Formula One impresario Bernie Ecclestone has made no secret of his desire to see his series make a stop in the Big Apple – Manhattan, in point of fact. To that end, our friends at 0-60 Magazine thought they’d help him out by drawing up a suggested courses – in fact, in an oddly prescient move, they had already done so, publishing the fantasy circuits in the pages of their Winter 2008 issue.

In any case, with Ecclestone reportedly reaffirming his interest in the Big Apple last week, 0-60 has decided to publish the story and the routes online. The routes through Central Park are inspired, although we suspect that more than a few of NYC’s anti-car intelligentsia would take issue with that notion.

This idea is certainty strengthened by the Formula One Teams Association’s interest in returning the the United States.

Personally I love the idea of more Grand Prix exposure here in the States, and the idea of a Manhattan street race is awfully fun to dream about. Logistically I just don’t see this happening. The tarmac on Broadway isn’t exactly FiA-spec, and I just doubt that the city of New York will support the idea – say the way Singapore has.

What do you think of the idea? If not New York, where would you like to see a US Grand Prix held?

The Formula One Teams’ Association has reportedly expressed doubts about the addition of South Korea to the 2010 calendar, and would prefer instead to be returning to the United States.  “South Korea is a wonderful country and we have no problems with it, but we hear that the track is four or five hours from the nearest major city,” McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh told Auto Bild.

“There’s no infrastructure, no hotels, no good transport. It makes it difficult for the fans and the media,” said the Briton.  He indicated that F1’s priority should be immediately reinstating a North American round of the world championship.

“There shouldn’t be any doubts about Montreal,” said Whitmarsh regarding Canada. “North America is a big market. In the past we’ve messed around with North America so much that we should go there for free if necessary.”

OK, lots of talk from my post last week about the loneliness of being an F1 fan in the States. A number of you said that without a home race, interest will forever be limited. So for the next couple days, I control the universe and am willing to grant you a full-on GP race spectacle in the location of your choosing.

Tell me where. And why it would work there. Could be an existing track (what upgrades would it need?). Could be a street course. Could be the perfect location to construct a track that no one has considered. See? No real guidelines. But keep in mind success depends on getting people there, and continued success means a great race that comes back again and again.

All ideas appreciated, I’m looking for thoughts from sea to shining sea.