Grand Prix glamour
01-Mar-06
With current Formula One (F1) champion Fernando Alonso taking the chequered flag at Melbourne earlier this month (2 April), the glamour has certainly returned to the Grand Prix circuit. The 24-year-old Spaniard, the youngest ever champion, has brought back both youth and unpredictability to a sport which claims millions of supporters worldwide.
But it is not only the speed on the track that brings the upmarket traveller to the Grand Prix season, which began in Bahrain in March: F1 is also renowned for its party scene. "In Monaco and Barcelona, the organisers provide a lot of entertainment, and in Monaco you can see the drivers around town after the race," says Andy Tattersall, director of operations and customer services at Page & Moy (www.pageandmoy.com), which offers packages to many F1 races. Ultra-glamorous products are available: Elevation Events (www.elevationevents.co.uk) organises luxury events worldwide, including the La Dolce Vita Ball at Monaco on the race weekend and the Grand Prix Ball at Silverstone in the UK.
"Monaco is a perennial favourite and attracts a good, mixed crowd, while offering lots away from the track. Places such as Magny Cours, in France, are socially more quiet and more for specialists," says Tattersall.
Race events are spread over three days: Friday is practice day, Saturday features the qualifying rounds and Sunday sees the big race. Tickets can be bought direct from the F1 organisers (www.formula1.com), specialist agents or travel companies that offer tailormade or package breaks. Some race organisers offer one-day, weekend or three-day tickets.
Grand Prix circuits, such as Monaco and Monza, are classics. Others have gained ground recently, such as Germany's Hockenheim and Budapest, while newcomers include those in Shanghai and Istanbul. But Maxine Caneva, managing director, Liaisons Abroad, (www.liaisonsabroad.com) of London, which offers a bespoke travel service for sporting events around Europe, warns: "Monaco and Barcelona sell out fast."
For Monaco, Liaisons Abroad can arrange tickets or viewing from apartments that have balconies overlooking the track. It can offer special treats too: "For the Monza we can arrange helicopter transfers for people staying in Milan and at some circuits we can arrange visits to some paddocks where the cars are parked, which is fun."
WHERE TO SIT, WHERE TO STAY, WHERE TO CELEBRATE
SAN MARINO GRAND PRIX
Race: Imola, Italy (21-23 April)
Best seat: Grandstand A, Tribuna Partenza stand, near start/finish line with video wall opposite.
Best rest: The Grand Hotel Baglioni, Bologna. Favoured by the Maserati and Ferrari crowd.
Client fit: Lovers of luxury and those wanting to explore one of Italy's most delectable cities.
Sample price: Superior doubles £287, suites £714.
Post-race celebration: San Domenico, Imola.
Contact: www.baglionihotels.com
BRITISH GRAND PRIX
Race: Silverstone, England (9-11 June)
Best seat: Gold 4 Pit Straight A, opposite start/finish line, near the car preparation grid.
Best rest: Ettington Park, Stratford-upon-Avon, 34 miles from the track.
Client fit: Lovers of high style, antique-filled English country house hotels.
Sample price: Doubles from £110, suites from £269.
Post-race celebration: The Fox Inn, Farthinghoe - a favourite of Jenson Button.
Contact: www.handpicked.co.uk
EUROPEAN GRAND PRIX
Race: Nurburgring, Germany (5-7 May)
Best seat: Gold 1 T4, in the Gold Grandstand, near start/finish line, with video screen opposite.
Best rest: The Dorint Novotel, Nurburgring.
Client fit: Fans wanting creature comforts right opposite the track.
Sample price: Doubles with view £84, suites £1,106.
Post-race celebration: Loup de Mer, Koblenz.
Contact: www.accorthotels.com
CANADIAN GRAND PRIX
Race: Montreal, Canada (23-25 June)
Best seat: Gold 2 Grandstand, opposite pit lane on the start/finish straight.
Best rest: Hotel Le St James, Old Montreal.
Client fit: Lovers of old-style 19th century opulence.
Sample price: Doubles £197, executive suites £284.
Post-race celebration: Jacques Villeneuve's club Newtown on Crescent St.
Contact: www.lhw.com, www.newtown.ca
SPANISH GRAND PRIX
Race: Barcelona, Spain (12-14 May)
Best seat: Grandstand D, opposite pit with views of the start/finish line, with video wall opposite.
Best rest: The Hotel Arts, Barcelona.
Client fit: Those interested in ultramodern classics and state-ofthe-art architecture.
Sample price: Doubles £245, executive suites £321.
Post-race celebration: Moo restaurant in the Hotel Omm.
Contact: www.ritzcarlton.com, www.hotelomm.es
US GRAND PRIX
Race: Indianapolis, USA (30 June - 2 July)
Best seat: Stand B Penthouse, at exit of corner before the start/finish line, with views of the pit lane.
Best rest: The new Conrad Indianapolis.
Client fit: Anyone who wants to pamper themselves in sleek luxury.
Sample price: Doubles from £269, suites from £399.
Post-race celebration: The Eagle's Nest, on the top of the Hyatt Regency.
Contact: www.indianapolis.conradmeetings.com, www.indianapolis.hyatt.com
MONACO F1 GRAND PRIX
Race: Monte Carlo, Monaco (25-28 May)
Best seat: Grandstand B, near Casino or K on the Quai Albert, near pool with video screen opposite.
Best rest: Hotel de Paris on Casino Square.
Client fit: Lovers of old-style European tradition and glamour.
Sample price: Doubles £273, Winston Churchill suite £5,528 per night.
Post-race celebration: The Louise XV Alain Ducasse, the Hotel de Paris.
Contact: www.montecarloresort.com, www.alain-ducasse.com
FRENCH GRAND PRIX
Race: Magny Cours, France (14-16 July)
Best seat: Grandstand C has good views of start/finish line, pit lane, preparation grid and podium.
Best rest: The Renaissance Hotel, Magny Cours.
Client fit: Those who want to be comfortable, close to the track - and the drivers!
Sample price: Doubles from £58, suites from £104.
Post-race celebration: The Renaissance Hotel Restaurant.
Contact: www.hotel-la-renaissance.fr
GERMAN GRAND PRIX
Race: Hockenheim, Germany (28-30 July)
Best seat: Grandstand Sud F with views of last corner, start/finish straight, video wall opposite.
Best rest: Der Europaische Hof, Hotel Europa.
Client fit: Luxury loving romantics who will enjoy the historic university town atmosphere.
Sample price: Doubles from £231, junior suites from £271.
Post-race celebration: Schwarz Das Restaurant - gourmet food with great views.
Contact: www.lhw.com
CHINESE GRAND PRIX
Race: Shanghai, China (29 September-1 October)
Best seat: Main Grandstand High, opposite pit, views of start/finish straight, most of track.
Best rest: The Grand Hyatt, Shanghai - the tallest hotel in the world.
Client fit: Those wanting huge style, yet are not afraid of heights.
Sample price: River Room doubles from £193, suites from £308.
Post-race celebration: Park 97, trendy and popular with locals and visitors.
Contact: www.hyatt.com
HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX
Race: Budapest, Hungary (4-6 August)
Best seat: Covered Super Gold Grandstand opposite pit lane, good views of start/finish line.
Best rest: The (soon to be re-opened) five-star, marble and gold New York Palace Hotel, Budapest.
Client fit: Lovers of Art Nouveau for its lavish interiors which have just been restored.
Sample price: Doubles £208, junior suites £395.
Post-race celebration: Iguana Bar & Grill
Contact: www.boscolohotels.com
JAPANESE GRAND PRIX
Race: Suzuka, Japan (6-8 October)
Best seat: Grandstand D 2 at end of start/finish straight, in front of the first corner.
Best rest: Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel, Nagoya.
Client fit: Lovers of contemporary luxury who want easy access to the train to the circuit.
Sample price: Doubles from £156, suites from £340.
Post-race celebration: The hotel's KA - UN restaurant - one of the city's finest.
Contact: www.marriott.com
TURKISH GRAND PRIX
Race: Istanbul, Turkey (25-27 August)
Best seat: Covered Grandstand Super Gold opposite pit lane with good views of start/finish line.
Best rest: The new Sumahan - on the right side of the Bosphorus to get to the race.
Client fit: Those who relish a contemporary atmosphere.
Sample price: Standard double £400, junior suite £518.
Post-race celebration: Korfez - fish for gourmands and water transfers.
Contact: www.sumahan.com
BRAZILIAN GRAND PRIX
Race: Sao Paulo, Brazil (20-22 October)
Best seat: Covered Grandstand D at end of pit straight, with good views of start and grid.
Best rest: The new and very chic Fasano, Sao Paulo - close to track in the south of the city.
Client fit: Those keen on understated luxury and an eclectic mix of 1930s and modern style.
Sample price: Standard room £217, suites £458.
Post-race celebration: Jam Warehouse for Japanese fashionable in Sao Paulo.
Contact: www.fasano.com.br, www.jamwarehouse.com.br
ITALIAN GRAND PRIX
Race: Monza, Italy (8-10 September)
Best seat: Grandstand Right Lateral No.26 opposite pit lane, with views start/finish line.
Best rest: The Four Seasons Hotel, Milan; a converted monastery in the city centre.
Client fit: The sophisticated set who will love the classic, but stylish, interiors.
Sample price: Standard double, £400, junior suite, £520.
Post-race celebration: Cracco Peck, newly restored and foodie heaven.
Contact: www.fourseasons.com
WHAT'S NEW
- It was announced at the end of March, as LT went to press, that the Japanese Grand Prix is moving to Mount Fuji in 2007. Fuji has some advantages over the original venue, Suzuka, as it is closer to Tokyo, but it is also further away from the country's second city, Osaka. However, the major problem in the Fuji area is its lack of hotels in which to house the F1 circus and fans.
- Local authorities have now begun major repair work in Spa Francorchamps, the legendary Belgian Grand Prix venue since 1925, which was closed this year. Drivers and fans alike have always loved the course, famous for its unpredictable weather. (At one stage in its history, it rained at the Belgian Grand Prix for 20 years in a row.) Most drivers consider the Spa course to be the most challenging race track on the F1 calendar. It is due to be ready for the 2007 Grand Prix.
