Some do not much care for China, with its soulless, gargantuan Shanghai
International Circuit. But at least the Chinese race is in a bustling city
an hour or so from a major international airport and thousands of fans turn
up to watch. It is also a key market for teams and sponsors.
Others find the sterility – or the politics – of the Middle Eastern events
difficult to stomach. But they, too, are easier to reach than Korea and done
on such an extravagant, luxurious level that it is easy to be seduced.
The Korean race has few things going for it. The location is a disaster, not
only for F1 personnel, but for fans and potential sponsors who are
conspicuous by their absence.
The track itself is reasonably popular with the drivers – if you like modern
Hermann Tilke circuits – built to a high standard on reclaimed marshland
next to the Yellow Sea and bathed in glorious pink sunsets every evening so
far this week.
The trouble is no one turns up. The old Field of Dreams adage “If you build it
they will come” does not apply here. Locals either have no idea what Formula
One is or no chance of stumping up the £400 or so for a weekend pass.
Lewis
Hamilton remarked rather forlornly that they might as well put
cardboard cutouts of fans up in the stands so that at least it felt like
someone was watching.
“It’s the most relaxed weekend of the whole year,” Hamilton added, putting a
more positive spin on things. “But I like it generally when we’re in the
cities. I like Singapore, I like Montreal, I like being amongst people in
the city. Here we don’t really see many people except at the track, or the
two receptionists at my hotel.”
That hotel is the nearby Hyundai Hotel, the only decent western-style
accommodation for miles and therefore colonised by drivers and team bigwigs.
The rest of F1’s travelling circus stay in Mokpo, an industrial port town
nearby, which is lively enough at night but lags on the accommodation front.
Almost everyone sleeps in love hotels, which in Korea more usually act as a
venue for young couples still living with their parents to consummate their
relationship.
They appear to have cleaned up their act a bit over the years but there are
still reports of condoms and bottles of lubricant in the rooms, mirrors on
the ceiling, red lights above the bed and vending machines in the corridor.
One person in the circuit’s first year, in 2010, even claimed to have an
electric ‘love chair’ with stirrups. Some bring their own sheets and
pillows, fearful that their rooms are being rented out while they are at the
circuit.
Most of the stories are exaggerated and, in fact, there is a certain charm to
the weekend. The bars and restaurants may be basic but they are quirky. The
locals are friendly.
For everyone, though, particularly towards the end of such a long season, it
is a case of in and out as quickly as possible. Or as quickly as the
high-speed train from Mokpo to Seoul will allow, which is still over three
hours.
So what of the race’s future? The original plan was to build an international
university, a medical school, an aerospace engineering college, even a
casino across the water from the F1 circuit. It looks like being too much of
a gamble.
Organisers are currently busy trying to negotiate new reduced commercial terms
with Formula One’s chief executive Bernie Ecclestone.
After estimated losses of roughly £60 million since 2010 it is easy to see why.
An official sign at the entrance to the circuit reads “Thank you Mr Ecclestone
for the 2013 Korean Grand Prix”. It is unclear whether Formula One’s chief
executive will be moved by their gratitude.
Korea is listed with an asterisk next to its name on next year’s 22-race
calendar and the race promoter himself rates its chances of making a new,
unfamiliar April date (it is slated to run back-to-back with China) as only
“50-50”.
The popular theory is that Ecclestone is keeping an open mind on Korea with a
number of other venues – Russia, Mexico and particularly New Jersey –
looking less than certain.
If it falls by the wayside, it will not be mourned by many.
Korean Grand Prix 2013: will Formula One desert mundane Mokpo?
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