Formula E - the case for
Formula E fights back at PH for grumping about the imminent electric racing series
Ross writes: In the red corner, writing for PistonHeads' Motorsport on Monday column, is Sean Carson. He took a swing at electric racing series Formula E recently, with a right hook for the sport's plans for social media engagement and then from the left for the technical limitations of the cars and the lack of eardrum-destroying decibels.
'Fanboost' for drivers with the most Tweets?
The biggest controversy highlighted by Sean's column was Fanboost, which is a proposed Formula E feature whereby fans can vote for their favourite drivers using social media. The winning driver will be allowed an additional "push to pass" - an overtaking boost.
Let's get a few things straight. Fanboost is not an "artificial enhancement" designed to breathe some sort of relevance into a decades-old and out-of-touch series, and it is not a new revelation. It has been part of the organisers' plans from the starting line.
Every driver gets "push to pass" boosts during the race. The Fanboost-winning driver simply gets an additional one. Don't forget that the Formula E crown will be fought around street circuits such as Monaco – overtaking gizmos haven't really helped F1 drivers there. One short additional power boost in Formula E isn't likely to undermine driver skill.
Yes, so it may be that the team that consistently and continually develops the best social media strategy comes out ahead. Is that really a problem? It's no different to other sports, where teams with the biggest budgets hire the best driving and technical talent to build themselves an unassailable lead.
City racing should attract new breed of fans
It's difficult to really get into detail on Fanboost because the sporting regulations have not yet been finalised. Remember, this is a sport that hasn't even made it to the first race or signed all of its drivers yet. It's thought that the free to attend testing days at Donington Park in July and August will be used to develop the finished package. Until then, all we really have is speculation.
We also need to be clear about who is doing what. The FIA is not "meddling". Formula E is being run by an outfit called Formula E Holdings, headed up by Spanish businessman and self-confessed petrolhead, Alejandro Agag. The series is essentially his vision.
Google the guy, and you'll see Agag is no idiot, and no stranger to motorsport. He knows what he's doing, demonstrated in what Formula E has achieved so far. In less than two years, a mere whim has grown into a global racing series supported by the likes of McLaren, Williams, Renault, Michelin and Virgin.
Gimmick or clever innovation? Have your say...
Formula E drivers will swap cars in the first series, as the batteries won't allow a full-on race for an hour without depleting power very quickly. No, this is not ideal. Nobody is trying to pretend it is, but you have to start somewhere.
The series organiser is hoping to use season one to introduce the Formula E concept - electric racing cars, city centre circuits, fan interaction, and so on. Year two is when constructors will be allowed to build their own cars. That's when we'll see real engineering innovation and leaps in technological advancement. It's all part of the plan.
Sean's right hook is one we've seen again and again: noise (or more accurately, lack thereof in Formula E). This argument puzzles me. It really does. I'm not anti-noise. I even play the drums. But I wouldn't visit the Tour de France and complain about a lack of vrooming sounds. Or the Americas Cup, for that matter.
The point here is that Formula E is an entirely different proposition to F1 or WEC or any other motorsport. It cannot and should not be judged by the same criteria. It's like saying that Mumford and Sons aren't musicians because they don't play the guitar like Metallica. [Actually... - Ed.]
Really, what it comes down to is personal choice. Formula E will have its own fanbase, one possibly quite distinct from conventional motor racing. Formula E is setting itself up as a technology testbed; as a means of working towards better air quality in our cities; and as a sport that is relevant to the modern world.
We could even end up with terrace songs and chanting during Formula E races - the possibilities really are electrifying. (Never say never: before The Hangover, would you have bet on Tyson singing on camera? Exactly.)
Formula E hasn't yet begun. Pop along to the free test days in July and August at Donington Park and make your own mind up about the prospects of the sport. You'll see it really is a modern spectacle for the modern world, one where you can hold an actual conversation with the person next to you. And if you Tweet about it while you're there, you'll more than likely get a response from the teams and drivers.
Time please, referee.
Ross
Kick hashtags out of motorsport, I say.
but fanboost just seems a bit silly ....
also to say there is no difference between wealthy teams being able to afford best drivers e.t.c , how does this justify fan boost ? why justify it with another evil ?
won't wealthy teams just do both ?
or if even playing field ...why not keep it that way ?
Maybe you are hoping that lots of manufacturers will see this and run with it but there is no real history in recent times to support this. One make single seater racing has no hook for these fans that you talk about.
IMHO better to race on race circuits, also can the organisers paint 2 strips around the track to make it look like scalektix - maybe a bit of marketing or promo?
but fanboost just seems a bit silly ....
also to say there is no difference between wealthy teams being able to afford best drivers e.t.c , how does this justify fan boost ? why justify it with another evil ?
won't wealthy teams just do both ?
or if even playing field ...why not keep it that way ?
Maybe you are hoping that lots of manufacturers will see this and run with it but there is no real history in recent times to support this. One make single seater racing has no hook for these fans that you talk about.
However, I've been watching the TT Zero on the IoM with some interst since its inception a few years ago and that has made huge leaps in technology to the point where the lap times they are posting are really impressive.
This series could do the same for cars and whilst the noise will be missing you only have to watch the TT electric bikes on Youtube to see that they are still exciting.
It's still very early days. Various ideas will come and go whilst the series evolves but I'm willing to give it a chance.
IMHO better to race on race circuits, also can the organisers paint 2 strips around the track to make it look like scalektix - maybe a bit of marketing or promo?
However it is a way to get the playstation generation involved, spread the word on social media and involve supporters directly.
As for city centre racing, why not. Most electric cars will be used in cities. Britains cities have all sorts of interesting road configurations.
Now back to the PH desk at Motorsport Magazine for todays faxes and 80's racing highlights.
But the issue here isn't the noise. It's the gimmicks.
I'm a big F1 fan and in an age where F1 doesn't seem confident of it's direction we keep seeing gimmicks. DRS, push to pass ERS... double points. Now some of these over the years with balancing are working - proof that given time changes can be introduced without a fan base rioting. Some aren't but the key is all are consistent across all drivers.
If this is to ultimately replace F1 we don't want it full of gimmicks. Sporting achievement is only great to watch when you think you're watching something you cannot possibly do. If cars look easy to drive and push button to overtake people start to believe the drivers are average human beings.
Whilst I can completely understand the social media integration the push to push based on tweets is a gimmick. Surely someone in the same management meeting mentioned EMP canons.. How come they were rejected?
But in all seriousness I'm not against extra "push to pass" boosts but I'd rather see it granted for driver skill than number of tweets. eg: back to back purple sectors, or consistent lap times etc.
However it is a way to get the playstation generation involved, spread the word on social media and involve supporters directly.
As for city centre racing, why not. Most electric cars will be used in cities. Britains cities have all sorts of interesting road configurations.
Now back to the PH desk at Motorsport Magazine for todays faxes and 80's racing highlights.
But the issue here isn't the noise. It's the gimmicks.
I'm a big F1 fan and in an age where F1 doesn't seem confident of it's direction we keep seeing gimmicks. DRS, push to pass ERS... double points. Now some of these over the years with balancing are working - proof that given time changes can be introduced without a fan base rioting. Some aren't but the key is all are consistent across all drivers.
If this is to ultimately replace F1 we don't want it full of gimmicks. Sporting achievement is only great to watch when you think you're watching something you cannot possibly do. If cars look easy to drive and push button to overtake people start to believe the drivers are average human beings.
Whilst I can completely understand the social media integration the push to push based on tweets is a gimmick. Surely someone in the same management meeting mentioned EMP canons.. How come they were rejected?
But in all seriousness I'm not against extra "push to pass" boosts but I'd rather see it granted for driver skill than number of tweets. eg: back to back purple sectors, or consistent lap times etc.
Your point about awarding additional boosts for skill is interesting - but what happens if it's the guy out front who's doing back to back purples? Anyone want to reward Vettel for being 30s in front - or Rosberg/Hamilton in 2014?
On noise - talking about Tie Fighters, the Formula E cars do sound pretty spacey. Have you watched the recent testing vids?
Actually, another thing: driveability. These cars could put out similar torque levels to F1's V8 era (as published here http://current-e.com/analysis/2545/). So actually, the push to pass might be anything but easy to use...
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