A1 v F1, which is better for the fans?
Discussion
I'm going to have to get Sky!
From what I've heard the racing's not been that good in A1GP has it?
As for F1, well, it seems to be in it's ascendancy after the Japanese GP. The cars of course, will be much faster and louder as well. FWIW and with my limited knowledge I'd go for F1 being the better spectacle.
From what I've heard the racing's not been that good in A1GP has it?
As for F1, well, it seems to be in it's ascendancy after the Japanese GP. The cars of course, will be much faster and louder as well. FWIW and with my limited knowledge I'd go for F1 being the better spectacle.
Eric Mc said:
I'm not convinced that the Jaqpanese GP was a sign of F1 to come. I think it was a one off race enlivened by the fact that the grid was mixed up from qualifying and the WDC was already settled.
I agree and would also wonder if some of the dry settings people were using were less than optimal (for them but not for the spectacle), it having been so wet for so much of practice. That and the heavily washed track may have moved the normal goalposts somewhat.
there has rarely been a bad gp at suzuka. it has always produced some great races and f1 is far from in an ascendancy imho. at least cham cars have it rigt with the new 2006 cars having far smaller wings in comparison to this year which will aid overtaking and reduce aerodynamical grip. anyway...
having been at the brands race i enjoyed the A1GP and will most likely go again next year if it is the same price or thereabouts. it was a great day out even though we spent the whole day around dingle dell and the nearby area we missed all the "action" and the celebration stuff before ther ace. It was a full race card too with some good support races which we enjoyed.
it is difficult to get behind your country though, especially if they are crap (like Lebanon). I support ferrari in F1 (well you had to in our house) not because of a certain german or the recent success, but because of the history, because Enzo built road cars to fund the race cars, because racing is what they build ferraris for. People associate themselves with a team for a reason, for some it is because they win a lot, for others its the history and F1 will always have this edge over A1GP.
I didnt really support Britain in A1GP partially because I am not the most patriotic of types in the first place and also becasue I didnt associate myself with the driver, i had heard of him but he didnt inspire any passion in me as a driver. F1 will always have the legacy and the reputation, put it this way, you will never hear a driver say "its my ambition to race in A1GP"
having been at the brands race i enjoyed the A1GP and will most likely go again next year if it is the same price or thereabouts. it was a great day out even though we spent the whole day around dingle dell and the nearby area we missed all the "action" and the celebration stuff before ther ace. It was a full race card too with some good support races which we enjoyed.
it is difficult to get behind your country though, especially if they are crap (like Lebanon). I support ferrari in F1 (well you had to in our house) not because of a certain german or the recent success, but because of the history, because Enzo built road cars to fund the race cars, because racing is what they build ferraris for. People associate themselves with a team for a reason, for some it is because they win a lot, for others its the history and F1 will always have this edge over A1GP.
I didnt really support Britain in A1GP partially because I am not the most patriotic of types in the first place and also becasue I didnt associate myself with the driver, i had heard of him but he didnt inspire any passion in me as a driver. F1 will always have the legacy and the reputation, put it this way, you will never hear a driver say "its my ambition to race in A1GP"
I think that it is a tremendous tribute to the marketeers that this question is ever asked.
As a spectacle, the A1GP wasn't much better than a decent F3 race - sure the cars were much faster, but on an open track that is quickly lost. OK, I watched the races from Padock Hill (gutted at my photo of R Kerr on full oposite lock through here was totally blurred) and at Druids. These may not be the best place to see the cars perform, but there was no real spectacle - F1 cars would be totally different.
The A1 meet was exceptionally well organised, but no more of a spectacle on the track than a well run national meeting.
We should probably be asking 'If A1GP was so good, why don't we get any spectators for F3/GT', rather than how does it compare to F1.
Of course - all of the national race supporters next year will be switching to watching the Dunlop Motorsport Festivals instead
As a spectacle, the A1GP wasn't much better than a decent F3 race - sure the cars were much faster, but on an open track that is quickly lost. OK, I watched the races from Padock Hill (gutted at my photo of R Kerr on full oposite lock through here was totally blurred) and at Druids. These may not be the best place to see the cars perform, but there was no real spectacle - F1 cars would be totally different.
The A1 meet was exceptionally well organised, but no more of a spectacle on the track than a well run national meeting.
We should probably be asking 'If A1GP was so good, why don't we get any spectators for F3/GT', rather than how does it compare to F1.
Of course - all of the national race supporters next year will be switching to watching the Dunlop Motorsport Festivals instead
daydreamer said:
We should probably be asking 'If A1GP was so good, why don't we get any spectators for F3/GT', rather than how does it compare to F1.
Of course - all of the national race supporters next year will be switching to watching the Dunlop Motorsport Festivals instead
Good points. A full day of entertainment at a reasonable price would be my preference to a bloated F1 ticket price anyday. Indeed it always has been except, possibly, the few occasions when I was being paid to be at a GP. But even then the total experience of a club meeting was an attractive alternative.
I couldn't fault the free Renault weekend at Donington last month, other than the weather on the Saturday which is hardly a reasonable criticism. The GT's back at the beginning of the season were also a great day out and 2 days at the Silverstone Classic were tremendous value for money and a great spectacle.
F1 I would rather watch on telly.
Eric Mc said:
and the WDC was already settled.
this is so true, we were denied racing when alonso wouldnt fight 'too hard' because coming second was better than racing and having an accident and not finishing in the points. time was when each grand-prix was important in itself.
having been to the brands hatch A1, i would still say that as a 'spectacle', it has a very long way to go to be anything like as amazing as an F1 grand-prix.
Although we sat at hawthorn bend for the A1 and were about 15 feet away from the cars (with no real safety barriers), seeing and hearing an F1 car is by far the most exciting...
We were sat on the Paddock Hill banking at Brands for the GB round..and excellent it was.My 16year old son thougth it was better than F1,for the spectator.
I would agree in so far as being better value for money and as a day out.Of course it was at Brands which IMHO is a much better spectator track than Silverstone.
It brought back memories of F1 of old before it was spoilt by mega budgets and all the electronic driver aids etc.
Steve
I would agree in so far as being better value for money and as a day out.Of course it was at Brands which IMHO is a much better spectator track than Silverstone.
It brought back memories of F1 of old before it was spoilt by mega budgets and all the electronic driver aids etc.
Steve
Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff