Motorsport on Monday: Formula E follow-up
Formula E test day - so what's it really like?
Back in June I centred this column on news from a then recent interview, given by Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag. He outlined the series would award one driver an extra boost of power decided upon by Twitter votes from race fans watching at the track and on telly around the world.
It turns out despite Agag's comments this wasn't strictly true, but that after a slight moan at PH from Formula E, the series still couldn't tell us how it was going to work. Until recently, that is.
Real circuits will be more glamorous...
Now we know exactly how it will and the story still isn't that promising. Instead of one driver, the three most popular drivers following the fan vote will each get a 2.5-second "Fanboost" of 90hp, taking total output of their 800kg machine from 180hp to 270hp.
Votes can be cast online, through an app, and on social networks like Twitter and Facebook, and closes the day before the race. Call me sceptical - and I'll no doubt get some flack for it - but I still don't think is going to work.
There's no need to orchestrate racing this way in my opinion. Because at the heart of the championship is something interesting and something new that is genuinely curious, thought-provoking and unusual to watch.
Sean's concerns about noise have been allayed
My previous words on Formula E also took a pop (some may say unfairly) at the noise - or rather the potential lack of it.
I admit - and this is partly where my breakfast menu took shape - to a degree I was wrong. It's actually a lack of conventional noise. The Formula E machines sounds like giant remote control cars because, in terms of the powertrain, they effectively are.
You hear the transmission schthunk into every gear, you hear the frictional forces from the tyre - including huge shrieks from locked brakes that aren't drowned out by any petrol-created sound waves - and you hear the grounding of bodywork and the rumble of rubber on kerbs.
For me, it'll never be a direct replacement for the low frequencies of a Corvette C7.R that reverberate around your chest cavity or the high notes of an old 2.4-litre F1 engine that send my stomach into bouts of excited somersaults, but as a complementary series showcasing future technology, I think it has a place.
And if, as the championship enters its second year and development rules open up, the trickle down of technology reaches road cars, as drivers and enthusiasts we'll be better for it.
Do the cars need to be faster?
After the temporary chicane at the Old Hairpin (designed to simulate tight turns of the all-inner city tracks Formula E will race at) was removed, and the drivers got increasingly used to the nuances in metering out volts not hydrocarbons with the throttle, the times started dropping. To a 1 minute 31.973, set by Audi Sport factory driver, Lucas di Grassi.
That's just three tenths shy of the Formula 4 lap record, set in a 185hp slicks-and-wings car weighing just 470kg.
And on the subject of tyres, those in Formula E are interesting. Treaded in construction and available in only one compound, they'll be used come rain or shine - and with an emphasis placed upon energy efficiency, the bespoke Michelins are another area that could cause excitement.
Corner speeds aren't as high as you might imagine, but with less rubber physically contacting the road and a more durable compound, teamed with instant electric torque, it means the 19 Spark-Renault SRT-01Es (of course, it was more like 38 cars, as each driver gets two due to charging and range issues, but we'll gloss over that) were making some shapes.
I still don't think the cars are quick enough, or that they even look quick enough, but hopefully that'll come next year as team boss' squiggles are signed on blank cheques authorising development.
Fastest lap close to Formula 4 record
The signs are mostly positive though, and seeing really is believing for Formula E. Add this to the city backdrops and it could be pretty spectacular. Try it yourself. I'm not afraid to admit I was a sceptic and that my attitude is changing - but there are two important caveats.
As you've probably guessed, noise is a big part of racing for me. Read here if you haven't. The downturn in decibels in F1 this year hasn't bothered me too much, because there's still enough noise there. If it were taken away altogether, that'd get me - which is why Formula E alongside other championships makes sense.
Apart from that Fanboost feature...
Hamilton back on top at Silverstone
Yes, the British GP was on this weekend and no, we haven't forgotten about it. With Rosberg retiring from the lead with gearbox failure, Hamilton emerged victorious at Silverstone's 50th Grand Prix after a red flag stoppage to repair damaged Armco from Raikkonen's Ferrari's 150mph, 47g smash, closing the championship margin to four points.
Mercedes dominate again. Game on for the rest of the season.
[Pics: LAT]
te.Also, it may mean we get something better looking than these cars. From a design point of view they are a bit of a disaster IMO. In some views they look ok but in others they really don't work at all. This was a chance to design something completely new and exciting and they dropped the ball on it.
It would be foolish to expect the noise to be anything other than crap, that's just the way electric cars are. I for one will give the series a chance, though, especially to fill the F1 off-season boredom.
As long as it doesn't upstage good old combustion motorsport. Then there'll be trouble.
A great mix of inner city circuits with a few iconic Grand Prix circuits I.e. Spa and Silverstone, 70 lap races with a pit stop every 20-25 laps to change battery and tires, you could limit battery size but not technology to encourage manufacturers to try new battery technology and allow them a max of 3 battery changes per race. Market them as cars that can accelerate faster than a formula 1, give them 4 wheel drive with 4 independent motors and top speed and noise wouldn't matter most of the time anyway with the inner city tracks.
I'll watch it, with an open mind. If you want to judge only with your own ignorance, that says more about you than it does the race series.
Banana skins and oil slicks the following season?
I stand by what I first said about fanboost, it's far too open to rigging, manipulation and the whims of people who like / dislike a driver or team. It's going to be hard enough to win people over to E racing without clouding the issue with non-race related power-ups. Let the machines and drivers show us how good they are, not the fingers of keyboard racers wanting to make mischief.
Do we really need real life Mario Kart?
It will be interesting to see the track around hyde park and I don't really care about the noise as long as it is good racing.
I also think the twitter idea is stupid.
I don't like the sound/lack of sound either.
It'll be interesting to see how it progresses in the future though.
I'll watch it, with an open mind. If you want to judge only with your own ignorance, that says more about you than it does the race series.
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