Formula E 2017-18

Author
Discussion

anonymous-user

53 months

Sunday 3rd December 2017
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What’s happening with the Roborace series, isn’t that going to be run in conjunction with the formula e series? Seems like the cars are still being tested as far as I can tell?

hoegaardenruls

1,218 posts

131 months

Sunday 3rd December 2017
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Two good races, albeit when they got going, and it actually held my interest longer than recent F1 races. Looked better on a proper circuit (Mexico) last year.

One good point, proven by the two races is that compared to F1 the cars need a real whack before any real damage is sustained - maybe something for F1 to look at, as there would have been carbon flying everywhere today..

hairyben

8,516 posts

182 months

Sunday 3rd December 2017
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That start was an embarrassment. Surely you have some kind of double redundant backup? Perhaps not...

Find it all a bit mickey mouse, although thats largely down to the street circuits not being ideal for the cars they have. Also listening to some of the interviews etc I find an overbearing "we're as good as F1" chip going on, you're not so drop it, self pity is embarrassing so just do your own thing.

If you're going to swap cars (which I think is a bit naff anyway) why not run 45/55 or 40/60 of total race power allocation allowing teams free choice, mix up the strat and have less pit lane incidence (unless thats what they want to "liven it up")

HustleRussell

24,602 posts

159 months

Sunday 3rd December 2017
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hoegaardenruls said:


One good point, proven by the two races is that compared to F1 the cars need a real whack before any real damage is sustained - maybe something for F1 to look at, as there would have been carbon flying everywhere today..
That's because most of the 'aero' bodywork is for show and does very little

thiscocks

3,127 posts

194 months

Sunday 3rd December 2017
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HustleRussell said:
Zero improvement. Circuits are still st. Frankly it's embarrassing. Was just treated to a nice closeup of one of the cars clattering over an uneven manhole cover in the middle of corner entry.
The circuits make for more entertainment than the modern F1 car park track. At least you get punished for making mistakes and they are challenging to drive on.

ajprice

27,315 posts

195 months

Sunday 3rd December 2017
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ABT has been disqualified from the race 2 win. The post race inspection shown that the barcodes on the motor and inverter parts didn't match the declared parts pre race.

https://www.autosport.com/fe/news/133411/abt-loses...

Audi say the parts are identical and the different barcode parts being fitted was an admin error

https://www.autosport.com/fe/news/133412/audi-expl...

AnotherClarkey

3,589 posts

188 months

Sunday 3rd December 2017
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ajprice said:
ABT has been disqualified from the race 2 win. The post race inspection shown that the barcodes on the motor and inverter parts didn't match the declared parts pre race.

https://www.autosport.com/fe/news/133411/abt-loses...

Audi say the parts are identical and the different barcode parts being fitted was an admin error

https://www.autosport.com/fe/news/133412/audi-expl...
Volkswagen/Audi just can't seem to crack this compliance thing can they?

hairyben

8,516 posts

182 months

Sunday 3rd December 2017
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AnotherClarkey said:
Volkswagen/Audi just can't seem to crack this compliance thing can they?
laugh

MG CHRIS

9,077 posts

166 months

Sunday 3rd December 2017
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So the guy that spun on the first lap ends Up winning it not bad recovery.

MG CHRIS

9,077 posts

166 months

Sunday 3rd December 2017
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Also first trophy for a jaguar race team since 2002.

HustleRussell

24,602 posts

159 months

Monday 4th December 2017
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thiscocks said:
HustleRussell said:
Zero improvement. Circuits are still st. Frankly it's embarrassing. Was just treated to a nice closeup of one of the cars clattering over an uneven manhole cover in the middle of corner entry.
The circuits make for more entertainment than the modern F1 car park track. At least you get punished for making mistakes and they are challenging to drive on.
hehe Again I was resistant to compare F1 and FE as for me there is no comparison but anyway... if F1 races take place on car parks what do you call a Formula e circuit? They couldn't even risk a standing start at the weekend after the first traffic jam.

F1 races take place exclusively on FIA grade 1 race circuits, most of which are bespoke, all two miles in length at the very least.

Apparently FE doesn’t escape the questionable eligibility and stewarding decisions of F1 either, Abt’s win rescinded, Bird given a grid penalty despite already serving a drive through…

I am posting out of frustration as when FE came along I was optimistic about it and vocal on this forum in defence of it as although it was from the beginning very flawed and disappointing, I felt motorsport needed an electric series and that given a few seasons with the obvious problems worked out it could turn into a decent race series. Here we are in season four, the circuits are still pants, fanboost still exists, the cars are still only going half distance… a surprising lack of progress IMO, particularly considering the big names now involved on the teams and corporate side. Guess I need to give it a bit longer.

Adrian W

Original Poster:

13,848 posts

227 months

Monday 4th December 2017
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I think a few heads would have rolled by the time it gets to Marrakesh,

Allyc85

7,225 posts

185 months

Tuesday 5th December 2017
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I can only classify Formula E as "something to watch" as it still leaves me cold! I hate the noise and the car swap in a tent is embarrassing. I believe next year they will finally do a whole race with one car, so that will be the final judgement for me.

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 5th December 2017
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Allyc85 said:
I can only classify Formula E as "something to watch" as it still leaves me cold! I hate the noise and the car swap in a tent is embarrassing. I believe next year they will finally do a whole race with one car, so that will be the final judgement for me.
I wouldn't hold your breath, waiting for the one car thing. How long have they been promising more power, more speed, autonomous cars etc?

Still look eons away from being able to hold races on proper circuits.

The Wookie

13,909 posts

227 months

Tuesday 5th December 2017
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REALIST123 said:
I wouldn't hold your breath, waiting for the one car thing. How long have they been promising more power, more speed, autonomous cars etc?

Still look eons away from being able to hold races on proper circuits.
Feel free to hold your breath, it’s happening

radical78

398 posts

143 months

Wednesday 6th December 2017
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cars are getting better if we could see them at spa or Silverstone it would be a lot better these street circuits are rubbish

chris285

811 posts

131 months

Wednesday 6th December 2017
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Missed this but don't like the circuits, I guess with the likes of Audi/VW the series isn't going anywhere just yet

Wicker Man

789 posts

242 months

Wednesday 6th December 2017
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Race cars that can't compete a race are just a bad PR joke and a massively wasted opportunity.

What this series needs is pit stops with rapid battery pack changes, maybe as many as they want. This would create some excitement (!) and could also help drive technology useful to road cars (Ten second robotic ISO standard battery changes at a service station anybody?).

The battery pack latch/lock mechanism would obviously need to be of high integrity. Something akin to aircraft cargo bay doors (or maybe bomb racks?) rather than the FIA/micky-mouse refuelling kit. I'm sure this could be done, and if there's nobody in the motor sport industry who can, well pass me a fag packet...


Edited by Wicker Man on Thursday 7th December 04:12

HustleRussell

24,602 posts

159 months

Thursday 7th December 2017
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radical78 said:
cars are getting better if we could see them at spa or Silverstone it would be a lot better these street circuits are rubbish
The circuits are chosen to create a sensation of speed. Put them on Spa or Silverstone circuit and they'll look pitiful for about five laps before running out of battery.

corozin

2,680 posts

270 months

Thursday 7th December 2017
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I was watching that programme last weekend where Guy Martin was going to race a robot car (until it fell off at the second corner!). The robot car turned out to not only be computer controlled but also was an electric car.

And there was the car's creator, all excited at his invention, jigging up and down with anticipation as he explained how motor racing in the future could all be with autonomous, electric cars... and there was me thinking "and who the f**k is going to be interested in that?"

Let's not pretend that Formula E is anything other than a politically correct fig-leaf which the manufacturers are investing in for green publicity purposes. The cars are sh*t, the circuits are mickey mouse car parks, the racing is sh*t, the cars sound pathetic, and they can't even finish a race distance. A more pathetic racing spectacle on four wheels it's hard to imagine.