No 2013 Argentine Grand Prix
The proposed 2013 Grand Prix of Argentina due to take place on 14th April has been cancelled due to political unrest.
The Termas de Río Hondo circuit in the province of Santiago del Estero had been signed with Dorna and MotoGP to host events in South America for three years starting in 2013, and were delighted to get MotoGP to back to South America for the first time since 2004.
Following Argentina’s nationalization of the oil and gas company subsidiary YPF which is 57% owned by Repsol Spain the race due to take place in April was always going to be in doubt.
Ultimately the situation with huge a huge team sponsor like Repsol the situation had become totally unattainable to host a race with a prospect of boycotts from the factory Honda team, and many Moto2/Moto3 riders.
Spain in currently on the war-path against Argentina and the government has said that they will “take the necessary measures” to deal with the YPF issue and is “already working in order to obtain the collaboration of the Unites States, and friend-governments within the European Union, and G-20.”
In an interview with Catalunya Radio back in the summer just after the announcement Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta was asked about his opinion on the crisis and what he intended to do regarding the Argentine GP.
“If Repsol says something I’ll consider it, but I doubt they will tell me that we can’t go to Argentina.” Ezpeleta added “We have a firm contract with Argentina, but all contracts are subject to higher political circumstances. We’re not going to do a Grand Prix if everyone doesn’t agree on it, but we won’t be going to a country that has a problem with one of the sponsors.”
Despite the contract signing there was always reservations, and Ezpleta knew that right from the start when he was quoted as saying “still time to see how things are resolved.”
As a result of this news, the first Grand Prix of the season at the Losail circuit in Qatar will be put back a week from the 31st of March to the 7th April, three weeks before the inaugural Texas Grand Prix at the Circuit of Americas.
Expect confirmation of the news tomorrow on MotoGP.com.