Most people like a bit of a challenge when producing a final project or dissertation at university, but for Polish architecture students Ewa Huchler and Robert Mlodzinski, a simple challenge was not enough. Instead, they decided to set themselves a mission impossible, by coming up with a detailed design for a Formula 1-standard circuit in their homeland.
Why mission impossible? Well, circuit design is not simply a case of slapping a bit of tarmac along the contours of a field these days. Nowadays, to guarantee yourself a place on the Formula 1 calendar, the infrastructure - hotels, grandstands, plush executive suites and access and parking - are just as important, if not more so, than the circuit itself. And when the man with the final say so is Bernie Ecclestone, the standards demanded are best described as exacting, to say the least.
Newponds Circuit - Lodz, Poland (Click to enlarge)
Add in the fact that there is little knowledge about Formula 1 in Poland, and you soon see the Herculean task ahead. But far from falling flat on their faces, Ewa and Robert excelled - and managed to enjoy the whole experience as well.
F1 - what's that?
"Designing the project was real fun (how could it not be?) and we had some really comic moments," says Ewa. "First of all, imagine a country where racing really means 'rally' and a 'racing driver', according to the top media is a 'rally driver' (and top dog is therefore Estonian Markko Martin, not Michael Schumacher... Ed.).
"Formula 1 just doesn't exist in this country! This is ridiculous, but ironically, Michael Schumacher's dominance has met with great interest from our TV and newspaper reporters and made the sport more popular here.
"Our promoter didn't have much idea about racing circuits, and Formula 1 circuits especially. Then the "jury" who were supposed to make comments and criticisms of our project didn't know what it was all about. There was one who asked: 'Do the pits have to be in front of main grandstands? They block out the whole view of the track... Can you tell me where else these kind of solutions were used?' He was really, really surprised - if not embarrassed - when we told him 'on every track!'"
Getting the sort of detailed information required to finish the project proved difficult but not impossible, reveals Ewa.
"We wrote to the FIA and the FOM (Formula One Management). The FIA was really helpful but I can't say the same about the FOM. However, it appears that if you are not seriously engaged in building an F1 circuit in your country and don't have Bernie's 'permission', it's very difficult to get details about track facilities."
The site where the track could be built, near Lodz in Poland.
Undaunted, the two students ploughed on and were able to present their completed project - "The Newpond Circuit - Lodz/ Poland" - in September last year. Unsurprisingly they received top marks!/p>
And for anyone wondering, the plans were indeed drawn up for a specific site - so if anyone has around £30 million to spare, Ewa and Robert would like to hear from you! Are you listening Bernie?
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