RE: Porsche to quit LMP1
Discussion
Disappointing but not in the least surprising really.
Paris, Madrid, Mexico City and Athens banning diesels by 2025, France and the UK banning the sale of Petrol and Diesel vehicles by 2040, this kind of legislation will only gather pace and reach globally over the coming years.
I think the bigger issue is not with manufacturers like Porsche moving from LMP1 to Formula E, but for all other forms of motorsport that rely exclusively on burning petrol.
As these legislative deadlines loom, no manufacturer is going to continue to pour money into old technology and that means everything from F1 to WEC to the WRC are going to have to make some big changes to stay relevant if they are going to survive. When they do that, they will all face the same issues that Formula E does today, namely (lack of) speed, sound and range, in that context, and with a few more years of development, perhaps Formula E will finally come of age.
Paris, Madrid, Mexico City and Athens banning diesels by 2025, France and the UK banning the sale of Petrol and Diesel vehicles by 2040, this kind of legislation will only gather pace and reach globally over the coming years.
I think the bigger issue is not with manufacturers like Porsche moving from LMP1 to Formula E, but for all other forms of motorsport that rely exclusively on burning petrol.
As these legislative deadlines loom, no manufacturer is going to continue to pour money into old technology and that means everything from F1 to WEC to the WRC are going to have to make some big changes to stay relevant if they are going to survive. When they do that, they will all face the same issues that Formula E does today, namely (lack of) speed, sound and range, in that context, and with a few more years of development, perhaps Formula E will finally come of age.
Nobody has mentioned the (albeit rumour) reports of Porsche joining as an F1 engine supplier. It seems they were the fourth manufacturer at the Power Unit Working Group. I had assumed until the more recent news thathitbhad been Cosworth.
That places this Le Mans to Formula E stuff in a different context, if true of course.
That places this Le Mans to Formula E stuff in a different context, if true of course.
WEC needs a top class of prototypes. Always has and always will, GTE/3/4 cars are not what people who have followed WEC since the 60s get excited by and certainly not something they will flock to Le Mans to watch. I also find the balancing of power/weight/aero is just another example of homogenized racing that creates processionally close racing. I've been spoilt by Group C, but I know what it felt like in the years after that died. Same with Rallying when Group B died. When you have experienced caviar fish roe is just, well, s
t.
Don't get me started on Formula E. Another manufacturer lead tit wk for the corporate world. Top level motor racing is dead if they keep pandering to manufacturers. Build a great set of rules, forget what the corporate want and if it turns out well they will come flocking, even if it runs on baby panda's and rhino horns.
t.Don't get me started on Formula E. Another manufacturer lead tit w
k for the corporate world. Top level motor racing is dead if they keep pandering to manufacturers. Build a great set of rules, forget what the corporate want and if it turns out well they will come flocking, even if it runs on baby panda's and rhino horns. Housey said:
WEC needs a top class of prototypes. Always has and always will, GTE/3/4 cars are not what people who have followed WEC since the 60s get excited by and certainly not something they will flock to Le Mans to watch. I also find the balancing of power/weight/aero is just another example of homogenized racing that creates processionally close racing. I've been spoilt by Group C, but I know what it felt like in the years after that died. Same with Rallying when Group B died. When you have experienced caviar fish roe is just, well, st.
Don't get me started on Formula E. Another manufacturer lead tit wk for the corporate world. Top level motor racing is dead if they keep pandering to manufacturers. Build a great set of rules, forget what the corporate want and if it turns out well they will come flocking, even if it runs on baby panda's and rhino horns.
I think, in the case of Formula E, manufacturers are flocking to it through fear of being seen as backward looking and as "an enemy of planet earth", nevermind the ethics of battery production and power generation, plus the dismal spectacle itself. The bandwagon is well and truly rolling - the whole electric/autonomous concept has been whipped up into such a frenzy that standing up against it almost seems impossible now. t.Don't get me started on Formula E. Another manufacturer lead tit w
k for the corporate world. Top level motor racing is dead if they keep pandering to manufacturers. Build a great set of rules, forget what the corporate want and if it turns out well they will come flocking, even if it runs on baby panda's and rhino horns. With Audi and Porsche being part of VAG it seems a bit pointless to both be competing against each other. Surely behind the scenes they'll be sharing all the same tech.
Once watched 15 mins of Formula E. that was sufficient to realise how st it was.
God knows what the future of all motorsport will be. Whether amateur or professional surely it's a catastrophe. Imagine standing in the woods watching a rally stage. Instead of the bark and whistles of some turbo, you'll get the equivalent of an electric flymo! It will decimate the whole industry. All those engine tuners and specialist parts suppliers.
I'm off for a drive......
Once watched 15 mins of Formula E. that was sufficient to realise how s
t it was.God knows what the future of all motorsport will be. Whether amateur or professional surely it's a catastrophe. Imagine standing in the woods watching a rally stage. Instead of the bark and whistles of some turbo, you'll get the equivalent of an electric flymo! It will decimate the whole industry. All those engine tuners and specialist parts suppliers.
I'm off for a drive......
legalknievel said:
Nobody has mentioned the (albeit rumour) reports of Porsche joining as an F1 engine supplier. It seems they were the fourth manufacturer at the Power Unit Working Group. I had assumed until the more recent news thathitbhad been Cosworth.
That places this Le Mans to Formula E stuff in a different context, if true of course.
Porsche were present as part of VAG. As were Cosworth, Ilmor and Aston Martin. Alfa Romeo were apparently there as part of the Ferrari contingent, too. I wouldn't read too much into that though, VAG were also in the last F1 engine cycle working group, and the reason 4 cylinder engines were originally picked for the current rules cycle was due to them. When they lost interest Ferrari lobbied for V6s and we have what we have now.That places this Le Mans to Formula E stuff in a different context, if true of course.
PhantomPH said:
Loyly said:
This is sad news. Formula E is deathly dull. It is the crappest motorsport around.
This.I've genuinely given FE a chance, but it does absolutely NOTHING for me. Perhaps I am not the demographic it appeals to. I am the dinosaur.
I fear that the end is nigh for driving and excitement, Just don't see how you get the excitement without the noise, it seems to lack any sense of drama.
Four Litre said:
PhantomPH said:
Loyly said:
This is sad news. Formula E is deathly dull. It is the crappest motorsport around.
This.I've genuinely given FE a chance, but it does absolutely NOTHING for me. Perhaps I am not the demographic it appeals to. I am the dinosaur.
I fear that the end is nigh for driving and excitement, Just don't see how you get the excitement without the noise, it seems to lack any sense of drama.
The writing was clearly on the wall regards FE at the FoS - all sorts of angry, gnarly monsters go ripping up the hill and people are entertained by the spectacle of it even if they have no idea what the car is. In between when the FE car goes whistling by people barely turn their head to face the track - they carry on chatting, looking at their programme or the scenery generally. There's no primeval anger to the cars that piques human interest or demands attention.
The ICE will be in motorsport for as long as rich old dudes want to spend £500,000 a year thrashing a supercar around various race tracks. The same week that Merc' announced they were quitting DTM for Formula E they also announced their new GT4 car so while that market is there they'll keep on building noisey gas guzzling race cars.
Loyly said:
This is sad news. Formula E is deathly dull. It is the crappest motorsport around.
Couldn't agree more.Can't see this as anything but following the herd(or corporate line), what's wrong with staying with endurance racing and moving to more electric power.
This is not a fit with Porsche's heritage or core, and if its as successful as there other open wheel efforts - not even a good marketing move.
Meanwhile the lmp1 drivers remain under contract. If they're lucky they might get a GT car, unlucky it'll be F'in E!
I find this news so sad and seems to show no respect to enthusiasts the history of the sport all to further this bogus climate agenda scam. F1 hybrid tech is bad enough with the hopeless mess Honda got Mclaren in to and endless grid penalties that serve no ones interest. Formula E a sad back water for unemployed quality drivers . The rule makers got us in to this expensive hybrid and electric motorsport that is killing the sport I used to love enough to drive half way across europe to watch.
jurbie said:
The ICE will be in motorsport for as long as rich old dudes want to spend £500,000 a year thrashing a supercar around various race tracks. The same week that Merc' announced they were quitting DTM for Formula E they also announced their new GT4 car so while that market is there they'll keep on building noisey gas guzzling race cars.
True, but GT4 is a far cry from watching 3x professional drivers at the top of their game sharing a batst-crazy prototype with 1000hp through a 24h rollercoaster.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff