Source:
REUTERS/Androniki Christodoulou
[Saba
Sports News] “The Independent” has reported that the city of Incheon
in South Korea has expressed its intention to host an F1 race on a street
circuit in 2026. Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok met with the new CEO of F1,
Stefano Domenicali, during the F1 Japanese Grand Prix and submitted a letter of
intent, highlighting Incheon as an ideal location for hosting F1 events due to
its transportation infrastructure, including Incheon Airport and Incheon Port,
as well as its abundance of luxury accommodations. South Korea previously
hosted the F1 Grand Prix four times from 2010 to 2013 but has not hosted the
event since then. The inaugural race took place at the Yeongam Circuit in 2010,
but it faced numerous issues, including inadequate preparation and a lack of
spectator attendance, prompting the mobilization of soldiers to fill the
grandstands. The Yeongam Circuit, situated in the southwest of South Korea, had
a desolate local environment and limited accommodation options. Reporters and
team personnel had to stay in modest love hotels. The four Korean Grand Prix
races accumulated a total loss of $170 million, leading the organizing
committee to face financial challenges and nearly bankruptcy. Consequently, the
F1 operators decided to cancel the Korean Grand Prix after 2014.