In 2015 Baku will host  one of the stages of the Grand Prix of Formula 1. Bob Barnard, who managed the construction of many GP  Formula-1 tracks and facilities, commented on the forthcoming event.

- What do you think about Formula 1 in general, would you agree that it is not just a sporting event, it is more than that, and would you elaborate on what it actually means to people around the world?

- Formula 1 is far beyond a normal sporting, it ranks up there along with the World Cup and the Olympics in terms of what it can do for a host city. It brings international attention to it and it brings people to the city who will spend money, it brings business, it brings influential sponsors. Back in 1985 I was involved in a street race for Formula 1 in Adelaide. The slogan of the race was "Adelaide alive!", because Adelaide was something of a sleepy hollow. And it certainly transformed that city, put it on the map, and it was a whole week of entertainment. It is not just the race itself; there are all sorts of events around the race - sponsor events, balls, parties, major media events that make it a real happening.

- So one might say that it is a real honor to host such an event and a country to hold the Grand Prix is very carefully chosen.

- Indeed it is, and if you think - there are only 20 countries in the world that stage a Formula 1 race in any one year, yeah, it's a very selective group. Like I say, it is like winning the Olympics or the World Cup, but the difference with Formula 1 is it comes every year for a number of years. Australia has had it for 30 years now - the Olympics or World Cup only come every 50 or 60 years. It is a real privilege to have a Formula 1 race.

- What do you think about the level of preparedness in Baku, how well are they prepared for this Grand Prix?

- That is difficult for me to say at this distance, I know they've had street races, but I also know from my own experience that to go the step up to Formula 1 is enormous. It is not just a doubling of the intensity, it is the focus, the demands of the organization, the demands of the drivers, the level of the track is actually enormous. So I think in terms of the timescale they are talking about that this is not an easy proposition, unless they can bring in the people who actually have the experience of how to do it.

- What do you know in general about Azerbaijan and the racing there?

- Well, I am a bit more of a man-of-the-world than most people, but I have to say I don't know an awful lot. I know the Trojans have motor races there, around the place and around the capital, so yeah, it's already put itself on the map by doing these sort of things, and that's really one of the reasons for the whole event, so that people like myself can get to know the country and the region.