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FOTA Wants American Race, Not Korean

Shortly after the FIA announced the calendar for the upcoming season, several reactions started to appear from the Formula One teams. The FOTA (Formula One Teams Association) had longly pushed for a Formula One return to North America, yet the only rounds scheduled in the aforementioned continent has an uncertain status.

Instead, Formula One will travel to Korea for the first time in history. Hearing about the FIA's and Bernie Ecclestone's plans for the sport's future, the teams showed their disagreement. First of all, the location of the Korean track will make it very hard for the fans to burst into the grandstands, and secondly, the lack of a decent infrastructure will cause big problems to the F1 teams themselves.

South Korea is a wonderful country and we have no problems with it, but we hear that the track is four or five hours from the nearest major city. There's no infrastructure, no hotels, no good transport. It makes it difficult for the fans and the media,” McLaren's team principal Martin Whitmarsh was quoted as saying by Germany's Auto Bild.

In addition, let's not forget that, while Ecclestone's aim is to maximize the value of F1 racing, the manufacturers' is to enter one of the biggest automotive markets in the world, namely the US. In order for that to happen, F1 needs at least one stable round on the North American continent.

There shouldn't be any doubts about Montreal. North America is a big market. In the past we've messed around with North America so much that we should go there for free if necessary,” added Whitmarsh, clearly hinting at the controversial US Grand Prix at Indianapolis, back in 2005.

Due to safety reasons related to the Michelin tire failure, all cars fitted with the French-based tires decided to boycott the race. The French tire manufacturer was not able to guarantee the safety of the drivers competing in Michelin-fitted cars in Turn 13 and the FIA did not agree to change the layout of the track for the race. Under the circumstances, only 6 cars started the race – the ones fitted with Bridgestone tires. The fiasco is also known, until this day, as the Indygate.
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