Utterly pointless?

[chris bailey]

If there was ever a waste of resources that could be better directed elsewhere, this is it. The FIA should be ashamed of themselves for allowing it!

[Kicking-back]

The FIA rubber-stamped it.

Surely as most of the resources for the set-up are coming from the Sheik, he can do as he pleases?

The series seems to be building a lot of momentum and support - and I for one am delighted we'll have racing to watch through the winter.

[bella]

it's a sheik's version of scalextric. but a rather interesting one

[cos]

Originally Posted by chris bailey

If there was ever a waste of resources that could be better directed elsewhere, this is it.

Where do you suggest these 'resources' go to? If there was no A1 series, there would be no chassis order, no engine contract, no ticket sales etc. A1 will be boosting the motorsport economy by creating this series.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by chris bailey

If there was ever a waste of resources that could be better directed elsewhere, this is it. The FIA should be ashamed of themselves for allowing it!

I think you posted in the wrong forum. In this forum we talk about A1GP not about F1.

[chris bailey]

The point I'm making, in an oblique sort of fashion, is that too many contemporary racing series are born out of someone's desire to make a quick buck. The reason they are given house room is because the traditional formulae have been allowed to develop down (mostly) blind alleys, as illustrated by F1. The way forward is to fix the problem, not introduce a seies of ill-conceived "alternatives". As for where the resources could go; how about re-introducing a proper free-formula F2 where designers can develop their talent outside the fishbowl environment of F1. Who knows, we might even see the return of innovation and a proper meaning to the expression "radical". For those of you brought up on a diet of recent F1, "radical" does not mean a new variation on the sponsors colour scheme, but a free-thinking interpretation of the technical regulations. Of course, this would be frowned upon in the modern world. Colin Chapman must be turning in his grave.

[Kicking-back]

Which has nothing to do with A1GP.

If you don't like it, don't watch it - but there's no need to **** on its doorstep without giving it a chance.

[Knowlesy]

A1 GP should be fantastic, can't see how anyone can complain about it really.

It's got off the ground for a start, unlike certain other proposed series (cough, Premier GP, cough). It will fill the Winter void, easing the workload on my old GP tapes. No, I can't think of any reason to get upset.

May I suggest anger management courses Chris? They work wonders.

[FIRE]

At least A1GP is taking another route (races outside normal season, country teams).

[SALEEN S7R]

A1 GP should IMO be a huge sucess and will give me and millions of others around the world something to watch during the winter months. I admit I was at first skeptical of A1 GP but the Sheik has so far lived up to his promises therefore I see no reason to slag off him or his series. If the series starts and is a complete waste of time and money then fair enough, slag it off. Although if the series is sucessful and provides good close racing, as I beleive it will then im all for it.

[mountainstar]

I like the idea of it, sort of a world cup or olympic type series. It will not replace champcar or F1, but would make a nice supplement to it.

[macaroon]

to use tennis terminology - F1 will be like Wimbledon, while A1 will be the davis cup !

[Don K]

Originally Posted by chris bailey

The way forward is to fix the problem, not introduce a seies of ill-conceived "alternatives". As for where the resources could go; how about re-introducing a proper free-formula F2 where designers can develop their talent outside the fishbowl environment of F1.

Wouldn't work.

- A series like that would probably end up to race during the same months as most other European racing series.
- A series like that would probably have mainly (or only) teams from the traditional racing countries.

So neither problem would be fixed by having a series like the one you are proposing.

[chris bailey]

Touched a few nerves here! I accept what you all say, but stick with my opinion. If, after the winter, it's been a roaring success, I'm quite prepared to eat humble pie over the whole thing. As for anger management, I'm not angry, really, I'm not! Pleasant thoughts and good karma all round.

[Knowlesy]

hehehe....ah well.....

I look forward to serving up that humble pie.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by chris bailey

Touched a few nerves here! I accept what you all say, but stick with my opinion. If, after the winter, it's been a roaring success, I'm quite prepared to eat humble pie over the whole thing. As for anger management, I'm not angry, really, I'm not! Pleasant thoughts and good karma all round.

Notting wrong with different opinions.

I think a F2 championship with different cars and engines would be to expensive. But I have to admit in LMP2 it works, there are different cars (Lola, Courage, Lucchini) and engines (AER, Judd, Zytek). But in that class besides speed also reliability is an important factor. But I agree with you there are too many single seater championships (GP2, World Series, Italian F3000) which have in general the same format.

In a few years we will know if A1GP will be a success.

[foreversideways]

Don't forget that at the least it has given an opportunity to race this year to both Robbie Kerr and Alex Lloyd who were really both all washed up due to the usual money problems. I personally think it adds a new twist to the racing scene and that it will hit the spot.

[Knowlesy]

Just thought I'd revive this thread to stick my tongue out.



There, I did it.

[jump]

Fair points Chris but Im really excited about this A1 series. Time will tell if its here to stay, but I think its great that someone's finally got the balls to challenge F1 which has always been seen as the pinnacle of motorsport, and what every driver aspires to be as a kid. Fair play to the Sheik I say.

[CombeMarshal]

Chris, you finished eating your words yet!!

Jump, It had never set out to Challenge F1, thats why it runs mostly in the off season.

From What I see at Brands it has to succeed, the cars look great, they wear real tyres and have no driver aids, F1 is going to have to buck it's ideas up!

[Andrew Kitson]

Originally Posted by CombeMarshal

Chris, you finished eating your words yet!!

Jump, It had never set out to Challenge F1, thats why it runs mostly in the off season.

From What I see at Brands it has to succeed, the cars look great, they wear real tyres and have no driver aids, F1 is going to have to buck it's ideas up!

Correct, it is not setting out to challenge F1. Where we all win is the fact it will introduce countries with little motor sport heritage to the sport. But we are looking at it from a UK perspective. The whole of Spain is watching F1 at the moment, then you have the Kimi fans, the Colombians etc. F1 is far from dying and A1-GP means little there, same here if Button was actually winning.

[jump]

Originally Posted by CombeMarshal

Jump, It had never set out to Challenge F1, thats why it runs mostly in the off season.

Yep I know, what I mean is in terms of exposure and marketing, as well as just the racing. If you know what I mean... People who don't follow motor sport know about A1.

[EvilPumpkin]

Hmmmm, well it ain't over yet, but I think I'll dig out my humble pie recipe anyway - like all good pies, you need to marinade the contents for a little while to get the best flavour....

[Mr Jinxx]

I'm not a great football fan, but it was interesting to see what was then the World Cup, the FA Cup, and what was then the League Cup. I don't recall anyone saying they were pointless. Nor the Scottish League, nor League Division 3, etc. Many categories in many countries, giving fans from all over the place a chance to watch, and in the case of the World Cup, their countries perform.

The self-styled (or whoever styled it) World Cup of Motorsport seems pretty accurate to me, and I can't see how it impinges on F1 or Champ Cars or anything else. It's the World Cup, on as near to a level pitch as you can get.

Playing in the off season is perfect. Bringing national pride into the picture is great, and - looking at the partisan crowd at Brands - is working. Bringing business-to-business opportunities in hitherto untapped countries is also terrific. Not being about manufacturers, like F1, F3 etc where the teams are absolutely crucial, is also great for a spectacle. It has so many new ingredients, I fail utterly to see how it can be deemed pointless, when it is clearly a concept waiting to happen, and having someone like Maktoum recognise this, being sufficiently well-funded to make it happen, and driving it forward ... well, I can't see it becoming other than an established and unique part in the motorsport calendar.

[jump]

I'll second that, well said.