Now it's time for the worst ever circuit poll. I have received your nominations of pathetic excuses for a racing circuit. This time we have managed to include 8 nominations from the noble members of CTA. Circuits which failed to make the nominations cut included the noble circuits of Indianapolis, Magny Cours, Imola, Dallas and Marina Bay.
So, the 8 finalists are:
Valencia Street Circuit:
This street circuit was introduced to the F1 calendar in 2008, and it already has made a huge reputaion as staging the most boring f1 races known to man (2008+09). With endless stop-starts, and no real passing opportunities, even Pirelli tyres and DRS couldn't liven the show. Whoever allowed this circuit to be on the f1 calendar should be trialled for crimes against humanity. The circuit really is that terrible.
Bahrain International Circuit:
A soulless dustbowl with run-off stretching for a mile around, and no real reputation of great racing, and having the 2010 race as surely one of the worst of all time, this circuit epitomizes the tried and failed attempts to introduce great racing at f1 tracks. The venue doesn't help much, either.
Yas Marina Circuit:
An empty plot of land. Money no object. They could have built any decent circuit in the world. What did they do? They built one which is shaped like a gun and (metaphorically) wants to make you shoot yourself. Slow, fiddly chicanes followed by endless straights with no real passing oppurtunities, and then multiple 90 degree corners, on a permanent track this is unacceptable. Yes, the hotel and everything may look nice, but the race circuit is one of the worst of all time. And that is an understatement.
TI-Aida:
Set in a remote part of Japan with no easy access, this tight twisty racetrack was too small for f1 cars, hence the two races held there were extremely dull. An f1 race at this circuit could send you to sleep any day.
Phoenix Street Circuit:
The most famous thing about this track is that more people were interested in an ostrich race. Endless 90 degree corners, incredibly repetitive and dull, the less said sbout this circuit the better.
Las Vegas:
Set in the city of sin, and this circuit will be welcome in hell any day. Basically a car park, it just looped back on itself endlessly. How it deserved to decide two title fights i'll never know. But we can be thankful that this abhorrance isn't on the calendar any more.
Circuit de Catalunya:
This circuit is already used for testing, so expect no real surprise when you come to this circuit. Famous for 'Beirut' and that disaster of a chicane at the end of the lap, this circuit has historically had problems with producing exciting races. And as one journalist put it, "The Spanish fans nearly fainted with shock at the number of passes at the 2011 race". And this was with DRS down the entire main straight.
New Hockenheim:
Fast, lots of character..... so what do they do? Chop it in half. Of course, it was for purely practical reasons, but to many f1 fans, chopping off half of Hockenheim was a bit like chopping off half of someone's leg. Many regard it as a sin. Now the venue is flat and soulless, and not the blast through the forest thet it used to be.
Remember to vote in the greatest f1 circuit poll - voting for both polls closes next Friday.
So, the 8 finalists are:
Valencia Street Circuit:
This street circuit was introduced to the F1 calendar in 2008, and it already has made a huge reputaion as staging the most boring f1 races known to man (2008+09). With endless stop-starts, and no real passing opportunities, even Pirelli tyres and DRS couldn't liven the show. Whoever allowed this circuit to be on the f1 calendar should be trialled for crimes against humanity. The circuit really is that terrible.
Bahrain International Circuit:
A soulless dustbowl with run-off stretching for a mile around, and no real reputation of great racing, and having the 2010 race as surely one of the worst of all time, this circuit epitomizes the tried and failed attempts to introduce great racing at f1 tracks. The venue doesn't help much, either.
Yas Marina Circuit:
An empty plot of land. Money no object. They could have built any decent circuit in the world. What did they do? They built one which is shaped like a gun and (metaphorically) wants to make you shoot yourself. Slow, fiddly chicanes followed by endless straights with no real passing oppurtunities, and then multiple 90 degree corners, on a permanent track this is unacceptable. Yes, the hotel and everything may look nice, but the race circuit is one of the worst of all time. And that is an understatement.
TI-Aida:
Set in a remote part of Japan with no easy access, this tight twisty racetrack was too small for f1 cars, hence the two races held there were extremely dull. An f1 race at this circuit could send you to sleep any day.
Phoenix Street Circuit:
The most famous thing about this track is that more people were interested in an ostrich race. Endless 90 degree corners, incredibly repetitive and dull, the less said sbout this circuit the better.
Las Vegas:
Set in the city of sin, and this circuit will be welcome in hell any day. Basically a car park, it just looped back on itself endlessly. How it deserved to decide two title fights i'll never know. But we can be thankful that this abhorrance isn't on the calendar any more.
Circuit de Catalunya:
This circuit is already used for testing, so expect no real surprise when you come to this circuit. Famous for 'Beirut' and that disaster of a chicane at the end of the lap, this circuit has historically had problems with producing exciting races. And as one journalist put it, "The Spanish fans nearly fainted with shock at the number of passes at the 2011 race". And this was with DRS down the entire main straight.
New Hockenheim:
Fast, lots of character..... so what do they do? Chop it in half. Of course, it was for purely practical reasons, but to many f1 fans, chopping off half of Hockenheim was a bit like chopping off half of someone's leg. Many regard it as a sin. Now the venue is flat and soulless, and not the blast through the forest thet it used to be.
Remember to vote in the greatest f1 circuit poll - voting for both polls closes next Friday.
as an aside do the pit crew get paid by the hour? The first stop in that video seems to take an age compared to F1
