Mike Gascoyne on F1's boring tracks
Discussion
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/02/02/motor-rac...
Basically saying why do we go to places like Abu Dhabi and Bahrain when they produce such dull races. Given that they are purpose built circuits where they had free reign to do what they like makes it worse.
Personally I tend to agree with his point and it does seem that there are more dull races on new venues than the older ones.
Add the apparent lack of spectator interest at the track and it makes the whole thing look as appealing as athletics from gateshead on a damp and windy Sunday.
Basically saying why do we go to places like Abu Dhabi and Bahrain when they produce such dull races. Given that they are purpose built circuits where they had free reign to do what they like makes it worse.
Personally I tend to agree with his point and it does seem that there are more dull races on new venues than the older ones.
Add the apparent lack of spectator interest at the track and it makes the whole thing look as appealing as athletics from gateshead on a damp and windy Sunday.
Honestly reckon anyone will take notice of this? We have all been saying for years that Tilke tracks are a boring place to be, so unimaginative, even Tilke himself says he bases most of his tracks on The Ring, not sure I have seen any corners or inclines that resemble anything Ring like at all.
Never should be a case of who can chuck the most money at it, there is a reason Spa is still on the calendar the track has inclines, bends that you don't see anywhere else, a track where you have to work a car hard to make the most of it, Canada a track that will spit you off if it doesn't like the way you have gone through that corner.
Bore-rain, there is nothing there, no major inclines, it is like Tilke just drew the design on a napkin.
Monaco granted not the best track but one of the most loved, the glamour the glitz F1 cars going flat out through a tunnel at silly speeds, glancing off barriers, every part of the Monaco you know where they are heading, Casino into Mirabeau towards Portier and through the tunnel, hit chicane and off down to the Swimming pool through Rascasse.
Singapore night race, cool it is at night, but what a crap track, designed with a ruler, did he leave his protractor set at home, and do you have any idea where the f
k you are? It all looks the same.
Abu Dhabi the only good bit is the pit lane exit, the rest is just dull dull dull dull dull, blank canvas go nuts, you think when Spa was designed the guys went, "hmmm this place isn't suitable, that hill there, that is no good, we will need to level it, you can't make a racing circuit go up hill! No they built Eau Rouge I think one of the best corners ever
Never should be a case of who can chuck the most money at it, there is a reason Spa is still on the calendar the track has inclines, bends that you don't see anywhere else, a track where you have to work a car hard to make the most of it, Canada a track that will spit you off if it doesn't like the way you have gone through that corner.
Bore-rain, there is nothing there, no major inclines, it is like Tilke just drew the design on a napkin.
Monaco granted not the best track but one of the most loved, the glamour the glitz F1 cars going flat out through a tunnel at silly speeds, glancing off barriers, every part of the Monaco you know where they are heading, Casino into Mirabeau towards Portier and through the tunnel, hit chicane and off down to the Swimming pool through Rascasse.
Singapore night race, cool it is at night, but what a crap track, designed with a ruler, did he leave his protractor set at home, and do you have any idea where the f
k you are? It all looks the same.Abu Dhabi the only good bit is the pit lane exit, the rest is just dull dull dull dull dull, blank canvas go nuts, you think when Spa was designed the guys went, "hmmm this place isn't suitable, that hill there, that is no good, we will need to level it, you can't make a racing circuit go up hill! No they built Eau Rouge I think one of the best corners ever
pits said:
you think when Spa was designed the guys went, "hmmm this place isn't suitable, that hill there, that is no good, we will need to level it, you can't make a racing circuit go up hill! No they built Eau Rouge I think one of the best corners ever
Well Spa wasnt really designed. It was more - "How about a race from Francorchamps to Stavelot, via Bumenville and back again.And hey, if we build a road straight up that hill, rather than going via the hairpin, we can get a faster average speed!"
majordad said:
While we're at it I would prefer a GP at Brands than Silverstone. If it causes difficulty or possible division for you British People I offer you a solution, we can call the one in Brands the Irish GP and you can continue to have your British one at Silverstone. Win , Win ?
silverstone is good now with that new infield corner. the one which hammo kept launching it up the inside of people. f1 needs corners like that.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTzAGqfCSbU
i think its the corner at 1.07
slipstream 1985 said:
silverstone is good now with that new infield corner. the one which hammo kept launching it up the inside of people. f1 needs corners like that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTzAGqfCSbU
i think its the corner at 1.07
The nice thing about the rework of Silverstone is that it involved more or less the minimum amount of new tarmac they could do, rather than overthinking what makes a good track.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTzAGqfCSbU
i think its the corner at 1.07
Most of the good tracks around the world never started out as motor racing circuits, and it's that sort of compromise that makes them interesting.
Yes, the historical background to Grand Prix racing is the fact that they virtually all were once run on closed down public roads. With the exception of Monza or Montlhery, all the original purpose built GP circuits, such as The Nurburgring or Donington Park, sought to replicate natural road conditions.
It was only after WW2 that road races began to be supplemented by more purpose built circuits - often in Britain - and it was only in the 1980s the true road tracks realkly faded out (I'm ignoring the US city centre circuits like Detroit or Phoenix which, whilst on public streets, were more like Monaco than the old Spa).
It was only after WW2 that road races began to be supplemented by more purpose built circuits - often in Britain - and it was only in the 1980s the true road tracks realkly faded out (I'm ignoring the US city centre circuits like Detroit or Phoenix which, whilst on public streets, were more like Monaco than the old Spa).
RichB said:
Of course it started out the other way with Ireland hosting the British Grank Prix which is also why British racing cars are green.
Not quite.There was no official British GP until 1948 - held at Silverstone (an artficial track of course)
The pre-war GPs held at Brooklands and Donington were not formal "British GPs".
In 1902, the British entrant won the Gordon Bennett Trophy held in France/Austria (it was a point to point race - on public roads, of course). Because Britain had won the 1902 event, it was their responsibility to host the 1903 event. However, since racing on public roads was banned in Britain, it was decided that the event would be hosted in a part of the United Kingdom where there was no such ban, Ireland.
The event was divided up into a number of trials and races. Time trials were held in Dublin's Phoenix Park and the races were held on the roads of the large Army Barracks at The Curragh, County Kildare. The race was held on a "circuit" rather than as a "point to point". Point to point races were discontinued following the various deaths that had occured during the Paris - Madrid road race earlier in the year. It was thought that crowd control would be better achieved if the race was held over a closed circuit.
It is said that British Racing Green came about as a tribute to the fact that the Irish were willing to host this event. However, this is disputed as Napier often painted their cars green anyway.
A genuine Irish Grand Prix was held at The Phoenix Park in the years 1929 to 1931 although the races were for sports cars rather than proper GP cars.
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