Shanghai has extended its deal to host the Chinese Grand Prix for seven more years despite falling attendances, organizers said.
The city will continue hosting the race until 2017 and organizers said they would lower ticket prices, among other measures, to attract more spectators.
“F1 is a calling card for Shanghai,” Shanghai Vice Mayor Zhao Wen told the Shanghai Daily newspaper on Wednesday. “I am confident about the success of the event in the years ahead.”
Photo: AFP
The Chinese Grand Prix attracted about 260,000 spectators in its inaugural year in 2004 with a slight 10,000 increase in 2005, but attendances has since declined, with 155,000 attending last year.
Prices for prime seats range from 1,980 yuan to 3,280 yuan (US$300 to US$498) this year, compared with 3,580 yuan to 3,980 yuan last year.
The Chinese Grand Prix will be held on April 17, while the first race of the new F1 calendar is scheduled for Bahrain on March 13, though civil unrest in the Gulf state has prompted fears it could be called off.
“We’ll make a decision by Tuesday or Wednesday [next week],” F1 commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone said on Thursday.
“If things stay as they are today, the answer is no,” he added when asked whether he felt the race in Bahrain would go ahead. “If it’s not quietened down by Wednesday, I think we will have to cancel probably.”
A round of the GP2 Asia series scheduled to be held at the track this weekend was canceled earlier on Thursday because of the situation, with circuit medical staff called to city hospitals.
Formula One teams are also due to test at Sakhir on March 3 after spending this week at Spain’s Barcelona circuit. Most have already sent some of their freight ahead by sea.
Ecclestone said the calendar, with a record 20 races this year, would not be shuffled around if Bahrain was canceled and the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne would therefore become the opener on March 27.
“We may try to put it [Bahrain] on again later in the year,” Ecclestone said.
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