BAKU TO HOST THE QUEEN OF MOTORSPORTS

Azerbaijan has hosted a variety of sporting events - European and world championships, Grand Prix and licensing competitions in boxing, judo, futsal, gymnastics and other sports.

We have already seen GT-3 class car and motorcycle races on the streets of Baku.

Next year, Baku may host the Queen of Motorsports - one of the stages of the Formula 1 race.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan signed a preliminary agreement with the head of the F1 Championship, Bernie Ecclestone, on hosting one of the stages of the World Championships in Baku. It is assumed that it will be called Grand Prix Europe and be included in the F1 schedule in 2015 instead of the race in South Korea, which was expelled from this season's championship. Thus, Azerbaijan will become the second post-Soviet country after Russia, which will host the Grand Prix stage of the Formula 1 competition. Currently, the championship calendar consists of 19 stages. In the future, it is planned to increase their number to 22.

For the Formula 1 competition, one must have an autodrome. The conceptual design of such an autodrome for Azerbaijan was developed by ChiZa Architectural Bureau. It will be located in a place called Sultan Burnu, where the National Park in the western part of Baku ends. Entry into the autodrome will be from the Zig highway at Heydar Aliyev International Airport, which will make it possible to reach it as soon as possible and not to overload city roads. The autodrome with 60 circles with a length of 5,160 metres each (total length 309 km) is to be built in full compliance with the rules of the Formula 1 competition. The complex will provide parking areas, grandstands, pit stops, garages, repair shops and a press centre. A hotel will be built too.

In addition, the project includes the construction of a yacht club at the farthest end of Sultan Burnu. This will make it possible to use water transport to carry passengers during the tournament. The autodrome will make it possible to hold not only Formula 1, but also other motorsport competitions in any season and in any weather without assembling and disassembling the constructions of the arena. Creating simultaneously the infrastructure of a city road will make it possible not to impede the movement of vehicles and people.

F1 racing expert Rahim Aliyev told R+ that preparatory work for such an authoritative competition needs to start now: "Since we do not have a separate race track, the competition will be held most likely on city roads. In recent years, as a rule, Hermann Tilke has been dealing with this. He knows how to lay a route and where. I heard Tilke recently visited Baku and inspected certain territories. How soon everything will be ready is hard to say. The history of Formula 1 has seen tracks that were prepared in 8 months and in 3 years. The use of a collapsible track is possible. And by the next season we can already think about a stationary track. Similar tracks can take from 40,000 to 70,000 and even 100,000 spectators. But in Baku it is difficult to accommodate so many spectators. In Formula 1, the number of seats for spectators is not the main criterion. You can watch the races sitting on the lawn."

Aliyev also talked about ticket prices during these activities. According to him, at such competitions the placing of billboards and the sale of tickets is the responsibility of an international organization that buys this right from the host country. As a general rule, ticket prices vary from 50 to 3,000 euros (as an exception, there are also more expensive tickets).

In terms of attracting viewers, the specialist considers it inappropriate to hold Formula 1 at the end of the season because the intrigue disappears as the leaders strengthen their positions: "As for the tickets, if Azerbaijan wants, it can sell them a little cheaper. In any case, if we host this competition, they need to listen to our opinion."

Rahim Aliyev claims that Azerbaijan has many Formula 1 fans. Therefore, such competitions will be an impetus for the development of motor sports in the country: "If we have a separate track, you can hold Moto GT, Rally and others competitions here. You can organize carting competitions. It will support and promote tourism in our country. Fans from neighbouring and distant countries will definitely come here. There are many Formula 1 fans in neighbouring Russia, where such a competition will be held in the following year in Sochi. If the Baku race takes place after the Grand Prix of Sochi, tourists will come here from there.

I admit it's an expensive sport. But at the same time, it's very interesting and exciting. Not every country is able to hold such a contest. Only six or seven countries in the world have professional tracks. Azerbaijan can also add its name to this list."

INTERESTING

Formula 1 (FIA Formula One World Championship) is a world championship in ring racing in cars with open wheels.

The Formula 1 World Championship is held every year and consists of separate stages with Grand Prix status. The winner of the championship is revealed at the end of the year. In Formula 1, both individual pilots and teams compete. Pilots compete for the title of world champion and teams - for the Constructors Cup. 

The first world Formula 1 championship was held in 1950, and for 64 years, this event has usually been held only in countries that have the necessary infrastructure.