AWAITING THE QUEEN

If somebody had said a few years ago that Baku would host Formula One auto racing at some point, nobody would certainly have believed it. But this is a reality now - Baku will host the Grand Prix of Europe on 17-19 June. Formula One, recognized around the world as the queen of racing, is a completely different sport, in terms of both scope and scale. This is a competition that not every country is capable of hosting. In this regard, Azerbaijan is close to implementing a very challenging and prestigious project.

Now that there is very little time left to go to the Formula One racing, R+ presents an exclusive interview with Azad RAHIMOV, the minister of youth and sport and chairman of Baku City Circuit Operations Company.

- I would like to start our conversation from the very beginning. How did the idea emerge for Baku to host a Formula One competition?

- Azerbaijan has hosted several prestigious events in the past few years. After Eurovision and the European Games, the turn came for Formula One. Each competition has its own audience. Hosting all of these major sporting events pursues only one goal, and the goal is to widely introduce the world community to Azerbaijan. Formula One has a very large audience, and the idea to host this competition stemmed from the desire to achieve that goal. I believe that the Grand Prix of Europe will play an indispensable role towards introducing the world to Azerbaijan.

- What is the overall attitude to Formula One competitions? This competition used to be somewhat alien to us.

- Formula One has numerous fans. They travel to countries that host Grand Prix competitions and watch them from the stands. I believe that the Grand Prix of Europe will contribute to the emergence of the same kinds of fans in our country as well. Formula One combines a number of features, such as racing, speed, and fight, and these are typical of our young people as well. In this regard, I hope that people in our country will also show a great interest in the Grand Prix of Europe, and we will be looking forward to this racing each year.

- Formula One means speed. People in Azerbaijan love speed. Do you agree with this idea?

- I completely agree. We are a nation that is dynamic by nature, we love movement and speed. At the same time, anything we do, we do it with love, we put our soul into it. We also love to compete and we know how to compete well. This has been demonstrated by our athletes who have achieved great successes in prestigious competitions. All these features are typical of Formula One competitions as well. In this regard, I can say that our people will show an interest in this competition and become Formula One fans forever.

- How do you think will Formula One benefit Azerbaijan?

- There are several reasons why Azerbaijan will benefit from hosting the Formula One competition. First of all, more than 500m people will have an opportunity to see beautiful sights in Baku and our country.

We also expect a lot of tourists to visit to see the racing, and this will be an impetus that will speed up the development of the tourism sector in our country. Accordingly, this will also revive a number of related industries.

On the other hand, there will appear a lot of local people specializing in holding global sports competitions. This competition will help thousands of volunteers and marshals to realize their expectations in terms of professional career. As a result, Azerbaijan will also become famous throughout the world as a strong country, and our people, especially young ones, will be able to take advantage of economic and career opportunities stemming from these competitions.

- Preparatory work ahead of Formula One are nearing an end. Can we say that Baku is now ready for the prestigious competition?

- Work to prepare for the Formula One Grand Prix of Europe has entered the final phase. The Baku city circuit has now been completely asphalted. Stands for spectators are being installed, as well as safety barriers along the track. The construction of buildings in the paddock located in front of the Government House is nearing completion. Overall, the track will be completely ready as soon as early June.

Charlie Whiting, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) race director and safety delegate, visited Baku in early May to inspect preparatory work on the track. After reviewing the new track in the current F1 calendar, he said he was satisfied with the track preparation and expressed confidence in the high quality of both the track and all facilities built.

- What will happen to the city's central roads? Will they be completely closed on the Formula One days?

- A transport management plan has been prepared to create safe movement areas around the track for spectators, to protect people living in the vicinity of the facilities, to provide for operations in the area and for traffic to continue on Baku's roads.

According to the plan, the streets along which the Baku city circuit runs and the track coverage area will be closed to traffic from 0100 hours on 14 June. The restriction on traffic in this area will be lifted at 0600 hours on 21 June.

Until the actual racing, entry and exit will be allowed through pre-set points from 2400 to 0600 hours in a restricted area that encompasses the Baku city circuit.

To this end, drivers must obtain from relevant bodies signs that show that they belong to that area.

I should also point out that city residents will be able to move freely in the area around the track. They will even be able to enter closed areas encompassed by the track, through overground and underground passages.

- Can we say that less money will be required to host Formula One racing in the future?

- The Baku city circuit is a temporary facility for the competition. Each year, the facilities around the track will be erected, and dismantled and stored in warehouses after the competition ends.

There are FIA standards for Formula One competitions, and all facilities must be built in accordance with those standards. Therefore, all asphalt cover is being replaced on the streets along which the Baku city circuit runs. In addition, a building for the pit stop and structures for the stands have been purchased. In short, the Baku city circuit is fully provided with all necessary equipment. This in itself requires big spending. But in the future, we will be spared most of this spending, as we will already have the equipment and technology needed.

- How many countries will the Baku-hosted Formula One racing be televised to?

- The Grand Prix competition can only be aired by TV channels that received broadcasting rights from Formula One management. The Grand Prix of Europe is expected to be aired to a total of 187 countries. Over 500m viewers watch all Grands Prix.

- Approximately how many tourists will visit our country?

- Ticket sale is under way at the moment. There is a lot of interest abroad. More than 65 per cent of tickets sold so far were bought by people in foreign countries. Numerous fans in 32 countries have bought tickets for the Baku-hosted Grand Prix of Europe. Domestic fans have shown a big interest in the racing in the past few days. I should note that about 20,000 spectators will watch the racing from the stands. In addition, 10,000 standing tickets have been put on sale. As a result, about 30,000 spectators in Baku will be able to watch the competition. According to our calculations, almost 10,000 tourists are expected to arrive in Baku ahead of the Grand Prix of Europe.

- Is it realistic to see an Azerbaijani driver in this prestigious competition in the future?

- Young driver Gulhuseyn Abdullayev is representing Azerbaijan in a Formula Three competition. He has won several racings. Gulhuseyn is also the official ambassador of the Grand Prix of Europe. We believe that our young talented driver will be an even greater success in the future. Taking this opportunity, I wish Gulhuseyn great successes in the future.

I think that the holding of the Grand Prix of Europe in Azerbaijan will cause a great interest in Formula One among young people.

- VIP guests, famous athletes and celebrities are invited to watch these competitions. Will famous people be visiting Baku?

- Formula One has a very large and diverse audience. You can see world cinema and music stars among spectators, along with the managers of the world's leading companies. In short, interest in these competitions attracts people from a variety of fields. We will see celebrities at the Grand Prix of Europe in Azerbaijan, too. In particular, the Paddock Club, which unites influential and well-known fans, operates within the framework of Formula One. The club is expected to send more than 2,000 people to Baku. Among them you will see world-renowned people.

- Which team will you be supporting? Who is your favourite in Formula One?

- Eleven teams are vying for victory in Formula One this season. Two drivers from each team are participating in the racing. In other words, 22 drivers are waging an intense struggle for the title of world champion. In these competitions people more often support not a team but drivers. My favourite is Fernando Alonso, who is a two-time Formula One world champion and the Grand Prix of Europe celebrity ambassador. I hope that Alonso will be a success in all upcoming competitions, including in the Baku-hosted Grand Prix, and will thus once again conquer the height he is worthy of.

- How different will the Baku-hosted Formula One event be from other Grands Prix?

- A number of features makes the upcoming competition in Baku different from other Grands Prix. For example, the Grand Prix will run along the city circuit, and there will be higher speed here compared to other tracks. On the long straight section of the Baku city circuit, which stretches along the Seaside Boulevard, a speed higher than 340 km per hour is forecast. At the same time, the Baku city circuit runs around historical and modern buildings of Baku.

Also, a narrow uphill slope along the walls of the Old City - which is considered the "landmark" of the Grand Prix of Europe - will give the racing a special atmosphere.

In addition, the Baku city circuit is not just the fastest but also the longest urban track.

Finally, compared to other Baku-hosted sporting competitions, Formula One has a much greater audience. As I have mentioned, more than 500m viewers in 187 countries will be able to see Baku's beautiful panorama.