A1 GP: Brands Hatch. Where was everyone?
Discussion
Anyone go yesterday? Cracking day out but was amazed at how few spectators there were. Think there were more for the BTCC meet a few weeks ago.
No hospitality tents. No cues, in or out! Sign of the times I guess.
The new cars aren't quite as hairy chested as the previous models but still good. Managed to find an awesome spot on the outside of Hawthorns to watch from. Fabulous to see these cars full chat round there.
No hospitality tents. No cues, in or out! Sign of the times I guess.
The new cars aren't quite as hairy chested as the previous models but still good. Managed to find an awesome spot on the outside of Hawthorns to watch from. Fabulous to see these cars full chat round there.
I was there. Great day out - it's always a pleasure to see racing on the GP circuit. I saw a few spectators on the outside of Hawthorns - a crafty spot!
I was standing on the exit of Surtees for the two crashes in the GT race - both of them hit the barrier right in front of me within five minutes of each other which led to the red flag. A real shame as it had the potential to be a cracking race.
The heritage touring cars were awesome - those Aston DBSs sounded immense!
I was standing on the exit of Surtees for the two crashes in the GT race - both of them hit the barrier right in front of me within five minutes of each other which led to the red flag. A real shame as it had the potential to be a cracking race.
The heritage touring cars were awesome - those Aston DBSs sounded immense!
Munter said:
A1 what?
Unless you have sky theres no fan base...
Yep. Agree. Shame really as I think it has the potential to be a major sport - not just race series. In many ways, it offers much of what F1 did in the 80s - easy access, no frills, balls out racing. Problem is that nobody knows the drivers, most of the teams aren't national teams in that they are all based in the UK, most of the pit crews are Brits and not even all the seat owners are nationals (Teddy Yip is one of the seat holder for Ireland!!).Unless you have sky theres no fan base...
I watched it on Sky whilst removing a hangover, hence I dare not drive that day.
Not so sure about the format of this series, but I was glad to see the Irish have some success, and more glad to see fairly quick cars on a proper UK circuit for a change - you know, hills, lefts, rights, off camber bends etc. Challenging but enjoyable circuit for a driver, and as a spectator venue, the natural ampitheatre of the indy circuit will knock the pants off Silverstone's lack of decent spectator viewing every time.
Ok, at Donny is better than Silverstone, but Brands is where our GP should be.
Not so sure about the format of this series, but I was glad to see the Irish have some success, and more glad to see fairly quick cars on a proper UK circuit for a change - you know, hills, lefts, rights, off camber bends etc. Challenging but enjoyable circuit for a driver, and as a spectator venue, the natural ampitheatre of the indy circuit will knock the pants off Silverstone's lack of decent spectator viewing every time.
Ok, at Donny is better than Silverstone, but Brands is where our GP should be.
You cannot create an audience base by limiting the TV coverage to a subscription channel. You need a national "free to air" broadcaster to do this. In fact, you need the BBC. The Beeb is the only channel that can "create" a public interest in a sport from nothing. It has done this many times in the past.
Sky (and even ITV) can only step in and "poach" a sport that the BBC has already created.
Sky (and even ITV) can only step in and "poach" a sport that the BBC has already created.
It probably didn't help that another international event (FIA GT) was on at silverstone on the same day, don't they realise they're competing for the same customer base? I have gone to both meetings in the past and would have done so again. Eventually came down to which was closest (Brands) as weather looked similar for each.
SeeFive said:
Brands is where our GP should be.
Couldn't agree more. I spoke with a someone connected with MSV around the time that Donnington was announced as having secured the GP and she said that it would cost less than half what they were spending to bring Brands up to scratch - probably a lot less. Most of the work would have to go on infrastructure rather than the circuit itself, half of which conforms to FIA standards already, thanks to the Champ Car race in '03.
The problem has previously been that the design of the circuit hasn't previously lent itself to modern, high-powered winged cars and would unlikely yield good close racing (the Champ Car race being a good example of this, albiet that was on the Indy Circuit) so it was a case of the cars having to come to the circuit rather than the other way round or face the need to create corners that would improve F1 but stifle other series.
IMO, JP has proved himself one of the shrewdest circuit operators in the UK and commercially, probably the best there is which perhaps explains why MSV has been silent on the whole British GP thing.
nre said:
It probably didn't help that another international event (FIA GT) was on at silverstone on the same day, don't they realise they're competing for the same customer base? I have gone to both meetings in the past and would have done so again. Eventually came down to which was closest (Brands) as weather looked similar for each.
there was no one there either! very disapointing crowd. The decidng factor for me was that kids, over 12, at A1 would have had to pay up £35 each when Silverstone they were free. Don't forget Britcar gts, Britcar productions, Dutch super cars , TVR tuscans and a porsche race over at Rockingham all going for the same people.
I was working with one of the britcar teams, this was my first visit to Rockingham and the spectator viewing is fantastic.
The crowds were very good as well, a credit to the high quility of race cars out there and very close racing.
I was working with one of the britcar teams, this was my first visit to Rockingham and the spectator viewing is fantastic.
The crowds were very good as well, a credit to the high quility of race cars out there and very close racing.
eastlmark said:
nre said:
...(FIA GT) was on at Silverstone...
there was no one there either! very disappointing crowd...Truckosaurus said:
eastlmark said:
nre said:
...(FIA GT) was on at Silverstone...
there was no one there either! very disappointing crowd...kusee pee said:
I was standing on the exit of Surtees for the two crashes in the GT race - both of them hit the barrier right in front of me within five minutes of each other which led to the red flag. A real shame as it had the potential to be a cracking race.
The heritage touring cars were awesome - those Aston DBSs sounded immense!
The GT Cup had a superb line up of cars. They can only have done 5 laps of racing what with the Safety Cars and the Red Flag - a real shame as the race on Saturday was cracking. Looking forward to seeing the TV Coverage - I think it will be on Motors TV (?)The heritage touring cars were awesome - those Aston DBSs sounded immense!
Was it me or did the red mist come down on a few of the GT Cup Drivers?
Truckosaurus said:
eastlmark said:
nre said:
...(FIA GT) was on at Silverstone...
there was no one there either! very disappointing crowd...Silverstone is a big place, but the thing I love about events like the FIA GTs is that you can go pretty much where you want to.
All the grandstands (some were closed off, but not many) were free, there was plenty in the way of food and drink stands, you could wander around the in-field and I managed to get some cracking photographs from places which would simply be off limits for most races run there and access to and from the car parks was a piece of cake.
Plus you have some great knowledgeable commentators and a generally decent PA system and it made following the race pretty easy without resorting to a radio.
Oh, and the cars and the racing was great entertainment.
kusee pee said:
I was there. Great day out - it's always a pleasure to see racing on the GP circuit. I saw a few spectators on the outside of Hawthorns - a crafty spot!
I was standing on the exit of Surtees for the two crashes in the GT race - both of them hit the barrier right in front of me within five minutes of each other which led to the red flag. A real shame as it had the potential to be a cracking race.
The heritage touring cars were awesome - those Aston DBSs sounded immense!
i was about 100yards away from you, saw both crashes, the second one was huge. very happy to see the driver walking round the car, he didnt look happy mind. dozens of 'ambulance chasers' ran past me to see the crash... freaks.I was standing on the exit of Surtees for the two crashes in the GT race - both of them hit the barrier right in front of me within five minutes of each other which led to the red flag. A real shame as it had the potential to be a cracking race.
The heritage touring cars were awesome - those Aston DBSs sounded immense!
i think I enjoyed the GT race more than the A1, the cars were stunning. we watched that from pilgrims drop, so powerful. they looked stunning, i'll take the yellow aston thanks...
also spent time on hawtrhorn bend, the view is almost frightening, the catch fence is about 3 feet below the grass! still a good day tho, brands usually is... had a waddle round the pits too...
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