107 replies to this topic

[Fulcrum]

IndyCar is targetting the wrong market, it's in the wrong country! They need to aim for Worldwide market which appreciates open seater racing, in particular Europe.

Again, CART & CC tried it and failed. They had races in England, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, Brasilia, Japan, Mexico and mostly wasn't succesfull.

[readonly]

Would you agree that such a series would have as its main obstacle the FIA monopoly of international motorsport ?

[smitten]

Would you agree that such a series would have as its main obstacle the FIA monopoly of international motorsport ?

No.

I'd argue that main obstacle is that the public doesn't have an appetite for more racing series. They consume F1 but very little else, yet there is already plenty else out there if they wanted to look.

[readonly]

No.

I'd argue that main obstacle is that the public doesn't have an appetite for more racing series. They consume F1 but very little else, yet there is already plenty else out there if they wanted to look.

Assuming F1 has lost a lot of viewers during the past decade, isn't it reasonable to think that there is a potential market eager to buy that thing that F1 lost and made them stop watching/attending F1 ?

[Rinehart]

I think it's about status.

Exactly, its about the brand equity.

F1 has it all from Fangio to Ferrari, Monaco to Marlboro.

[Sakae]

I don't think F1 can be described as relatively inexpensive..... especially if you want to win. Entering F1 and losing is not great advertising. Not all countries have a psyche where racing performance is a reason to buy a particular car, otherwise they would have developed native sports cars and series as we did in Europe 60-100 years ago. Advertising through losing F1 races is pointless in these markets.

Presence in F1, as I think, is more about brand recognition in new markets. Getting bad headlines is of course no good, which is why Infiniti is plastered on RB and not on Caterham. Renault once pulled out of F1, when journalists stop writing about their victories, despite those were numerous, but headlined occasional failures, as those were rarity, which of course backfired, because Renault could not tolerate such imbalances, and withdrew.
In area I live Pirelli is not a common name, but the other day I noticed a lonely neon sign, and in my mind first reaction was to my amazement - hey, I know those people. Hembery' face came soon after, but thing is, negative association was not the very first impulse, and that's strength of a brand recognition. New buyers should know whether Infinity or Mercedes are associate with motoring, and not get mixed up with sawing machines, and if they do make positive ID, then enter out show room, please.

__________________

Term "inexpensive advertising" is a phrase coined by a Mercedes-Benz marketing executive, when he was discussing cost of F1 involvement. (I cannot take credit for that).

Edited by Sakae, 19 April 2013 - 15:24.

[tifosi]

If some rich guy wanted to create a new racing series that competes with F1 for the title of pinnacle of motorsports, what would you recommend to do first ?

Get Ferrari.

The rest will fall into place.

[Sakae]

Get Ferrari.

The rest will fall into place.

I would agree with this sentiment, but problem is, they do change their minds; unexpectedly, without warning, and that perhaps make them unreliable. (Case: Manufacturers series and desertions).