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View Full Version : New racing championship created. How F1 should have stayed to be.


maxmc89
Jul 31, 2008, 10:34 AM
Superleague Formula


http://superleagueformula.com/


http://superleagueformula.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/news-media/multimedia/photo-gallery/sf/prototype-testing-visuals/prototype-testing-visuals-8/8160-1-eng-GB/Prototype-Testing-Visuals-8_central_banners.jpg



Engine Specifications

http://superleagueformula.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/news-media/multimedia/photo-gallery/sf/v12-engine-development-2/v12-engine-4/7528-1-eng-GB/V12-Engine-4_central_banners.jpg




No of Cylinders - 12

Capacity - 4.2 Litres

Configuration - 60 degrees V formation

Weight - 140KG (Dry)

Peak Power - 750bhp @ 11,750 rpm

Maximum RPM - 12,000

Peak Torque - 510 N/M 9,500 10,500





http://superleagueformula.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/news-media/multimedia/photo-gallery/sf/v12-engine-development-2/v12-engine-2/7518-1-eng-GB/V12-Engine-2_central_banners.jpg




Photos


http://superleagueformula.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/news-media/multimedia/photo-gallery/sf/superleague-formula-car-in-paintshop/superleague-formula-car-paintshop-10/7922-1-eng-GB/Superleague-Formula-Car-Paintshop-10_central_banners.jpg

http://superleagueformula.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/news-media/multimedia/photo-gallery/sf/hewland-gearbox/hewland-gearbox/8178-2-eng-GB/Hewland-gearbox_central_banners.jpg

http://superleagueformula.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/news-media/multimedia/photo-gallery/sf/v12-engine-development-2/engine-block-and-cover/7488-1-eng-GB/Engine-block-and-cover_central_banners.jpg

http://superleagueformula.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/news-media/multimedia/photo-gallery/sf/prototype-testing-visuals/prototype-testing-visuals-7/8155-1-eng-GB/Prototype-Testing-Visuals-7_central_banners.jpg

http://superleagueformula.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/news-media/multimedia/photo-gallery/sf/prototype-testing-visuals/prototype-testing-visuals-9/8165-1-eng-GB/Prototype-Testing-Visuals-9_central_banners.jpg

http://superleagueformula.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/news-media/multimedia/photo-gallery/sf/prototype-testing-visuals/prototype-testing-visuals-2/8130-1-eng-GB/Prototype-Testing-Visuals-2_central_banners.jpg

http://superleagueformula.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/news-media/multimedia/photo-gallery/sf/prototype-testing-visuals/prototype-testing-visuals-13/8125-1-eng-GB/Prototype-Testing-Visuals-13_central_banners.jpg

http://superleagueformula.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/news-media/multimedia/photo-gallery/sf/prototype-testing-visuals/prototype-testing-visuals-3/8135-1-eng-GB/Prototype-Testing-Visuals-3_central_banners.jpg

http://superleagueformula.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/news-media/multimedia/photo-gallery/sf/prototype-testing-visuals/prototype-testing-visuals-4/8140-1-eng-GB/Prototype-Testing-Visuals-4_central_banners.jpg



Videos

Around the Track (http://superleagueformula.com/superleague/News-Media/Multimedia/Video-Gallery/Superleague-Formula/Feel-the-Noise)



Summary:

4 litre V12s with 750bhp and 510Nm with complete slicks on Indy car chassis! I can't wait for this to start.

SRT expert
Jul 31, 2008, 10:56 AM
Man, I must say I love the concept. Mixing english football with F1 racing. I must say this might be epic. I wonder if it will come on in the US... (Which I highly doubt...) That V12 sounds epic as well. I don't know much about F1 one anymore, but as I can tell its full of hippies and they love to hug trees...

Timbit
Jul 31, 2008, 11:33 AM
How can you say this:

I don't know much about F1 one anymore

Then go and say this:

but as I can tell its full of hippies and they love to hug trees...

It's like saying 'I heard from someone that this car can't turn properly, so it must be crap.'

Anyway, I never really liked the idea of mixing soccer with motorsport. I mean, it just seems like a gimmick to me.

The car looks great, the engine is awesome (there's an article on it in the May edition of Race Car Engineering), but to mix soccer with motorsport just seems like clubs spending money.

And what's wrong with F1 today? They're still the quickest cars in the world, still sound amazing and are still awe inspiring. They have a V8 now, and a device that stores energy to create needed power when wanted for the future, plus slick tyres and less fidgety winglets.

SRT expert
Jul 31, 2008, 11:47 AM
Nothing is wrong with F1 at all. I know the last part of my previous post is kind ignorant and stereotypical IMO... I try to watch it every chance I get. I stopped watching it after they stopped coming to the US GP at Indianapolis... I almost had a chance to go, but it didn't work out though.

I will have to find someway to watch this. Then, I will have an idea how this new motorsport will work out. I still like the concept, but only time will tell. Reverse grid? The fastest at the back, eh? Sounds interesting...

Beaver
Jul 31, 2008, 11:53 AM
I stopped watching it after they stopped coming to the US GP at Indianapolis...

That means youve missed about 10 races because they still went to the US last season. Youve hardly missed out on 5 years of F1 news.

Not sure if i like it or not, its a pretty cool and unique idea, but its just another motorsport series that just happen to have the same names as some football teams. Nevertheless, i would support a Liverpool FC team if they created one!! :D

Also,
"Weight - 140KG (Dry)"

That cant be right, surely??? An F1 car is still 600 with a driver.

Loudpedal
Jul 31, 2008, 12:20 PM
Looks very similar to the A1 GP Cars.....
I'm always keen on a new racing series but my heart still lies in F1!

texlonghorn
Jul 31, 2008, 12:25 PM
That cant be right, surely??? An F1 car is still 600 with a driver.

That is just the weight of the engine. Looks pretty interesting though, I'll have to try and keep up with this to see how it goes.

leka-S
Jul 31, 2008, 12:27 PM
Weight of 140Kg is just the weight of the engine

And SRT is right on FIA becoming tree huggers, next year the engines have to be same as this year, so no modification will be done to them
And from the year after the F1 cars will run on alternative fuels

Tree-Huggers, exactly

*#turbinas#*
Jul 31, 2008, 12:46 PM
I think that they did this in order to affect the football fans with the F1 fans. Maybe they want more fans in both sports? Dunno.

Nice pics maxmc.

mexMan
Jul 31, 2008, 1:27 PM
I kinda like it, but, who build the cars?
The striking Superleague Formula car has been developed by Élan Motorsports Technologies - renowned as the largest manufacturer of race cars in the world.
oh...
I think maybe it won't replace F1 (I like F1, but I think we need something new, like V12s...
let's start picking teams!

maxmc89
Jul 31, 2008, 2:24 PM
Anyway, I never really liked the idea of mixing soccer with motorsport. I mean, it just seems like a gimmick to me.

I tried to avoid mentioning the soccer part as I can see very little sense in that.


The car looks great, the engine is awesome (there's an article on it in the May edition of Race Car Engineering), but to mix soccer with motorsport just seems like clubs spending money.

I guess this is why they put footbal in it:
It's a mono-brand competition. Same car and engine for all teams. They use the very large football based fans to create fans of particular teams as there is not really anything else. You may like how some teams work more than others but in the end that's not enough. Champ car has been suffering from being a mono-brand championship.


And what's wrong with F1 today? They're still the quickest cars in the world, still sound amazing and are still awe inspiring. They have a V8 now, and a device that stores energy to create needed power when wanted for the future, plus slick tyres and less fidgety winglets.

Yes but don't tell me you wouldn't like them to use 4.2L V12's. V8's are perfectly ok, but they are 2.4L (less than half the engine in my mothers car) and they don't produce near as much torque as these engines, nor they have as good power/torque curves/lines as these.

I like these new rules being introduced into F1 to make it more entertaining but I have to say this seasons races (even without TC) have been incredibly boring.
The reverse grid which will be used in this SuperleagueFormula seems 100x more attractive than the measures taken in F1.

mexMan
Jul 31, 2008, 3:05 PM
max, that's true, I like the reverse grid thing, it really shows who's the good one, but let's wait until the season starts to pick our teams, but I think the cars should be different, like in F1 (but in F1 there are different builders), how much torque have the F1 cars?

maxmc89
Jul 31, 2008, 3:40 PM
max, that's true, I like the reverse grid thing, it really shows who's the good one, but let's wait until the season starts to pick our teams, but I think the cars should be different, like in F1 (but in F1 there are different builders), how much torque have the F1 cars?

F1's have just below 400Nm compared to the 510Nm of these cars. The bigger displacement of the engines also means that apart from peak numbers, the bigger engine will have better power and torque lines throughout the whole rev range (applicable in most cases).

The engines of these cars are one of the two principal attractives from this comp. IMO to me.

That and the reverse grid.

mexMan
Jul 31, 2008, 3:52 PM
The engines of these cars are one of the two principal attractives from this comp. IMO to me.

That and the reverse grid.
the reverse grid is the principal to me, but I would like to see variety of chassis, because the only difference between the cars is the paint job, and pilots

maxmc89
Jul 31, 2008, 4:02 PM
the reverse grid is the principal to me, but I would like to see variety of chassis, because the only difference between the cars is the paint job, and pilots

Yes, me too, but I can make nothing about it! lol :):)

texlonghorn
Jul 31, 2008, 4:03 PM
the reverse grid is the principal to me, but I would like to see variety of chassis, because the only difference between the cars is the paint job, and pilots

Why? It allows the races to be fair because everyone is running the same car. Now it is all down to the skill of the driver driving the car, which in my opinion is awesome.

mexMan
Jul 31, 2008, 4:29 PM
it's fair because the engine it's the same, but I would like to see some changes in the body of the cars, It's kinda boring all the same, again, I like the paint jobs, and that will make them different to the others, but I want something else, but what can I do, haha, no max? :D

bennyboy
Jul 31, 2008, 4:46 PM
And what's wrong with F1 today? They're still the quickest cars in the world, still sound amazing and are still awe inspiring. They have a V8 now, and a device that stores energy to create needed power when wanted for the future, plus slick tyres and less fidgety winglets.

Look Timbit, I think me and you know that F1 is absolutely awesome! :D Although I need to post about it more. I did write a lot yesterday for a reply, but I had to get of the computer and I didn't save it.

Nothing is wrong with F1 at all. I know the last part of my previous post is kind ignorant and stereotypical IMO... I try to watch it every chance I get. I stopped watching it after they stopped coming to the US GP at Indianapolis... I almost had a chance to go, but it didn't work out though.

I will have to find someway to watch this. Then, I will have an idea how this new motorsport will work out. I still like the concept, but only time will tell. Reverse grid? The fastest at the back, eh? Sounds interesting...

Dude, just because the US GP came off the F1 calendar doesn't mean that it's the end of the world. The US one, let's be honest, doesn't always deliver the most exciting or best races of the season. Last year there were plenty more epic races. If you think that the US race is good, you need to watch all the other ones to get a taste of what F1 is like! (Nurburgring 2007, Hungary 2006, Silverstone 2008, Germany 2008 just gives a little taster of some of the great races we've had in the past!)

And this formula does sound pretty cool. I really really doubt that it will give F1 anything to worry about. There's too much money, to much technology, glitz, glamour, history and heritage for any racing series in the world to rival F1 as top dog. The idea of this superleague structure is quite interesting, although F1 and football is an idea that will have to be put to the test before a major audience is captivated. Should be interesting to watch; the cars seem pretty light, and the V12s offer huge power and torque which can only make for exciting racing. I wonder which drivers will drive in this? Low calibre, high calibre?

SRT expert
Jul 31, 2008, 4:56 PM
^ It wasn't the end of the world to me. Its just that I can't watch F1 races. They come on CBS every blue moon on Sundays (I think). Basic cable FTL. I would get up early and watch it on Speed on Sundays, which I don't have. Digtal cable FTW!

Evo_power
Jul 31, 2008, 6:05 PM
This sounds like Champ Car except probably not coming to America....which was the cool part about Champ Car...

I would imagine that if this does get off the ground, it will fail. Champ Car did OK for a while in Americaland because Indy Car is stupid and we don't have F1. You Eurolanders DO have F1...so there really isn't a point to this.

It is cool though because it's freggin awesome race cars...but I just don't see this succeeding.

mexMan
Jul 31, 2008, 6:13 PM
america has NASCAR, we have Corona Series, and Latin American Prize, Highway Touring, Top Race V6, and a lot of crap, and I like 'em all... I don't know what do you complain about Evo...

Evo_power
Jul 31, 2008, 6:14 PM
america has NASCAR, we have Corona Series, and Latin American Prize, Highway Touring, Top Race V6, and a lot of crap, and I like 'em all... I don't know what do you complain about Evo...

You were right about one thing.

mexMan
Jul 31, 2008, 6:23 PM
what can I say I can't argue that... but I still like all that crap, that's Latin American Motorsports... you should watch Top race V6, those guys are schmucks!

Evo_power
Jul 31, 2008, 6:29 PM
And exactly how am I going to watch it? I don't get speed vision. Unless it comes to PIR I can't see it live. I'm a fan of racing, but it's expensive.

mexMan
Jul 31, 2008, 6:36 PM
let me see what can I do for you, I think you can get a few Spanish channels with Direct TV... my Uncle have in Tucson...

VR6 Man
Jul 31, 2008, 8:19 PM
Question/scenerio, and maybe this is a stupid one, but I'll ask anyways.

Say I knew I could throw down the fastest qualifying time in SF. Why would I want to, if its a reverse grid? Why not just pussyfoot around the track at just a slow enough speed to get me in, say, the 3 lowest qualifying positions so that I will be at the front of the pack on race day?

Is there some sort of bonus for qualifying fastest?

Timbit
Jul 31, 2008, 9:55 PM
next year the engines have to be same as this year,
Which they did last year and the year before that.

And from the year after the F1 cars will run on alternative fuels

The use of alternative fuels was something that was merely brought up months ago but has never come close to being confirmed as a future regulation.

Also, as per the current regulations:

"19.4.5 A minimum of 5.75% (m/m) of the fuel must comprise
oxygenates derived from biological sources. The percentage that
each component is considered to originate from a biological source
is calculated from the relative proportion of the molecular weight
contributed by the biological starting material."

5.75% minimum of the fuel in each and every car must some from biological sources.

I guess this is why they put footbal in it:
It's a mono-brand competition. Same car and engine for all teams. They use the very large football based fans to create fans of particular teams as there is not really anything else. You may like how some teams work more than others but in the end that's not enough. Champ car has been suffering from being a mono-brand championship.

Oh, I can see why they involved soccer into it, and it's exactly like you said. But then people like the sport because it's affiliated with their respective club of choice, not because they like the team managing it, or the drivers driving the cars (although you're likely to fall in favour of drivers who perform well for the team you're going for).

Yes but don't tell me you wouldn't like them to use 4.2L V12's. V8's are perfectly ok, but they are 2.4L (less than half the engine in my mothers car) and they don't produce near as much torque as these engines, nor they have as good power/torque curves/lines as these.

I like these new rules being introduced into F1 to make it more entertaining but I have to say this seasons races (even without TC) have been incredibly boring.

Of course V12's would be great, but I don't see them as a necessity. Like I said, they still are extremely quick, sound amazing and are still exciting to watch from my perspective.

@Benny: Too right mate! :D

KoberKat
Aug 01, 2008, 3:33 AM
I have thought of the Reverse Grid idea before but when you think about it you realize it doesn't work. Guys will be driving slower than normal to try and get good positions at the start.
A better solution would be leave the first race qualification as standard and the rest of the season there is no qualification. You position on the grid the next race based on how well you did the previous race(in reverse of course)

Beaver
Aug 01, 2008, 7:52 AM
If im right on this, with a reverse grid you get points for qualifying higher up. I.e if you qualify 1st, you will start last, but you will have got some points for qualifying 1st.

If im wrong, then this reverse grid wont work and it will fail.

VR6 Man
Aug 01, 2008, 1:43 PM
If im right on this, with a reverse grid you get points for qualifying higher up. I.e if you qualify 1st, you will start last, but you will have got some points for qualifying 1st.

If im wrong, then this reverse grid wont work and it will fail.

Thats the only incentive they could give drivers to qualify with fast times. I hope they are giving out enough points to make drivers want to qualify 1st. Because you know that some team will try and figure out the exact qualifying position they need to get both the most points with the best chance of still getting first place in the race.

So it might turn into drivers trying to qualify in the middle of the field.

bossesjoe
Aug 01, 2008, 2:06 PM
This seems like a silly gimmick that won't last long.

It's going to be hard to find sponsors and drivers because F1 will most likely suck them all up, I'll be surprised if this ever manifests.

mexMan
Aug 01, 2008, 2:32 PM
This seems like a silly gimmick that won't last long.

It's going to be hard to find sponsors and drivers because F1 will most likely suck them all up, I'll be surprised if this ever manifests.
I'm not sure but I think Superleague Formula Clubs already have sponsors, and drivers too, I was watching some pictures, and some cars already sponsored.

Evo_power
Aug 01, 2008, 3:10 PM
This seems like a silly gimmick that won't last long.

It's going to be hard to find sponsors and drivers because F1 will most likely suck them all up, I'll be surprised if this ever manifests.

What about all the drivers that arn't good enough for F1? Champ Car had a fairly diverse grid for a while (DAMN YOU TONY GEORGE!!!!!!) and all of those guys didn't just go to F1 after a year. Hell even Sebastian Bordais had to wait several years before F1 would give him a try, and he was CRAZY dominate.

Evo:1
Bosses:7854

I'm catchin up!:D

mexMan
Aug 01, 2008, 3:34 PM
What about all the drivers that arn't good enough for F1? Champ Car had a fairly diverse grid for a while (DAMN YOU TONY GEORGE!!!!!!) and all of those guys didn't just go to F1 after a year. Hell even Sebastian Bordais had to wait several years before F1 would give him a try, and he was CRAZY dominate.

Evo:1
Bosses:7854

I'm catchin up!:D
let's see (if they can't with F1's, how will they control a V12?), they'll get somebody experienced, but, who?, I think they have the drivers but I don't know who are they...

bennyboy
Aug 01, 2008, 3:51 PM
It's not all about being scared and not being able to control a V12. Race drivers have a certain mentality where it's borderline impossible for them to get scared racing any car, on any track, in any conditions. Jumping up from a lesser formula, for example F3000 to this, the Supearleague Formula, should be absolutely no problem to those drivers. In fact, what with the mindset and confidence of young drivers these days, that the young ones would relish a chance at being able to drive slicked, super-fast, super-downforced V12 single-seaters.

astonmartin138
Aug 01, 2008, 3:58 PM
It's not all about being scared and not being able to control a V12. Race drivers have a certain mentality where it's borderline impossible for them to get scared racing any car, on any track, in any conditions. Jumping up from a lesser formula, for example F3000 to this, the Supearleague Formula, should be absolutely no problem to those drivers. In fact, what with the mindset and confidence of young drivers these days, that the young ones would relish a chance at being able to drive slicked, super-fast, super-downforced V12 single-seaters.

Exactly. If I was in Kovi's position after his last crash, in no way would i want to go back to the sport after that ordeal. F1 drivers see it differently. They see it as a chance to learn from their mistakes, and to continue to better things.

bossesjoe
Aug 01, 2008, 3:59 PM
What about all the drivers that arn't good enough for F1?But if we're talking about all the drivers who aren't good enough for F1, does that not drive in my point of this league not surpassing F1?

Venom 1000
Aug 01, 2008, 4:09 PM
A V12 in formula racing again... yes.

Weight of 140Kg is just the weight of the engine

And SRT is right on FIA becoming tree huggers, next year the engines have to be same as this year, so no modification will be done to them
And from the year after the F1 cars will run on alternative fuels

Tree-Huggers, exactly
Agreed, and if they start using ethanol it'll be so the farmers can get rich, as it actually pollutes more than regular gas. So tree huggers + they take bribes. At least if they move to turbocharged V6s and don't limit the boost we'll have 1500hp again.

SRT expert
Aug 01, 2008, 4:38 PM
@ Venom and Leka. I don't have a problem with what F1 is doing, the reason why I said their hippes and tree-hugers is the fact all of these different technologies are coming into play. I mean, I'm all for conserving the environment with these alternate fuel sources and other things. I have always been a fan of F1 and always will, but with the Kinetic Engine Recovery System or KERS coming into play... I was like "Hmm..." At this point I think that F1 cars of today are turning into almost Hybrid FormulaOne cars... Flame me I don't care. Thats just how I feel. I'm still an F1 fan though...

Venom 1000
Aug 01, 2008, 7:19 PM
You cannot put hybrid technology on F1 cars. You can't just turn off the motor in the pits and then start it again when you get out. They use a portable drill to start those things lol. Also wtf is the point of hybrid tech in F1? F1 produces such little pollution compared to all the cars, trucks, planes, and ships that run every day in the world. If it's that bad that they think hybrids on F1 will make a difference we shouldn't have any races at all. And no sports cars allowed either.

maxmc89
Aug 03, 2008, 8:05 AM
^^Between the F1 teams they should book all of the seats of a 747 from London to New York so that it stayed on land and didn't do the flight.
Taking into account that single flight pollutes more than an entire F1 season it would be as if F1's didn't pollute at all!

lol

autocreak
Aug 05, 2008, 11:07 PM
It’s an interesting concept but I suspect it will fail. Really, this just strikes me as IRL for the rest of the world. Personally I do think F1 is broken and I do think there is a real opportunity for something to take its place but I don’t think a super high dollar spec series is it.

People like the variety and technology of the cars. F1 cars do represent the panicle of what is possible under what are really so screwy rules for race car design (more on that later). Personally I think the hey days of CART in the early 90s were great. It is also what I would want to see out of any F1 replacement series.

In those days you had several manufactures of both engines and chassis. The teams could either buy from manufactures or if they had the resources, build their own. Unlike F1 where the teams are under contractual obligation to field cars and where you have to pay exorbitant fees just for the privilege of racing, CART, like the current top sports car series today was a show up and race deal. If you paid the entry fees, had a legal car and licensed driver you were good to go. The F1 bar is set so high that only the most wealthy can even think of racing. CART was still dominated by rich teams but privateers could still try to run.

So what about technology? Well F1 does represent a great deal of research into how to maximize a car within the confines of the rules but the rules them selves are very screwy. Have you ever wondered why F1 cars look different than CART and later IRL cars? It’s not because the designers of the CART and IRL cars didn’t know what they were doing. I suspect many of the designers were the same people. These days basically all of them come from England or Italy. The difference is the rules. Some of that rule difference is safety related. Oval cars specifically need more inherent impact protection. However, baring that there are still a number of differences.

F1, in trying to limit the speeds of the cars over the years has some very odd rules. The grooved tires of course are an obvious speed reduction thing that no other series has copied. I don’t think it would surprise anyone to hear that no race car designer would choose grooved tires. So our tires would look like slicks like everyone else uses.

What about the rims? F1 cars are rule limited to very small diameter rims. That ends up having a lot of far reaching impacts on the designs of the cars. In order to get as much rubber on the road as possible they have very large diameter tires. So now we have a race car with more sidewall than granny’s Caddy. Like any race car, an F1 car wants to have stiff suspension. Large sidewalls are just the opposite of stiff suspension so next thing we have almost solid suspension arms. Really, F1 cars have moved to the point where they often don’t actually have suspension “joints”. In some cases they use thin metal flexures (which is a joint). In other cases they actually just flex the suspension arm. In reality, about 75% of the “suspension” deflection actually occurs in the tire. In other racing classes including Formula Ford, CART, IRL, Indy Lites, F3000 and Formula Atlantic to name a few about 50% of the deflection is in the tires. Basically if the designers were allowed to design what they want, the rims would grow in diameter and the suspension would once again start to really move like it does on Indy cars (and all those other cars).

Another one that would change is the aero package. A race car designer would certainly prefer to get more down force using underbody aero vs wings. You also might see other changes. Notice that F1 cars have those stepped noses but CART and IRL never did. The reason is the rules. As F1 put limits on maximum front wing width it became important to use every inch between the end plates. That meant lifting the nose so you could have wing in the middle. Due to different rules the CART cars never needed a stepped nose. In fact in super speedway configurations they used the front wings more as trim canards than heavy down force generators.

What’s the point of all the tech talk? Well if we are going to have an F1 alternative I want it to have its own technology. CART/Indy for a long time was an F1 alternative and it really did have its own technology. A as much as I don’t like F1 and as much as I think it’s ripe for replacement, I don’t think any series will ever usurp it unless it is either a straight splinter of F1 teams or the alternative series offers a true technology alternative. That is cars with their own look and their own technology to compete with F1. Given the screwball rules of F1, I strongly suspect with a different set of rules a car of the same level of sophistication as the current IRL or a modern day CART chassis could likely equal the lap times of F1 cars around F1 tracks. Furthermore I’m certain this could be done for a fraction of an F1 team’s budget. If Indy played their cards right and really got a long term strategic vision the teams and manufactures could get behind as well as a well crafted set of rules I think Indy Car could be a true alternative again. It isn’t now but I think it could be.

Of course I could be wrong. NASCAR is currently the only other top tier racing series. All the cars are basically the same and in many ways are less advanced than your average Ford.* However they are clearly a top series. I think that is because NASCAR does understand that the audience is important above all else.

*While the rules limit NASCAR to technologies which are generally out dated (tube frames, carburetors, rigid axles etc) there is a very high level of engineering in the sport. Like F1, lots of money and brain power is put into figuring out how to push the limits of the rules (and cheating without getting caught). The rules certainly are more restrictive but that often means that the differences which are available for exploitation are even harder to uncover. I don’t like NASCAR as a series but I have a very high regard for the level of engineering possessed by the teams and skill of the drivers.

VR6 Man
Aug 06, 2008, 1:58 AM
It’s an interesting concept but I suspect it will fail. Really, this just strikes me as IRL for the rest of the world. Personally I do think F1 is broken and I do think there is a real opportunity for something to take its place but I don’t think a super high dollar spec series is it.

People like the variety and technology of the cars. F1 cars do represent the panicle of what is possible under what are really so screwy rules for race car design (more on that later). Personally I think the hey days of CART in the early 90s were great. It is also what I would want to see out of any F1 replacement series.

In those days you had several manufactures of both engines and chassis. The teams could either buy from manufactures or if they had the resources, build their own. Unlike F1 where the teams are under contractual obligation to field cars and where you have to pay exorbitant fees just for the privilege of racing, CART, like the current top sports car series today was a show up and race deal. If you paid the entry fees, had a legal car and licensed driver you were good to go. The F1 bar is set so high that only the most wealthy can even think of racing. CART was still dominated by rich teams but privateers could still try to run.

So what about technology? Well F1 does represent a great deal of research into how to maximize a car within the confines of the rules but the rules them selves are very screwy. Have you ever wondered why F1 cars look different than CART and later IRL cars? It’s not because the designers of the CART and IRL cars didn’t know what they were doing. I suspect many of the designers were the same people. These days basically all of them come from England or Italy. The difference is the rules. Some of that rule difference is safety related. Oval cars specifically need more inherent impact protection. However, baring that there are still a number of differences.

F1, in trying to limit the speeds of the cars over the years has some very odd rules. The grooved tires of course are an obvious speed reduction thing that no other series has copied. I don’t think it would surprise anyone to hear that no race car designer would choose grooved tires. So our tires would look like slicks like everyone else uses.

What about the rims? F1 cars are rule limited to very small diameter rims. That ends up having a lot of far reaching impacts on the designs of the cars. In order to get as much rubber on the road as possible they have very large diameter tires. So now we have a race car with more sidewall than granny’s Caddy. Like any race car, an F1 car wants to have stiff suspension. Large sidewalls are just the opposite of stiff suspension so next thing we have almost solid suspension arms. Really, F1 cars have moved to the point where they often don’t actually have suspension “joints”. In some cases they use thin metal flexures (which is a joint). In other cases they actually just flex the suspension arm. In reality, about 75% of the “suspension” deflection actually occurs in the tire. In other racing classes including Formula Ford, CART, IRL, Indy Lites, F3000 and Formula Atlantic to name a few about 50% of the deflection is in the tires. Basically if the designers were allowed to design what they want, the rims would grow in diameter and the suspension would once again start to really move like it does on Indy cars (and all those other cars).

Another one that would change is the aero package. A race car designer would certainly prefer to get more down force using underbody aero vs wings. You also might see other changes. Notice that F1 cars have those stepped noses but CART and IRL never did. The reason is the rules. As F1 put limits on maximum front wing width it became important to use every inch between the end plates. That meant lifting the nose so you could have wing in the middle. Due to different rules the CART cars never needed a stepped nose. In fact in super speedway configurations they used the front wings more as trim canards than heavy down force generators.

What’s the point of all the tech talk? Well if we are going to have an F1 alternative I want it to have its own technology. CART/Indy for a long time was an F1 alternative and it really did have its own technology. A as much as I don’t like F1 and as much as I think it’s ripe for replacement, I don’t think any series will ever usurp it unless it is either a straight splinter of F1 teams or the alternative series offers a true technology alternative. That is cars with their own look and their own technology to compete with F1. Given the screwball rules of F1, I strongly suspect with a different set of rules a car of the same level of sophistication as the current IRL or a modern day CART chassis could likely equal the lap times of F1 cars around F1 tracks. Furthermore I’m certain this could be done for a fraction of an F1 team’s budget. If Indy played their cards right and really got a long term strategic vision the teams and manufactures could get behind as well as a well crafted set of rules I think Indy Car could be a true alternative again. It isn’t now but I think it could be.

Of course I could be wrong. NASCAR is currently the only other top tier racing series. All the cars are basically the same and in many ways are less advanced than your average Ford.* However they are clearly a top series. I think that is because NASCAR does understand that the audience is important above all else.

*While the rules limit NASCAR to technologies which are generally out dated (tube frames, carburetors, rigid axles etc) there is a very high level of engineering in the sport. Like F1, lots of money and brain power is put into figuring out how to push the limits of the rules (and cheating without getting caught). The rules certainly are more restrictive but that often means that the differences which are available for exploitation are even harder to uncover. I don’t like NASCAR as a series but I have a very high regard for the level of engineering possessed by the teams and skill of the drivers.

Great post.

So what do you think about F1 with the changes its going to be going through next year? Do you think this will change your opinion or get you more excited about it?

mclaren_mercedes_f1
Aug 06, 2008, 5:05 AM
It's basically Champ Car but they gave it steroids. Too bad it's only in Europe.

autocreak
Aug 06, 2008, 9:28 AM
Great post.

So what do you think about F1 with the changes its going to be going through next year? Do you think this will change your opinion or get you more excited about it?

I think it will add some new technology but I am so turned off with F1 management and politics that it certainly won't win me back. Fundamentally I still don't like that you can just show up with a legal car, driver and single race entry fee and race. I don't like the idea that you can't buy a chassis from another vender. Forcing all the teams to make their own chassis seems unnecessary to me.

I'm not sure about comparing this series to a Europe based CART series. It seems this series will use a spec chassis. If that's the case I'm not sure I would call it "CART". It would be like a faster F3000.

TBR 427
Aug 06, 2008, 10:11 AM
Reverse grid races in anything other than easy-to-rapair, tough, beefy touring cars is going to end in fail, especially when the series is in it's infancy and the guys with the money see over 9000 cars crash because they came within a km of each other.

bennyboy
Aug 06, 2008, 10:31 AM
GP2 has a reverse grid and that works fantastically. The guys who are the quickest generally have the talent and the car to scythe their way thorugh the field, like Lewis Hamilton and Nelson Piquet Jr., so it's fun to watch them try to get to the front of the field, and most of the time, it works, and makes the races much more exciting.