New FIA GT circuit in San Luis - Argentina

[Belatti]

Ladies and gentlemen I present you "POTRERO DE LOS FUNES"







Comments from Norberto Fontana (a guy who knows A LOT of circuits from all arround the globe, with experience in F1, F3000, German F3, Indycar, F Nippon) where this: I have never seen anything like this in Argentina. It looks like Spa Francorchamps, is impresive". And there are data who supports this opinion: it is a 6.249 meters track. It will the the longer track FIA GT will visit in all the year.

FIA GT championship will be defined this weekend. Our country will be represented by ACA Team with two Ferrari 550 Maranello (GT1) driven by ex F1 Esteban Tuero and Gastón Mazzacane, and the other by Ex Renault F1 tester José María López and Martín Basso. Also in GT2, Luis Pérez Companc and Matías Russo will race a Ferrari 430. José Manuel Balbiani will be present with another Ferrari 430 in GT2.
Christian Leesma (actual TC champion and 2004 TC2000 champion) will be sharing a Corvette Z06 with Maxime Soulet, from Belgium:



Also TC2000 and F.Renault will be running there this weekend, for more info about TC2000 check here:
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=4477&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

[Belatti]

I would like to add that the circuit recieved the "B" calification from FIA (any series except F1 can race) and that the track is 14 meters wide and has good runways...



It will be fun to see





Some threads from other forums:

http://www.lfsforum.net/showthread.php?p=959167
http://forums.autosport.com/showthread. ... adid=96502

http://www.fiagt.com/newsitem.php?key=1677

[Belatti]

Official race webpage:

http://www.fiagtsanluis.com/index.html

Some facts:
Potrero de los Funes is located 14 kilometres away from the province’s capital, and lies in the middle of a valley which is approximately 800 metres above sea level, in the middle of an old volcano.

San Luis is the country’s first province to embrace the environmental agenda, taking the corresponding steps to counteract the negative effects of climatical changes. The Forestal Plan and the Kyoto Protocole are among these actions.

F1 season is over but at least we have got something to watch this weekend

[modbaraban]

Now that's a cool track! I hope somebody makes one for rFactor. I love scary tracks (just finished a Radical SR3 race at Charade).

As for the FIA GT race, I'm looking forward to it. Anyone got timetable in GMT?
I hope the race won't be interrupted by multiple safety cars due to volcanic eruptions lol.

PS: live i-net coverage

[Belatti]

Anyone got timetable in GMT?

In local time:

San Luis (Argentina) – November 21st – 23rd, 2008

Thursday, November 20th
18.30 - Organisation meeting

Friday, November 21st
08.15-13.00 - FIA GT Championship Administrative Checks
08.30-13.00 - FIA GT Championship Initial Scrutineering
09.00-13.30 - FIA GT Championship FIA Checks
10.00-10.30 - Historic Touring Car Series 1st Free Practice 30’
11.00-12.00 - TC 2000 1st Free Practice 60’
12.15-12.45 - Formula Renault 1.6 1st Free Practice 30’
13.00-13.30 - Historic Touring Car Series 2nd Free Practice 30’
14.00-18.00 - FIA GT Championship Administrative Checks
14.00-18.00 - FIA GT Championship Initial Scrutineering
14.30-18.45 - FIA GT Championship FIA Checks
15.00-15.30 - Formula Renault 1.6 2nd Free Practice 30’
15.45-16.15 - Historic Touring Car Series Qualifying Practice 30’
16.30-17.30 - TC 2000 2nd Free Practice 60’
18.00-19.00 - FIA GT Championship Tyre marking free practice & pre-qualifying
19.00 - FIA GT Championship Drivers Briefing

Saturday, November 22nd
09.00-10.20 - FIA GT Championship Free Practice 80’
10:35-11:05 - TC 2000 3rd Free Practice 30’
11:20-11.50 - Formula Renault 1.6 1st Qualifying Practice 30’
12.05-13.25 - FIA GT Championship Pre-Qualifying 80’
13.35-14.15 - Animations / Pit walk
14.00-15.00 - FIA GT Championship Tyre marking Qualifying practice
14.30-15.30 - TC2000 Qualifying Practice 60’
15.35 - Historic Touring Car Series Pre start open
15.38 - Historic Touring Car Series 5 / 3/ 1 board
15.41 - Historic Touring Car Series Green flag Formation Lap
15.45-16.35 - Historic Touring Car Series Race 20’/10’/20’
16.40 - Historic Touring Car Series Podium
16.50-17.05 - Porsche Customer Track recognition 15’
17.15-17.50 - FIA GT Championship Qualifying Practice 15/5/15
18.00 - FIA GT Championship Press Conference
18.05-18.35 - Formula Renault 1.6 2nd Qualifying Practice 30’

Sunday, November 23rd
09.00-09.30 - FIA GT Championship Warm Up 30’
09.25 - Formula Renault 1.6 Cars ready on pre-grid
09.40 - Formula Renault 1.6 Pre start open
09.43 - Formula Renault 1.6 Pre start close
09.45 - Formula Renault 1.6 5 min. board
09.49 - Formula Renault 1.6 1 min. board
09.50 - Formula Renault 1.6 Green flag Formation Lap
09.55-10.25 - Formula Renault 1.6 Race (standing start, max. 30’)
10.35 - Formula Renault 1.6 Podium
10.30 - TC 2000 Cars ready on pre-grid
10.45 - TC 2000 Pre start open
10.48 - TC 2000 Pre start close
10.50 - TC 2000 5 min. board
10.54 - TC 2000 1 min. board
10.55 - TC 2000 Green flag Formation Lap
11.00-11.50 - TC 2000 Race (standing start, max. 50’)
12.00 - TC 2000 Podium
12.00-12.40 - Animations / Pit walk
12.40-13.00 - FIA GT Championship Grid visit by VIP guests
12.45 - FIA GT Championship Pit lane open
12.58 - FIA GT Championship Signal pit lane closes in 2 min.
13.00 - FIA GT Championship Pit lane closed
13.00 - FIA GT Championship 10 min. board
13.05 - FIA GT Championship 5 min. board
13.07 - FIA GT Championship 3 min. board
13.09 - FIA GT Championship 1 min. board
13.09 - FIA GT Championship 15 sec. board
13.10 - FIA GT Championship Green flag behind the leading car
13.15-15.15 - FIA GT Championship Race (rolling start, max. 120’)
15.20 - FIA GT Championship Podium
15.30 - FIA GT Championship Press Conference
LIVE TV

You have to add 4 or 5 hours in Europe

[sebbe]

F cking unbelievable!
We have that track in Argentina? I will watch tv this weekend!, for sure!

[Belatti]

Amazing finish to the 2008 season in San Luis

http://www.fiagt.com/

[modbaraban]

Darn internet connection broke down about 20 minutes into the race

[Belatti]

The weekend in pictures:


The Track


The Drivers


The Start


The Race


The GT2 Winners: Matias Russo - Luis Perez Companc


The GT1 Winners: Anthony Kumpen - Bert Longin


The Champions


The guys from Belgian Racing suffering really bad in the lake

[sstanescu]

Excellent racetrack! Congratulations to Argentina! And I must only that Romania is still struggling to get together and have a permanent racetrack. The one around Parliament in Bucharest is a nice try, hope to remain in calendar, but can barely do it. And the most interesting downhill part is not covered by a grandstand (fortunately, my office with a terrace is just on that part with great view )

Regarding the San Luis, the track looked at TV quite narrow. What other races are in the calendar, if info is avaliable?

[modbaraban]

Regarding the San Luis, the track looked at TV quite narrow. What other races are in the calendar, if info is avaliable?

That was the last round of the 2008 season.

[sstanescu]

Sorry, I was not clear in my question. What other series are or are intended to be raced on this track? Provisional calendar for FIA GT is listing the track for 2009.

[Belatti]

Sorry, I was not clear in my question. What other series are or are intended to be raced on this track? Provisional calendar for FIA GT is listing the track for 2009.

The initial idea of San Luis´s governor was to bring back F1 to Argentina there, in a plan to promote tourism and put his province in the map of the world. Millions laughted really hard, me included, but the first step is concluded, the race was succesful and we have a class "B" circuit, with only the pits to be built and obtain class "A" FIA certification.

There has been rumours of GP2 for 2009 to see how "similar to F1 cars" do there, but I´m not sure.

The main obstacles I see for F1 to be there are 2: not very attractive emerging market for Bernies eyes and the huge amount of money he charges to race organizers.

The track width varies from 12 to 14 metres.

[Metar]

I don't think Bernie will like the length - it's slightly longer than Spa, right? Spa is already marginal, and there because of it's history - I doubt he'd like another long track.

On the other hand, the beauty of this track and surroundings is mindblowing. I sure would love to see F1 there. The layout reminds me of a very downsized Nurburgring - the Argentinoring? The way it fits with the lake and mountains looks awesome. Bernie won't like it - but I don't think there's a single fan in F1 that doesn't want this track. It looks like a safe hillclimb that can be repeated over and over again. The rocks and lakes look just close enough to make it scary, without being dangerous..

[sstanescu]

Belatti, I only hope to have the opportunity to see F1 on this track. And for us to see it on TV. GP2 would be a good start, but the location, quite far away, could raise the bill too high for them. Maybe an endurace like ALMS would be quite exciting as well (that racetrack in the night?!?!)

But only the pits are in the improvement area? Run-offs are not quite limited for monoposts? GP2 drivers are quite wild

Maybe, in a post-Bernie era (not that I do not recognize his merits!), fade new tracks Tilke-made will make room for spectacular race tracks like this.