[WEC Race] 2014 FIA WEC - Round 1 - Silverstone

[bella]

really hope they do some decent market research to find out what it is that's making people want to go. the ticket prices look pretty high to me, it's britain so the weather can go in any direction (case in point: about 15c and sunny today, but a frost yesterday morning, cold as it's been all winter), it's a difficult race format to watch if you're just coming over as a f1 fan, lbr, a fairly rubbish track and yet... strong demand.

really interesting!

[Bandicoot17]

Originally Posted by bella

really hope they do some decent market research to find out what it is that's making people want to go. the ticket prices look pretty high to me, it's britain so the weather can go in any direction (case in point: about 15c and sunny today, but a frost yesterday morning, cold as it's been all winter), it's a difficult race format to watch if you're just coming over as a f1 fan, lbr, a fairly rubbish track and yet... strong demand.

really interesting!

It's not that expensive in comparison to other sporting events, a football or rugby ticket is going to set you back £20 quid at least. It's only a fiver more than last year and all things considered it's a price I'm willing to pay.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by pauln

I'm told ticket demand is considerably in excess of last year - thought to be because of Webber and Porsche.

I can certainly believe it for the Porsche return, but for Webber - really?

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

I can certainly believe it for the Porsche return, but for Webber - really?

Hah, I would've put it exactly the other way around... at least for the general public.

[Aysedasi]

Perhaps that really is the rather sad fact........

[Spyderman]

Good thing then that Webber is a Porsche supporter.

[isynge]

Like it or not, F1 does capture the majority of motor racing eyeballs, and Webber provides a direct link to the WEC, and there was a degree of referring to where he was off to on F1 coverage during the latter part of last season.

This is all about the representation problem that anything outside of F1 has. Have a look at the BBC's list of "all sports" (link) and note that even though they have a category for "Motor Sport" (e.g. on this story, and let's leave aside some of the image selection problems with it...) it's not listed as something someone could browse to.

So... let's enjoy the halo effect we get from Mark Webber while it lasts, and hope that a side benefit of it is getting a little bit more profile.

A big crowd on Sunday would undoubtedly help - but unlike previous years I haven't noticed things like advertising hoardings at mainline London stations or car displays in Milton Keynes / along the Thames. I like to think we'll get a good turnout, but suspect there's still work to be done.

[nobster]

Unfortunately F1 is still considered to be the no.1 motorsport, but we know better!

[Simmi]

Depends how you define number one motorsport.

I was sat in an airport the other day watching the Bahrain GP. The amount of people who came and sat down to watch it - of all genders and ages - was really surprising. People were talking to each other about the race. Asking questions, ordering extra food/drink.

No other form of motorsport (in fact very few sports) could even come close to that.

Any PR gain the WEC can take from F1 should be fully exploited.

[Spyderman]

I know that this is sacrilegious; but I sometimes think that I prefer our sport to remain...manageable. I would hate it to be corrupted by the masses and turned into a circus.

[andy_b]

btw thanks for all the thanks much appreciated

[isynge]

Originally Posted by Spyderman

I know that this is sacrilegious; but I sometimes think that I prefer our sport to remain...manageable. I would hate it to be corrupted by the masses and turned into a circus.

I understand what you're saying. I like the idea that I'll be able to walk around the track, sit pretty much where I fancy, and have an uninterrupted view come Sunday, to say nothing of the ability to get in and out of the place without sitting in a traffic jam for hours. There's also the argument in favour of accessibility to the teams and cars - all of which is a result of it not being a circus.

At the same time however we seen over the last couple of days how vulnerable the entry list is to a fairly small set of capricious circumstances - were there a stronger business model, which can only really come from more attention, then we might be in the happy situation of a capacity grid.

Right now the WEC is still a little bit like a club series, with good and bad points, if we're going to get beyond that I fear we're going to have to pay the price of there being a little bit more professionalism, and maybe one or two more people cluttering up the place.

[GT6]

Originally Posted by Spyderman

I know that this is sacrilegious; but I sometimes think that I prefer our sport to remain...manageable. I would hate it to be corrupted by the masses and turned into a circus.

yes i have the same feelings sometimes but in order to attract money into sportscar racing then it needs to attract the attention of the public so any publicity is good

[Spyderman]

Agreed. I hope they find the balance that we all so want...and the series needs.

[GT6]

Just watched the BBC weather and it looks good for Friday and Saturday but Sunday looking pretty wet

[lemansfan]

Simon , that's a Joke or not

[GT6]

I wish it was but it looks like even banning Andrew can't stop the rain

See you on friday Walter at least we will be dry on Friday and saturday

[Bandicoot17]

This'll be the one time they've got it right...

A lot can change in a few days though.

[otisdog]

Originally Posted by Spyderman

I know that this is sacrilegious; but I sometimes think that I prefer our sport to remain...manageable. I would hate it to be corrupted by the masses and turned into a circus.

Be careful of what you wish for....we in the states have watched a healthy series with great competition devolve into poorly officiated, poorly organized mayhem in the course of 5 years. Bigger is always better...things erode quickly!

[Spyderman]

Originally Posted by otisdog

Be careful of what you wish for....we in the states have watched a healthy series with great competition devolve into poorly officiated, poorly organized mayhem in the course of 5 years. Bigger is always better...things erode quickly!

With all due respect, the ALMS was not F1.
As I have previously posted. it is my opinion that a balance needs to be attained.

[Rodger Davies]

No, but 2006-2008 ALMS was where I think we'd all like the sport to be. Known by those 'in the know'. The ambitions of series owners to make it more than that ('blah blah green racing blah blah') killed it off (amongst several other factors). WEC feels like it's starting to be in that boat (the 'in the know' one) but probably needs to stabilise before trying to be anything more.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by GT6

I wish it was but it looks like even banning Andrew can't stop the rain

Can I stop dancing now? My legs are getting a bit tired.......

[Spyderman]

Originally Posted by Rodger Davies

No, but 2006-2008 ALMS was where I think we'd all like the sport to be. Known by those 'in the know'. The ambitions of series owners to make it more than that ('blah blah green racing blah blah') killed it off (amongst several other factors). WEC feels like it's starting to be in that boat (the 'in the know' one) but probably needs to stabilise before trying to be anything more.

You find no argument from me. I 'm just not sure that I want to see our series balloon to be a replica of F1. I don't believe that growth is good just for the sake of growth. I have no issues with a stable, well managed and financed series. Circus-Not so much. Just my opinion.

[lemansfan]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Can I stop dancing now? My legs are getting a bit tired.......

Is the british Forecast so incorrect like the French Forecast ???

[FstrthnU]

I find it kind of funny in the FRC thread that everyone (myself included) is picking the #26 G-Drive OAK to win the LMP2 class. If that car crashes there's gonna be a lot of unhappy campers here