The case for a 'League' 2 F1

The case for a 'League' 2 F1

Author
Discussion

coppice

8,564 posts

143 months

Thursday 15th April 2021
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It wasn't really a championship in any meaningful sense - it was a consolation prize for teams running normally aspirated cars and ,obviously , the 'races' ran as part of a Grand Prix itself . Nobody took too much notice really - and in 1987 only four teams competed for the Jim Clark Trophy, as it was termed

In those days we didn't have the small grid we currently endure so in 87 a grand total of 30 drivers raced in the championship, for 16 teams .

moffspeed

2,665 posts

206 months

Tuesday 20th April 2021
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Perhaps worthy of mention is the Aurora/British F1 championship that ran for 4 years from 1978 - 1982 (no championship in 1981). It was by no means a feeder series for F1 but it attracted some very professional outfits/drivers and provided plenty of close racing. To the extent that an Autosport headline early on in the series read "F1 with overtaking".

Imagine back in 1978, get to Brands for a few quid to watch the GP, get rained on at Silverstone whilst you watch the non-championship International Trophy and then enjoy 11 other British F1 races at circuits such as Mallory, Oulton & Thruxton.

13 F1 races in a year without leaving the country (unless you nipped over to Zandvoort to watch the British championship's continental race to = 14).

Happy days.


ChemicalChaos

10,360 posts

159 months

Saturday 24th April 2021
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cjm said:
It could be interesting if current teams agreed to sell customer spec cars, but I assume most teams would buy a Merc and you'd have racing way closer than in top level F1.
What about if it ran like the Total Cup for Privateers in the 1990s btcc?
Independent teams can buy old factory cars, BUT only the physical cars already built rather than an endless supply of customer chassis, and they're all to last year's spec. That way there'd only be be 2 mercs not a load of them, and they wouldn't be as competitive.
Crashed and destroyed your only chassis during the season and there's no spares left? Tough, you'll be turning up to the next event in a different car then, best get ringing around to see what's left! (As happened a few times in the BTCC)

moffspeed

2,665 posts

206 months

Sunday 25th April 2021
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ChemicalChaos said:
cjm said:
It could be interesting if current teams agreed to sell customer spec cars, but I assume most teams would buy a Merc and you'd have racing way closer than in top level F1.
What about if it ran like the Total Cup for Privateers in the 1990s btcc?
Independent teams can buy old factory cars, BUT only the physical cars already built rather than an endless supply of customer chassis, and they're all to last year's spec. That way there'd only be be 2 mercs not a load of them, and they wouldn't be as competitive.
Crashed and destroyed your only chassis during the season and there's no spares left? Tough, you'll be turning up to the next event in a different car then, best get ringing around to see what's left! (As happened a few times in the BTCC)

In practical terms you are describing the British F1 championship there. Teams bought up redundant F1 cars from the likes of Fittipaldi, Wolf & Lotus and off they went to Oulton etc. With no allegiance to a manufacturer car swaps did happen eg Melchester Racing who won the championship in ‘78 with a McLaren and returned with a Tyrrell in ‘79.

The only exception was March. Having lost their mojo in “proper” Grand Prix racing they produced the 781 . It was designed specifically for the British F1 series - its 16 gallon fuel tank would have done it no favours in “proper” F1.

Edited by moffspeed on Sunday 25th April 08:57