A racetrack for Tenerife while the sewers keep failing

By Marlis Zoschke

At first I thought it was a joke. Car and motorbike races on Tenerife? Aren’t the golf courses enough? Shouldn’t they be focusing on more important matters, such as the sewerage system, which remains in a constant state of disrepair despite repairs? Or keeping illegal immigration in check? Or providing affordable housing for local residents?

‚Who on earth comes up with such nonsense?‘ I thought. Perhaps yet another investor had been raving about Monaco in glowing terms and had used the size of that tiny state – roughly the same size as Tenerife – as an example. It was certainly a brilliant idea for the young people. And nobody gives a second thought to the consequences.

Anyone who has ever seen a race track will surely have been amazed at just how much space such a thing takes up. Even if it’s not a Formula 1 race: the large crowds need accommodation, car parks, access roads for the transport lorries and much more besides. After all, everything needed for a race has to be delivered.

Fernando Alonso on Tenerife?

What do the supporters of this project hope to gain? It won’t bring in any more money. Not all tourists will be keen to spend four hours or more watching these gruelling races under the scorching sun. After all, arriving early is important.

There won’t be grandstands everywhere, and very few tourists will be willing to pay the prices charged for them. Perhaps even a supporter of this measure has already spotted former Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso in Tenerife. But until the track is ready for racing and the action gets underway, he’ll be playing with his grandchildren – if he has any by then.

Formula 1 on Tenerife – perhaps the opposition will succeed

In any case, I’m keeping my fingers very much crossed for the island’s residents that their resistance succeeds. With all the money that Tenerife would have to fork out for such a pointless indulgence, important projects could be tackled instead. For example, the demolition of oversized hotels.

Skyscrapers on a small island – it really isn’t a pretty sight. But, as we all know, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What is certain, however, is that it always comes down to money first and foremost.