The stunning Jeddah Corniche super-speed circuit is gearing up to host the 2023 Saudi Arabian Formula 1 Grand Prix as organizers have confirmed that the circuit will continue to host Formula 1 racing for a set period of time. The circuit was built as a temporary facility and it underwent some permanent changes last year to make it the home of Formula 1 racing in Saudi Arabia for at least another four years.
In this regard, Saudi Motorsports CEO Martin Whitaker explained that the ongoing work is aimed at extending the track’s lifespan, making it more exciting and providing a better viewing experience for the public and television viewers around the world.
Whitaker said: “We’ve been working with the FIA and Formula 1 to make sure we have a track that will allow us to race in Jeddah while work begins on the Qiddiya track, which is groundbreaking in Formula 1 circuit design and entertainment. This project is unique and beautiful and Qiddiya will be the place everyone wants to visit, but for now and in the near future, the world’s attention will be on Jeddah, especially next March.
And with rumors of a 2024 race date growing, organizers have confirmed that the 2024 race date will need to be changed on next year’s calendar as it clashes with the holy month of Ramadan, which falls in March. April 10 and 9, 2024. The exact dates for the race will be determined jointly by Formula 1 and the International Motor Show of the Federation, which will be presented later this year.
Whitaker said: “What worries me is that there is a growing awareness of motorsport in general and Formula 1 in particular. The Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is by far the largest sporting event in Saudi Arabia.
The Formula 1 race has become a catalyst for expanding the range of interests of this sport. The karting circuits are attracting more and more visitors, along with the growing interest in Formula E, Extreme E and the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, the business sector and car manufacturers are showing a growing interest in investing in Saudi Arabia and new international and local events that we are planning.
Formula 1 is doing a great job of raising awareness and as a result we are seeing a response that is reflected in both ticket sales and corporate hospitality sales.”
And about the amount of work done at the Jeddah Corniche over the past ten months, he said: “We have worked closely with Formula 1 and the International Automobile Federation to make small changes to the corners, improve the lines of the track. vision for drivers When you’re driving at 200 mph and only two inches off the ground, it’s important to see the next stretch of the race track.
So we moved the barriers back a few turns and even moved them back five to seven meters in some cases to make room for forward vision. Although riders love this track, we understand that we can do something to give them more confidence.
While the track configuration remains the same, we’ve made minor adjustments by compressing the slope at turns 21, 22 and 23, which should help reduce speeds by about 30-50 km/h.
We have also changed a few side flaps, but this is in line with what some tracks around the world have done.
This is mainly due to the design of the new Formula 1 cars, so we changed the pavement height to better suit the current Formula 1 design.
In addition, the medical center has been relocated to a new location near turn 27 to improve access, and we now have a medical helicopter that is at this location most of the year to serve the local population.
As a result, we are also working with Formula 1 and the FIA to make big changes to the platform to improve the fan experience.
We are also building a new wing for the F1 Champions Club at the end of the pit lane entrance to the track. At the other end is our new service center. We have also carried out additional renovations to the paddock club and public facilities.”
How are things going with the race next year? Does the date change because it conflicts with the holy month of Ramadan? He said: “The holy month of Ramadan this year falls after 3 days of racing, but next year the date will change to March 10 to April 9, 2024.
Obviously, due to the holiness of Ramadan, it would not be possible to host a Grand Prix at this time, but ultimately, any decision on the timing of the next year’s race rests with Formula 1 and the FIA, so we are awaiting clarification from the promoter and governing body regarding the date. 2024 and, as usual, it will be announced later this year.
Whitaker replied that he was thinking about doing more F1 races in the Middle East? He said: “You can look at car dealerships or global consumer brands and they tend to be in the same area.
Yes, there is competition between them, but together they are stronger than if they were all apart.
It’s the same with Formula 1 racing. Saudi Arabia is a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council and it’s beneficial for all of us in the region to participate in Formula 1 racing as it raises awareness and helps develop the sport.
But in fact it seems close, but it is not. The distance between Bahrain and Jeddah is about 1500 km more than the distance between Silverstone and Budapest (2000 km), which is the region of many races (Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Italy, Spain , UK and Monaco). So a race venue in the Middle East is not as close as some might think.”
As for cooperation with other countries in the region, did he notice that this leads to an increase in ticket sales abroad?
Whitaker said: “Ticket sales for this year’s race have been very good and yes, we are seeing more people from the Gulf countries coming to Jeddah as interest in the sport grows in the region.
While we also target visitors from the rest of the world, the presence of more people from the Middle East is certainly encouraging. In terms of ticket sales, we are seeing increased interest in line with the increased level of interest in the sport as a sport. all. This is very important to me as it highlights the growing awareness of the sport and the excitement it brings.
The Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is by far the biggest sporting event in Saudi Arabia and the desire to be part of Formula 1 is huge.
Formula 1 racing was the catalyst for expanding the range of interests in this sport. Karting tracks have attracted more visitors, along with growing interest in Formula E, Extreme E and the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, as well as a huge level of support for e-sports, and we are now in the process of developing our desire to host other sports. affiliates such as the WRC and we recently signed an MoU to host the MotoGP championship in the future.
In addition to raising public awareness, business is becoming more sophisticated and the goal is to define our new circuit events and our off-road events. So Formula 1 is making a big contribution to raising awareness and as a result we are seeing a good response in ticket sales and corporate hospitality sales.”
And how much has the motorsport industry grown since the first race in 2021? He replied: “Motorsports is still in its infancy here, but Saudi Motorsports is working on a great strategy to develop this sport in the Kingdom. For example, we have plans to open new karting tracks and motorsports events across the country. there are very few auto racing series in the region which gives us the opportunity to explore local motorsport categories for both track and rally racing Our strategy in Saudi Arabia is to develop racing series especially for the youth category to help in our efforts to develop future champions Saudi Arabia and create teams and racing series that help create jobs for Saudis Our goal is to create career paths for Saudi Arabian youth The Kingdom will work with local authorities to encourage greater participation in the Middle East Rally Championship.
Increasingly, global manufacturers are beginning to tell us about the benefits of having a base in this part of the world. In addition, we are already starting to operate two new electric vehicle companies: the Saudi Sir Motors and the American Lucid Motors. We are also seeing more manufacturers looking to set up a base in Saudi Arabia. An example of this is NEOM and its partnership with McLaren Electric Racing. All this is closely linked to the Invest in Saudi Arabia program, one of the founding sponsors of Formula 1, which helps attract business to the Kingdom. Finally, there is increased interest in running test programs here at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit and taking advantage of the circuit’s facilities, making it the ideal location for such test programs. Audi is the latest manufacturer to take advantage of these benefits. for its touring car program.
And how much has Jeddah changed in the past two years, and can it define the importance of a Formula 1 race and its impact on the city and kingdom? “Firstly, it was important for the Jeddah Corniche to leave a legacy to society, and there is no doubt that it was,” Whitaker said. an area with new restaurants and entertainment facilities. We have also improved the appearance of the Corniche. Not only by expanding it, but by referring to some values inspired by the Kingdom Vision 2030 and the Quality of Life Program. There is also a sustainable aspect in that the lake has been completely cleaned , new green spaces and more trees were planted.
The circuit itself is also used in many events such as the FIA World Touring Car Championship, circuit days and spectators such as the Ferrari, Porsche and Lamborghini Owners Clubs, the Supercars Club, test programs such as the Audi tests, and most recently the Ferrari Canossa activity. We will soon be making our cars available to the public on the track to enhance the public day experience. In addition, the track is now open at least twice a week for cycling, walking and triathlon clubs. As you can see, since the opening of the track at the end of 2021, a lot has been happening and a lot has been done.
And what guarantees can he give regarding the safety of a minor after last year’s incident? He said: “Communication with teams and riders was paramount in 2022. Safety is paramount for everyone attending the race, for both teams, riders, spectators and guests. Our job as a promoter is to make sure people feel safe both on the track and in the city.This was the main purpose of this message to the Formula 1 community during the year that has passed since the race in March last year.I believe that the strong signals that we sent to the authorities gave everyone who rides in Jeddah, the confidence that the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, like many other races on the Formula 1 calendar, is completely safe and the hospitality of the people of Saudi Arabia will remain in the memory of all visitors.
And what about his belief that the circuit presented these wonderful races in the first two races? “There is absolutely no doubt about that,” Whitaker said. “The riders loved this track and a lot of people talked about it too. To be honest, I would be worried if they didn’t like that it was fast.
It’s a challenging track that matches the passion of Formula 1 drivers. There are overtaking opportunities on the track that we saw in the first two races and, perhaps most importantly, the circuit works very well. We had two great races, the first with Lewis Hamilton who beat Max Verstappen in 2001 and then last year it was a tough competition between Verstappen and Charles Leclerc and I have no doubt that another epic race awaits us this year .
