FIA drops RI's bid for Formula One race

FIA drops RI's bid for Formula One race

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia looks certain to lose its bid to bring a prestigious Formula One grand prix race to the Sentul circuit next year, after the International Automobile Federation (FIA) excluded it from the 1996 provisional calendar on Thursday.

The FIA announced that it would return to its traditional 16- race format, one fewer than this season, without even naming Indonesia as a candidate for the auto sporting extravaganza.

Reuters reported that the world motor body dropped the European Grand Prix in Nuerburgring, Germany, and has yet to give a definite go-ahead to two races in Estoril, Portugal, and in Buenos Aires, Argentina, pending a decision at an FIA World Council meeting on Dec. 8.

No officials of the Indonesian Motor Association could be reached yesterday for comment on the FIA announcement.

The FIA had earlier listed Indonesia in the 16th place of the proposed grand prix calendar, encouraging Indonesia's hopes of becoming the second Asian country to play host to the lucrative race, after Japan.

Criticism mounted, however, as hosting the race would have required the spending of no less than Rp 20 billion (US$9 million). The critics worried about financial shortcomings due to the late schedule. They said that the race would lack sponsorship, since a winner is always decided as early as two or three before the end of the season.

The Indonesian association will have its busiest calendar next season, when the country hosts three world automotive races: the 500cc Grand Prix at Sentul, West Java, on April 7, the Indonesian Rally in Medan, North Sumatra, from May 10 to May 12, and the world Superbike championship, also at Sentul, in October.

National automotive sports figure, Tinton Suprapto, said earlier that he fully support the bid, noting that the Formula One championship would lift Indonesia's pride. Tinton, the managing director of the Sentul circuit, pledged to help the organizers collect funds. (amd)