Knockout or Shootout?

With seeing the knockout format all year and then the shootout at Sandown which format do you prefer?

i like the shootout seems to add abit of spice, where as the knockout seems to look like a practice session.

I prefer the shootout usually. Though the shootout at Sandown just didn't seem very eventful at all.

I prefer the current system of reserving the shootout for the endurance races only. Though it could be used for other select events such as Adelaide.

There is a bit of a problem with the knockout system in that the 3rd stage can often become boring when the fastest lap is set early in the final 15 minutes.

I've never liked shootouts, takes the 'battle' out of qualifying.

Save it for Bathurst only if we must have it.


Not really a fan of this knockout business either, but it's better than a shootout. Why we can't just have a single 45m session to set the entire grid.......

Knockout all the way for me. Most sensible thing VESA have done in years.

I still like the shootout at Bathurst

I still like the shootout at Bathurst
I'm with you Wrighty! The shootout has been a apart of the Bathurst 1000 legend for about 30 years, Its great!

Are teams allowed to work on their cars during the shootout? ie if you are first (hence running last) could you be working on the car or is their restrictions on that?

i like the combination of both - its ake the drivers work harder to make the shootout and then they need to find speed for a one lap dash, with the car setup and tyres they have used to get into the shootout

Knockout system.

There is a bit of a problem with the knockout system in that the 3rd stage can often become boring when the fastest lap is set early in the final 15 minutes.

What about knocking a couple of minutes of each knock out period, so that by the time we get to last session there ain't much time for the teams to mess around.

What about knocking a couple of minutes of each knock out period, so that by the time we get to last session there ain't much time for the teams to mess around.

That is not a bad idea - have everyone out for 20mins, then the top 20 out for 15mins, then the top 10 out for 10mins - it would definitely spice it up a bit. At Winton this year qualifying seemed to drag on for a long time with very little happening in the way of fast laps.

Personally I liked the Sandown qualifying format - although I was a little confused because I didn't hear any explanation of the format during the telecast ie I expected the same as last year bottom 50%/top 50% style then top 10 from that

I like the shootout for Bathurst and the new knockout system for every other round, Bathurst is special and the traditions mean so much.

The shootout has been a apart of the Bathurst 1000 legend for about 30 years, Its great!

The current format of the shootout has only been around since 1986.

From 1978 until 1985, each driver got two shots at it.

One shot shootouts take the fun out of qualifying, and the art out of a quick lap. Their can be no 'battle', ie one driver going fast, another guy goes quicker, so the former goes out for another crack to beat it, all the while trying to time their run so as not to get held up.

I am a fan of variety. too much of one thing advantages a driver who is better at that format

For Bathurst only, a shootout.
Hardies Hero's lives in the minds of race fans everywhere. (but asbestos is still in the lungs of workers everywhere too).

Sorry, my left wing conscience took over for a minute there.....

For the sprint rounds, how 'bout some old fashioned speedway type action, bring in a combination knockout/shootout, a "Pole Shuffle"

Yep, 10 & 9 square off in a one lap dash, head to head, winner stays on, loser goes to the pits.
Eight joins the winner and so forth.

Imagine the no 10 qualifier winning 9 single shootouts to go to P 1, how cool would that be !!!!

For Bathurst only, a shootout.
Hardies Hero's lives in the minds of race fans everywhere. (but asbestos is still in the lungs of workers everywhere too).

Sorry, my left wing conscience took over for a minute there.....

For the sprint rounds, how 'bout some old fashioned speedway type action, bring in a combination knockout/shootout, a "Pole Shuffle"

Yep, 10 & 9 square off in a one lap dash, head to head, winner stays on, loser goes to the pits.
Eight joins the winner and so forth.

Imagine the no 10 qualifier winning 9 single shootouts to go to P 1, how cool would that be !!!!

Now your talking.:woot: :beer:

Yep, 10 & 9 square off in a one lap dash, head to head, winner stays on, loser goes to the pits.
Eight joins the winner and so forth.

Imagine the no 10 qualifier winning 9 single shootouts to go to P 1, how cool would that be !!!!

Procar tried a format like this is 2002 with the Nations Cup qualifying

The current system is a clear rop off from the F1 system. The one lap shootout was unique and also adopted by a few categories world wide, but theres still aspects of an open session that neither have managed to replicate. Perhaps it suggests something that whilst F1 chases the optimal format for TV and the V8's adapt it once it looks like theyve found a winner, MotoGP sticks with a tried and tested open format, and the only point of discussion seems to be the banning or allowal of Q tyres?

For the record though, the knockout session still allows any driver to better a time already set that might be beaten by a rival. A shootout is a bit too much like shooting with a blindfold.

Bathurst is too big a circuit for a shootout in my book.

May make interesting TV but man it's boring at the circuit....

After ten years on the mountain on and off since 1985, I often feel the best day for watching the lads really on the limit is Friday. There's nothing quite like McPhillamy during Qualifying.

The only time I can remember the shootout really getting the hairs on the neck standing up was 2003 when some bloke named Murphy threw in a 2.06 that still hasn't been beaten.

I prefer the knockout system at most rounds but Bathurst should keep the shootout.

How is the rest of qualifying being run is it like the old system or is it a knockout to find the rest of the spots & the top ten cars for the shootout?

Yeah im a fan of the shootout at Bathurst. (Murph's being a stand out!)

Other rounds, the Knockout formula is Ok but agree with others that it can get a little boring in parts. Maybe as someone said, look at mixing up the time length.

Originally Posted by Uncle Cranker
For Bathurst only, a shootout.
Hardies Hero's lives in the minds of race fans everywhere. (but asbestos is still in the lungs of workers everywhere too).

Sorry, my left wing conscience took over for a minute there.....

For the sprint rounds, how 'bout some old fashioned speedway type action, bring in a combination knockout/shootout, a "Pole Shuffle"

Yep, 10 & 9 square off in a one lap dash, head to head, winner stays on, loser goes to the pits.
Eight joins the winner and so forth.

Imagine the no 10 qualifier winning 9 single shootouts to go to P 1, how cool would that be !!!!

i like that idea, although start them on the grid so they have a fight into turn one make it like a mini race, certainly would add excitment :).