F1 Releases Provisional 2013 Race Calendar, New Jersey GP Replaces Valencia

A provisional F1 calendar for '13 has been released with Valencia being replaced by New Jersey and the British Grand Prix at Silverstone brought forward by a week, so it "does not clash with the Wimbledon final," according to Tom Cary of the London TELEGRAPH. Although there are "few surprises in the schedule, which is yet to be signed off by the World Motor Sport Council, it was still met with a few wide-eyed looks" by the F1 community out in Singapore. At 20 races, it equals this year as the longest in F1 history, but "with 13 of them now outside Europe and an unprecedented eight back-to-back race weekends, it looks to be the most brutal yet travel-wise." The "highlight is undoubtedly the introduction of the eagerly-anticipated grand prix in New Jersey, using the Manhattan skyline as its backdrop" (TELEGRAPH, 9/21).

BRITISH GP: The London DAILY MAIL wrote that the 2013 British Grand Prix is "set to take place at Silverstone on June 30." It is "only the fifth time in history that the British race will be staged outside of July." The German Grand Prix is scheduled for July 21 at the Nurburgring, but the circuit has "run into financial difficulties this year, and the race could yet be switched to Hockenheim" as a backup (DAILY MAIL, 9/21).

SINGAPORE GP: REUTERS' Patrick Johnston reported that Singapore government has agreed to a deal with F1 to "extend the country's grand prix contract for another five years" until '17. There had been "some doubt about the future of the event," the only night race on the calendar (REUTERS, 9/22). The AFP reported that "no price-tag for the new deal" to '17 was revealed, but F1 commercial rights-holder Bernie Ecclestone said repeatedly that the Singapore government "had proven tough negotiators." Ecclestone said, "It was difficult for me to negotiate. He's [Singapore Trade and Industry Minister S. Iswaran] not easy to deal with, and I can't understand why he was complaining about us using the streets and wearing out the streets. But we eventually got there, and I'm very, very happy. We're all here for another five years." Singapore is also the planned venue of an initial public offering for F1 shares, although "the launch has been blown off course by financial turmoil in Europe" (AFP, 9/22).