Formula E 2018/19

[rdjohn]

kambites said:

HustleRussell said:

Gen 2 cars may begin to make this a credible race series

I think it's going to feel much more like a traditional single-seater racing series without the car swap, although as you say it has other problems as well. I don't think we're seeing to see them move away from Mickey Mouse street circuits, even F1 is moving towards them.

I thought FE would be dead after 2-seasons, the simple fact that it has done five, and growing investment, makes me think that it really is here to stay.

F1 was hardly main stream until the BBC started to show content on late night BBC2 from every race in 1978. I think that with a larger potential audience, the general public will get it, perhaps not hard-core motor-race fans. For me the Gen-2 cars will make a huge difference. The Mickey-Mouse circuits actually make the slow-racing more exciting.

[MG CHRIS]

Also being shown on Eurosport as well.

[Jim Spencer]

I think Formula E is fantastic!
Every proper motorsport enthusiast should be singing it's praises from the rooftops.

Because

It's the existence of series like this that will help the Sport to continue to exist, if Motorsport isn't obviously - to the average punter in the street - seen as relevant to the development of the tin box's we knock about in every day then it'd be all too easy for some extreme, but very vocal and very high profile people, to call for it to be Banned - their argument would be extremely hard to defend.

It's almost the duty of the existing enthusiasts to champion the development of the Electric side in areas where it can be, to ensure the rest of us can continue to do what we enjoy doing / watching now..

It'll be on my TV.. might not actually be watching it much.. but it'll be on..

[StevieBee]

rdjohn said:

kambites said:

HustleRussell said:

Gen 2 cars may begin to make this a credible race series

I think it's going to feel much more like a traditional single-seater racing series without the car swap, although as you say it has other problems as well. I don't think we're seeing to see them move away from Mickey Mouse street circuits, even F1 is moving towards them.

I thought FE would be dead after 2-seasons, the simple fact that it has done five, and growing investment, makes me think that it really is here to stay.

You only have to look at the manufacturers involved to see that it has serious legs.

[Rumblestripe]

StevieBee said:

You only have to look at the manufacturers involved to see that it has serious legs.

Worth a gegsy, what time is it on?

[ukaskew]

StevieBee said:

You only have to look at the manufacturers involved to see that it has serious legs.

You have to admire the commitment to it, so many series have failed after a year or two and it seemed everything was working against FE, even the basic technology wasn't really there at the start (arguably it's only this season where it's really caught up with the concept).

It seems the manufacturers have no intention of allowing it to fail and as much as it's a bit of a running joke in F1 circles at the moment, I think quietly FOM will be getting a little nervous about how quickly things are advancing over at FE.

[anonymous-user]

Jim Spencer said:

I think Formula E is fantastic!
Every proper motorsport enthusiast should be singing it's praises from the rooftops.

Because

It's the existence of series like this that will help the Sport to continue to exist, if Motorsport isn't obviously - to the average punter in the street - seen as relevant to the development of the tin box's we knock about in every day then it'd be all too easy for some extreme, but very vocal and very high profile people, to call for it to be Banned - their argument would be extremely hard to defend.

It's almost the duty of the existing enthusiasts to champion the development of the Electric side in areas where it can be, to ensure the rest of us can continue to do what we enjoy doing / watching now..

It'll be on my TV.. might not actually be watching it much.. but it'll be on..

Your last sentence sums it up, in its current state.

[Eric Mc]

StevieBee said:

The business model of Formula E is different to F1. It guarantees manufacturers and sponsors free-to-air TV in key territories and, IIRC, does not charge the broadcasters for the rights to broadcast, though the broadcasters have to commit to a certain level of commitment in terms of airtime, promotion and resource so they still have to 'bid' for it.

Worth remembering too that F1 began in 1950 (notwithstanding the Grand Prix period before this) and took until the mid to late 80s before it enjoyed widespread and regular TV coverage, despite the efficient, technical means of coverage existing from the mid 60s.

There is growing interest in Formula E and not just in the UK. I think the mistake many traditional motor racing fans make is to consider it as a rival to F1 - which it isn't. It's just a different series in the same way WEC, BTCC, Rallying or Indy is. For those brought up on a diet of Castrol R and V8, V10s or whatever, it may not yet light any fires but with an open mind, you do find a series that's rather interesting and there has been some great racing.

Technical points - F1 began in 1946. The World Drivers' Championship began in 1950 (in1952 and 1953 it ran as an F2 series) and the World Constructors' Championship in 1958.

[jonny142]

looking forward to this interesting season with the new cars and further stuff, Jaguar I-Pace Etrophy support series too

Live Race 1 of the Jaguar I-Pace series from 09.30 -10.30 this Sat 15th on BT Sports ESPN

Live Race 1 of the Formula E from Championship from 11.00 - 13.30 this Sat 15th on BT Sports ESPN

Way to watch https://www.fiaformulae.com/en/watch/ways-to-watch...

Edited by jonny142 on Thursday 13th December 19:55

[Chewykneeslider]

I might be a bit thick here, but why are car manufacturers getting involved in this, when all the cars are identical, and not built by the teams?

To me, this just underlines the point that Formula E cars are just faceless, soulless appliances, and not snorting, living breathing racing cars. Maybe I'm just being old fashioned?

[ajprice]

They're not identical. It's just the chassis, body and battery that are shared. Teams build their own motor, inverter, gearbox and cooling.

[Eric Mc]

So they LOOK identical and they SOUND identical. The bits that are different are invisible and unnoticed to the observer?

That is guaranteed to ensure lack of interest.

[Dark85]

To be fair, it's not like F1 cars look and sound vastly different is it? Take off the livery and it'd take a real F1 expert(Nerd) to indentify them.

[Kraken]

Chewykneeslider said:

I might be a bit thick here, but why are car manufacturers getting involved in this, when all the cars are identical, and not built by the teams?

To me, this just underlines the point that Formula E cars are just faceless, soulless appliances, and not snorting, living breathing racing cars. Maybe I'm just being old fashioned?

With the generation of cars to come the software is every bit as important, if not more so, than the hardware. The teams can develop their own software and the race track is a great way to accelerate that sort of development.

To the man in the street the fact that they are all the same chassis is irrelevant. To him all F1 cars look the same as well.

[ajprice]

People still think the McBoatface joke is funny... https://wtf1.com/post/mahindra-has-names-its-formu...

[Eric Mc]

Dark85 said:

To be fair, it's not like F1 cars look and sound vastly different is it? Take off the livery and it'd take a real F1 expert(Nerd) to indentify them.

Too right - which is why F1 isn't that interesting these days either.

[Eric Mc]

Kraken said:

With the generation of cars to come the software is every bit as important, if not more so, than the hardware. The teams can develop their own software and the race track is a great way to accelerate that sort of development.

To the man in the street the fact that they are all the same chassis is irrelevant. To him all F1 cars look the same as well.

Is that supposed to be a good thing?

[WonkeyDonkey]

Chewykneeslider said:

I might be a bit thick here, but why are car manufacturers getting involved in this, when all the cars are identical, and not built by the teams?

To me, this just underlines the point that Formula E cars are just faceless, soulless appliances, and not snorting, living breathing racing cars. Maybe I'm just being old fashioned?

A lot cheaper way to go racing than F1/LMP with more coverage than running in WRC as well.

It also promotes their eco agenda.

I've tried a few times to get into FE but I just can't, these new generation cars do look a lot better than the old F3 style cars.

There's something weird about motorsport, I can't really get into singles seaters apart from F1 and F2.

GT3 racing doesn't do much for me but the Bathurst 12 hour is probably my most looked forward to race of the year now.

For ages I loved WEC when Audi, Porsche and Toyota had very similar machinery in terms of speeds but totally different ways of going about it.

For me it needs a mix of raw speed, fantastic tracks, beautiful soundtrack and technological intrigue. Which is why I can't really get into despite there typically being more on track action than a normal F1 race.

Edited by WonkeyDonkey on Saturday 15th December 01:57

[Piginapoke]

New cars, new drivers, wet practice and qualifying and no-one's turned up to watch.

[MyVTECGoesBwaaah]

Qualifying a touch later at 8:25 and a change in format. Presumably the rain causing this.

Few of mistakes in a combined shorter practice, should be interesting!

Edited by MyVTECGoesBwaaah on Saturday 15th December 08:17