Thus far, there is little to suggest that those plans are going to come to
fruition and the patience of Bernie Ecclestone, Formula One’s chief
executive, may already be wearing thin.
Twelve months ago the Korean Grand Prix promoter, Won-Hwa Park, extended his
contract with FOM (Formula
One Management) through to 2016 after negotiating a more favourable
rate with Ecclestone.
However, it is still listed as ‘provisional’ on the 2014 calendar and Park
admitted that, with the race still struggling to make a profit, he was once
again engaged in talks with Ecclestone.
“We want to improve the current contract with Formula One Management,” he told
Sky Sports News. “We are still negotiating with Mr Ecclestone. We wish to
have a satisfactory conclusion with Mr Ecclestone.”
Asked about the chances of a race next year, Park said: “Fifty-fifty, but we
are very much firm in continuously holding this event.”
Park said the idea of Korea becoming a night race was one that might be
considered. “It’s a great idea. We’d be glad to consider holding it as a
night race with certainly better conditions from Mr Ecclestone. This circuit
is far from downtown so we do not have any noise problem.”
Should the race on Sunday be adversely affected by the weather, it would not
be the first time. The inaugural Korean Grand Prix in 2010 was badly hit by
downpours, starting behind a safety car before being red-flagged for 45
minutes. It eventually finished in near darkness.
Korea is hardly alone in this region in being subjected to regular batterings
from the elements.
The Japanese Grand Prix has twice been affected by severe weather in the last
decade, Typhoon Ma-on causing the cancellation of track activity on the
Saturday of 2004 and heavy rain causing qualifying to be postponed in 2010,
while Malaysia’s race was cut short by a tropical storm in 2009.
Meanwhile, FIA presidential candidate David Ward has admitted for the first
time that he would be prepared to stand aside and throw his weight behind
Mohammed Bin Sulaymen, should the president of the Automobile and Touring
Club of the UAE also decide to stand against incumbent Jean Todt, and
provided he accepted Ward’s reform agenda in its entirety.
“In the end I am running for the governance reforms, not because David Ward
should be president of the FIA [but because] I think the FIA should have
these changes,” Ward said.
“If Mohammed thinks that my reform agenda is worthwhile and, if he is prepared
to give solid undertakings and commitments to introduce it, then [standing
aside] is something that I should look at.
“It would be incredible folly to stand, and not do well, and have my reform
agenda disappear down the plughole.
“That would be completely counter-productive to my ultimate aim, so I am
simply going to wait and see.”