Formula E - London
Discussion
Jimboka said:
Well I enjoyed it & I'm sure it has a bright future. I bet the ITV viewing figures are close to the 'non-BBC televised' F1 races too!
As the ITV viewing figures for any F1 race are zero, I'm sure you're right. I don't think it'll go anywhere until they build cars with enough power to go on proper circuits.
sirtyro said:
This will only succeed when they get enough technology to become an F1 support race and race on proper tracks.
They'll need to go a hell of a lot faster if they're going to go on F1 tracks. The width of most F1 circuits and the huge run off areas would really expose just how slow these cars are. Even F1 cars look slow on Tilke's tracks.From the Formula E site:
Power
Maximum power: 200kw, equivalent to 270bhp
Race mode (power-saving): 150kw, equivalent to 202.5bhp
FanBoost (race-only): Temporarily increases max power from 150kw to 180kw. (Increase of 30kw / 40.5bhp)
Maximum power will be available during practice and qualifying sessions. During races, power-saving mode will apply with the FanBoost system temporarily allowing maximum power for a limited time of 5 secs per car.
The amount of energy that can be delivered to the MGU by the RESS is limited to 28kwh. This will be permanently monitored by the FIA.
Performance
Acceleration: 0 - 100 km/h (0-62mph) in 3 secs
Maximum speed: 225 km/h (140mph)
http://www.fiaformulae.com/en/guide/car.aspx?page=...
So in the races they don't run at the full 270bhp, race spec performance isn't going to be 0-62 in 3 and 140 top speed.
Power
Maximum power: 200kw, equivalent to 270bhp
Race mode (power-saving): 150kw, equivalent to 202.5bhp
FanBoost (race-only): Temporarily increases max power from 150kw to 180kw. (Increase of 30kw / 40.5bhp)
Maximum power will be available during practice and qualifying sessions. During races, power-saving mode will apply with the FanBoost system temporarily allowing maximum power for a limited time of 5 secs per car.
The amount of energy that can be delivered to the MGU by the RESS is limited to 28kwh. This will be permanently monitored by the FIA.
Performance
Acceleration: 0 - 100 km/h (0-62mph) in 3 secs
Maximum speed: 225 km/h (140mph)
http://www.fiaformulae.com/en/guide/car.aspx?page=...
So in the races they don't run at the full 270bhp, race spec performance isn't going to be 0-62 in 3 and 140 top speed.
CrutyRammers said:
WTF. Who designed that track? It's tedious enough as a spectacle without being hobbled by a track you can't even think about overtaking on.
Let's find out who is the idiot responsibilie for the track design/layout - he should be banned from having anything to do with Motorsport !I think the idea of bringing parkland racing back to central london was a good idea, evoking the old days of crystal palace etc. it also meant being able to run the event whilst causing minimal disruption to london traffic etc, whilst remaining easily accessible for an event in the capital. It didn't quite work out in practice - I actually have really enjoyed this years season of Formula E and have found it entertaining and enjoyable, but haven't watched a single grand prix yet so far this year since round 1 - the track was too narrow, especially on corner entries, so as Senna proved, just sitting in the middle of the track meant noone could get by without punting the guy in front off. It did provide some frantic action, but it never turned into the great overtakes we were hoping for. Maybe there is another park in the london area whose access/perimeter roads are slightly wider?
9.3 said:
Apparently a Sir James Pennethorpe, sometime around 1860 .......
I see what you did there, beat me to it ;-)And I think we should cut him some slack, its not exactly what he had in mind...
FWIW I actually rather enjoyed Sundays race, with the championship in the balance there was plenty of passing and shunting going on.
I understand that next year the teams get to make changes to their cars which will only make things quicker I'd imagine.
Some thoughts on Formula e after attending yesterdays final round in Battersea Park.
The speed of the cars. On some of the longer straights on the track I'm sure the speed of the cars felt to be somewhat lacking, however I watched the event from a position overlooking the chicanes at turns 4,5,6 & 7 and they were impressively quick through this section. The combined low downforce levels, hard tyres, bumps and general low grip level of the track surface meant the cars were really fidgeting about making them look on edge and quicker. If they can hold back aero performance and ensure the grip levels of the cars do not rise too much then as they evolve and add more power they are going to be a real handfull and quite spectacular. There is also plenty of scope for improving the power and capacity of the cars before they need to resort ot rule changes to peg them back and I think thats a good thing.
As for the event itself, I paid £30 for a 'viewing platform' ticket and was glad I did, and particularly glad I did for the platform we were on as thanks to a bit of good guess work it appeared to be one of the better ones. The general landscape of the park makes getting a good view very difficult with many of the viewing plantforms behind the tree lines. My perception was that they'd oversold the viewing platforms because with there low rake anyone not in the front row of any tier struggled to see.
The drivers autograph session I think was my biggest gripe mainly because its something that could have easily been foreseen. The session seemed to be organised fairly well but at just 20 mins (with a last minute extension to 30mins) during a 3hr lull in on track activity seemed far too short and a little bit too 'Formula 1' in its lack of concern for the fans in my opinion.
Along a similar line why for a formula all about pushing electric cars green technology there wasn't a pit walk seemed very short sighted. OK you could buy a 'pit walk' ticket but it would have set you back £50 and that is not good value for just 1/2 an hour. Giving away free pit walk tickets to the first X hundred people who buy tickets like Silverstone does for the WEC would be a much better idea. Again it felt a little too much like 'Formula 1' and shutting fans out.
The other thing that struck me was that they'd built this big stage but only ever utilised it for the podium presentation which seemed to be a waste. I'm not advocating bands or anything like that but surly it could have been used for driver interviews and such. Maybe even move the trackside radio broadcast out of its little box and made it more interactive. Overall they need a little more stuff going on to fill the long lull between quali and the race.
Overall the crowd was noticably not a normal motor racing crowd. Lots of familys, often 3 generations from young children to Grand Parents. Would I go again? That depends. For £30 I was reasonably happy but for the full £50 price I'd feel short changed.
The speed of the cars. On some of the longer straights on the track I'm sure the speed of the cars felt to be somewhat lacking, however I watched the event from a position overlooking the chicanes at turns 4,5,6 & 7 and they were impressively quick through this section. The combined low downforce levels, hard tyres, bumps and general low grip level of the track surface meant the cars were really fidgeting about making them look on edge and quicker. If they can hold back aero performance and ensure the grip levels of the cars do not rise too much then as they evolve and add more power they are going to be a real handfull and quite spectacular. There is also plenty of scope for improving the power and capacity of the cars before they need to resort ot rule changes to peg them back and I think thats a good thing.
As for the event itself, I paid £30 for a 'viewing platform' ticket and was glad I did, and particularly glad I did for the platform we were on as thanks to a bit of good guess work it appeared to be one of the better ones. The general landscape of the park makes getting a good view very difficult with many of the viewing plantforms behind the tree lines. My perception was that they'd oversold the viewing platforms because with there low rake anyone not in the front row of any tier struggled to see.
The drivers autograph session I think was my biggest gripe mainly because its something that could have easily been foreseen. The session seemed to be organised fairly well but at just 20 mins (with a last minute extension to 30mins) during a 3hr lull in on track activity seemed far too short and a little bit too 'Formula 1' in its lack of concern for the fans in my opinion.
Along a similar line why for a formula all about pushing electric cars green technology there wasn't a pit walk seemed very short sighted. OK you could buy a 'pit walk' ticket but it would have set you back £50 and that is not good value for just 1/2 an hour. Giving away free pit walk tickets to the first X hundred people who buy tickets like Silverstone does for the WEC would be a much better idea. Again it felt a little too much like 'Formula 1' and shutting fans out.
The other thing that struck me was that they'd built this big stage but only ever utilised it for the podium presentation which seemed to be a waste. I'm not advocating bands or anything like that but surly it could have been used for driver interviews and such. Maybe even move the trackside radio broadcast out of its little box and made it more interactive. Overall they need a little more stuff going on to fill the long lull between quali and the race.
Overall the crowd was noticably not a normal motor racing crowd. Lots of familys, often 3 generations from young children to Grand Parents. Would I go again? That depends. For £30 I was reasonably happy but for the full £50 price I'd feel short changed.
Edited by realjv on Monday 29th June 11:41
realjv said:
Overall the crowd was noticably not a normal motor racing crowd. Lots of familys, often 3 generations from young children to Grand Parents.
This is what I have been banging on about all year. The poster goes on to say that they would feel a little short changed at £50 which I can understand. Then I look at the price of a football ticket. Bottom line though is if we can get more and more people interested in FE who are not interested in motorsport already then it can only be a win win.
designndrive62 said:
Maybe there is another park in the london area whose access/perimeter roads are slightly wider?
Surprised they didn't use the Olympic Park to be honest. Far more space and would seem to fit in with the redevelopment and regeneration of the area. Having watched a bit of the race, the overhead shots were all obscured by trees, whilst the track level shots were such a concrete canyon that you had zero sense of where you were. I find myself wanting to like it, but it's not quite doing it for me yet. Renault boss Goshan has announced that Renault will be running in the series next season with double the current budget and as a constructor. This follows on from the announcement earlier in the week that Citroen will be coming in as a constructor too.
He also said that Renault will either continue in F1 as either a full team or will quit. They are not prepared to continue as just an engine supplier under the current governance of the sport.
Also the boss of CVC was seen to be having deep discussions in the pits in London with various movers and shakers within Formula E.....
He also said that Renault will either continue in F1 as either a full team or will quit. They are not prepared to continue as just an engine supplier under the current governance of the sport.
Also the boss of CVC was seen to be having deep discussions in the pits in London with various movers and shakers within Formula E.....
I thought realjv's thread above is pretty accurate
It was fantastic to see urban racing but the spectacle needs improving
Maybe a support race for i3s and/or Zoe and/or Leaf ?
Also in the lull could there not have been a driver's parade (or did I miss it) - even F1 has that - all the drivers on a trailer being interviewed by Jennie Gow doing a lap for the folk who can't get to the autograph session or the grid or the pits
Track and/or car design needs to facilitate over-taking - less emphasis on dodgem/barging manouevres
It was fantastic to see urban racing but the spectacle needs improving
Maybe a support race for i3s and/or Zoe and/or Leaf ?
Also in the lull could there not have been a driver's parade (or did I miss it) - even F1 has that - all the drivers on a trailer being interviewed by Jennie Gow doing a lap for the folk who can't get to the autograph session or the grid or the pits
Track and/or car design needs to facilitate over-taking - less emphasis on dodgem/barging manouevres
realjv said:
.....OK you could buy a 'pit walk' ticket but it would have set you back £50 and that is not good value for just 1/2 an hour....
We had pit walk tickets starting at 14.10, at a cost of 112 quid for me and the 2 kids (on top of the £125 we spent to get into the park in the first place). The pit walk actually started at 14.25, but they still threw us out at the allotted time of 14.40.£112 for 15 minutes. If I could have found someone to punch or a lawn to hammer frozen sausages into.....
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