for F1 is in Asia! Believe him. Globalization is Go! And now Thailand has the Buriram circuit which is ready for F1.
With motor racing being a global phenomenon, it really needs the respective national governments to pick up the tab, bite the bullet and build the circuits, which in turn will increase the number of cars and drivers competing. However, ex-politician Nevin Chidchop has bitten the proverbial bullet and his Buriram circuit has been built with F1 in mind.
Malaysia has an F1 round, Singapore has an F1 round. Will we be next? Of course we will!
