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E-naugural Formula E E-Prix (in China!)


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#651 Clatter

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Posted 15 September 2014 - 12:01

If it weren't for the Prost/Heidfeld crash we would not have heard about this race et all. And it was the only interesting thing happening. 

Really?

 

It was well publicised and had plenty of people watching. It's a new format and will get quicker. Only real issue I see with many of the comments is that people expect it to be producing F1 speeds. Stop trying to make the comparison and accept the format for what it is.



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#652 ardbeg

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Posted 15 September 2014 - 12:10

Really?

 

It was well publicised and had plenty of people watching. It's a new format and will get quicker. Only real issue I see with many of the comments is that people expect it to be producing F1 speeds. Stop trying to make the comparison and accept the format for what it is.

Maybe it was the, at places, rather narrow circuit that made it, but I did not notice a huge different in speed compared to F1 on my TV. I guess that is more a problem for F1 than for FE since the F1 cars are really fast but it does not show on TV.

 

Anyway, I was impressed that so many cars made the distance considering it was the first real test of a completely new formula. I am a fan.



#653 thegamer23

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Posted 15 September 2014 - 12:35



Lucas Di Grassi didn't use the fanboost this time, not sure if posted yet! 

Frank was so happy for the result, love this man!  :clap:


Edited by thegamer23, 15 September 2014 - 12:38.


#654 Sash1

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Posted 15 September 2014 - 12:36

Really?

 

It was well publicised and had plenty of people watching.

 

I heard about the series, but had not seen any announcement about this race. It was not (yet?) on television here. First time I knew there was a race was when a major newspaper put the crash vid on its online frontpage. So I had a look at it and can't be bothered to watch again.



#655 johnmhinds

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Posted 15 September 2014 - 12:40

Really?

It was well publicised and had plenty of people watching. It's a new format and will get quicker. Only real issue I see with many of the comments is that people expect it to be producing F1 speeds. Stop trying to make the comparison and accept the format for what it is.


I don't think anyone expects F1 speeds, but they weren't even running close to the max speed these cars are meant to be capable of.

I'm not sure is that was just the fault of the rather rubbish chicane happy Beijing track though.

#656 Fatgadget

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Posted 15 September 2014 - 12:55

I hate to be pedantic but batteries don't actually store electricity, so even they wouldn't seem to fit your "fully electric" criteria.

Exactly my point too...I'm still baffled about 'fully electric'. I guess nothing really is ......Im not so sure that batteries dont actually store eletricity though!...Whats their purpose then?Or am I missing something here :confused:



#657 Rurouni

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Posted 15 September 2014 - 13:00

I don't think anyone expects F1 speeds, but they weren't even running close to the max speed these cars are meant to be capable of.

I'm not sure is that was just the fault of the rather rubbish chicane happy Beijing track though.


Max power only for free practice and quali (200kw/270bhp).
Race mode is 150kw and Fanboost is 180kw.
Max speed (according to formula E website) is 225kph/150mph. Of course that would be in max power mode. In race mode, I only observed around 90—100mph.

#658 Option1

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Posted 15 September 2014 - 13:33

Funny all the talk about how racy it was.  I watched some of the E race, but got bored. 

 

I watched Goodwood Revival damn near all day - now that was racy.

 

Neil



#659 427MkIV

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Posted 15 September 2014 - 14:00

I'll give it the benefit of the doubt since it was first race with new technology. I fast-forwarded to the start, watched the first 12 laps or so, fast-forwarded to the car change, then fast-forwarded to the last lap. The only thing that impressed me was the strength of Heidfeld's car in the crash. Otherwise, the track was Mickey-Mouse, the car change was ridiculous, and I kept wondering why the cars have wings and "diffusers" as slow as they were going.

 

I think an open alternative-power (electric, fuel cell, anything but hydrocarbons) series would be more interesting, but would probably cost a huge amount. If these are the baby steps to something bigger, then great. Otherwise, I see it appealing mainly to people who have never watched or have any interest in a hydrocarbon-powered race car. 


Edited by 427MkIV, 15 September 2014 - 16:43.


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#660 Seanspeed

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Posted 15 September 2014 - 14:37

Max power only for free practice and quali (200kw/270bhp).
Race mode is 150kw and Fanboost is 180kw.
Max speed (according to formula E website) is 225kph/150mph. Of course that would be in max power mode. In race mode, I only observed around 90—100mph.

Phew. I knew they looked really slow, but that's quite........I don't want to say pathetic, cuz thats harsh, but its definitely not exactly inspiring.

#661 thegamer23

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Posted 15 September 2014 - 15:13

 

That was 194 km/h in qualy for Chandhock. It wasn't an hell of a lap tho, that was more than 2 seconds off Bruno Senna's best lap in practice (1'41''3).

He barely managed the 5th gear on the longest straight (still short), so i think that we should wait some more proper circuits. 
 


Edited by thegamer23, 15 September 2014 - 15:14.


#662 rhukkas

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Posted 15 September 2014 - 15:24

A kart Superkart would probably lap faster than that, in fact I am almost certain of it.


Edited by rhukkas, 15 September 2014 - 15:24.


#663 Cesc

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Posted 15 September 2014 - 15:28

I watched the race.

To be honest, I didn't find it very entertaining. The cars are way too slow and the events seem to happen in slow motion (except the collision!), the noise is weird, the tyres seem to be way to hard...

But I think it deserves credit because it's not easy to setup a race series with electric cars for first time. So if the series survive long enough, it will progress quickly (the car switch is crap for me)...let's hope they do not run out of money too early.


Edited by Cesc, 15 September 2014 - 15:29.


#664 BRG

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Posted 15 September 2014 - 15:34

A kart Superkart would probably lap faster than that, in fact I am almost certain of it.

Of course it would, they have often held outright circuit records in the past.  

 

On mature consideration, I doubt if this series will last very long.  Maybe a second season, but that will be it.  The novelty will very soon wear off.  A shame really,  such a well promoted series, with such a good quality field of drivers and teams deserves a better and more inspiring car to race.



#665 Cesc

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Posted 15 September 2014 - 15:46

Of course it would, they have often held outright circuit records in the past.  

 

On mature consideration, I doubt if this series will last very long.  Maybe a second season, but that will be it.  The novelty will very soon wear off.  A shame really,  such a well promoted series, with such a good quality field of drivers and teams deserves a better and more inspiring car to race.

Agree, it has a strong marketing campaing but behind the scenes, the racing is poor. With some time and technical evolution that can improve significantly, but it'll take time...



#666 Skinnyguy

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Posted 15 September 2014 - 17:36

If it weren't for the Prost/Heidfeld crash we would not have heard about this race et all. And it was the only interesting thing happening. 

 

WHAT??! Of course we would, the race would have been MEGA exciting and would have been won with a last corner overtake.



#667 Skinnyguy

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Posted 15 September 2014 - 17:48

 the tyres seem to be way to hard...

 

 

What did you watch mate? They did the slowest ever formation lap and they were working nicely from the very start. F1 tyres would be completely out of normal pressure and temperaturerange after something like that, yet these worked.

 

They are narrow and grooved, and they are also inflated to higher pressures than most racing tyres, so they roll really well (not draggy) but don´t generate much grip. They might be not too grippy because of dimensions and pressures, but they´re NOT hard compounds: they don´t need high energy and temperature levels to work at their best level.

 

 

Agree, it has a strong marketing campaing but behind the scenes, the racing is poor. With some time and technical evolution that can improve significantly, but it'll take time...

 

 

The word you look for is performance. The performance is poor, and with some evolution it can improve a lot. The racing has actually been pretty darn good, especially when you think the sort of track the cars were lapping.


Edited by Skinnyguy, 15 September 2014 - 17:53.


#668 Buttoneer

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Posted 15 September 2014 - 20:02

 

That was 194 km/h in qualy for Chandhock. It wasn't an hell of a lap tho, that was more than 2 seconds off Bruno Senna's best lap in practice (1'41''3).

He barely managed the 5th gear on the longest straight (still short), so i think that we should wait some more proper circuits. 
 

That reminds me - the on-screen graphics are a complete mess.  They need to sort that out with some decent explanations of what all the bits mean because at the moment it's looking like a B-grade XBox Arcade racer.

 

And the live timing just needs to work.  Perhaps they can charge us £20 for the timing app?  Every year?



#669 D.M.N.

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Posted 15 September 2014 - 20:17

 

:rotfl:



#670 redreni

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Posted 15 September 2014 - 20:31

Out of interest (and sorry if already covered), but is there really a significant crossover between people who like cutting-edge single-seater racing and people who like watching a bloke in a mis-shapen mock racing helmet pretending to work the decks even though they're not connected to anything, and listening to a piped-in incessant, dodgy house mix?

 

I didn't watch because of the fan boost, although I understand the boost button made very little difference anyway because the straights are so short, which may encourage me to overcome my misgivings and look in on some of the forthcoming races. Sheer boredom over the winter may well mean I'll tune in. As it was, I did see the embarassing kiss-and-make-up act on twitter involving Prost and Heidfeld, presumably orchestrated by Rebellion Racing, which prompted me to watch a clip of the last couple of laps. Holy crap. After the stick Rosberg took for a little love-tap that led to a rather unfortunate cut tyre, here we have a guy properly sideswiping his WEC teammate in the braking zone and putting him into the catch fencing. That's pretty extreme. At least Heidfeld knows he'll never have to be out on track at the same time as Prost this coming weekend...


Edited by redreni, 15 September 2014 - 20:32.


#671 ExFlagMan

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Posted 15 September 2014 - 21:17

Ok so the low profile/low volume tyres help keep the operating window nice an wide at lower energy levels, but why grooved and narrow?  Karts are fun to watch even though they are lower powered, but they have slick, relatively high volume tyres and consequently loads of mechanical grip.  
 
Surely hot, sticky, slick tyres would improve the racing? The wings and diffusers on these E cars can't be working very well at the speeds they are travelling.
 
Hopefully the next circuit will allow better racing.

Probably not on a temporary street circuit with minimal practice lappery to clean the surface up.

#672 RC127

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Posted 15 September 2014 - 21:36

Don't get me wrong, I have no doubt it was a very poor, almost dirty, piece of driving from Prost. But playing devil's advocate, do you think the lack of noise from the car contributed to the accident in any way?

#673 Risil

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Posted 15 September 2014 - 21:42

Sounds plausible to me. Although if Prost couldn't hear which side Heidfeld was on, he should've held his line. Old habits.



#674 jonpollak

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Posted 15 September 2014 - 21:46

He was looking outside in his right mirror knowing he was coming. He just guessed wrong, more than once.

#675 Clatter

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Posted 15 September 2014 - 22:27

Don't get me wrong, I have no doubt it was a very poor, almost dirty, piece of driving from Prost. But playing devil's advocate, do you think the lack of noise from the car contributed to the accident in any way?

No. Do you think an F1 driver can hear a car approaching from behind when he is wearing earplugs and has his own engine just behind his head?



#676 noikeee

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Posted 15 September 2014 - 22:31

Max power only for free practice and quali (200kw/270bhp).
Race mode is 150kw and Fanboost is 180kw.
Max speed (according to formula E website) is 225kph/150mph. Of course that would be in max power mode. In race mode, I only observed around 90—100mph.

 

But but but a guy in another thread was saying the F1 cars wouldn't be any faster around here.  :drunk:



#677 ardbeg

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Posted 15 September 2014 - 22:31

Don't get me wrong, I have no doubt it was a very poor, almost dirty, piece of driving from Prost. But playing devil's advocate, do you think the lack of noise from the car contributed to the accident in any way?

The car behind you, if it is of similar type as yours, are no louder and no matter how close they are, your own car, and engine are closer. When you hear them it is too late to react. Prost was stupid, careless and reckless. He knew Heidfeldt was coming and if he wanted to defend he should have done it way earlier. It was in the middle of the braking zone and had Heidfeldt NOT been there, it would have meant he was not passing at all and Prosts move would just give Heidfeldt an opportunity. But of course he was there. Appropriate punsihement would have been a race ban for him and stripping his father of a WDC for teaching him that kind of crap.



#678 noikeee

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Posted 15 September 2014 - 22:35

It was an appalling move and I've no idea what the hell was he thinking, but from watching the last few laps, hell the last few corners, it looked as if Nick was always way too far back. He seemed to suddenly come from nowhere midway through that straight, did he use the full boost? I'm not sure Prost expected Nick to be there at all.



#679 ardbeg

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Posted 15 September 2014 - 22:37

It was an appalling move and I've no idea what the hell was he thinking, but from watching the last few laps, hell the last few corners, it looked as if Nick was always way too far back. He seemed to suddenly come from nowhere midway through that straight, did he use the full boost? I'm not sure Prost expected Nick to be there at all.

If he didn't, what reasons did he have to move over?



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#680 RedBaron

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Posted 15 September 2014 - 22:42

Just watched the race recorded unfortunately, managed to avoid all reports. Thought the race was really good, great close battles that will surely get closer as the season progresses.

I didn't expect that last lap incident, great patience by Nick saving it all for the last corner. The race win was his he was almost certainly going to make that move stick. He was completely robbed by Prost.

#681 noikeee

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Posted 15 September 2014 - 22:49

If he didn't, what reasons did he have to move over?

 

Attempting to cover the inside line? I know it was far too late for that, but still.

 

Again I've no idea why anyone would move like that. Doesn't make any more or less sense to me over causing a crash on purpose when you could just take 2nd place, as frustrating as it might be.


Edited by noikeee, 15 September 2014 - 22:50.


#682 SlipLtd

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Posted 16 September 2014 - 07:28

The Prost fellow is manace in a race car.




And his son is just as bad.

#683 Tenmantaylor

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Posted 16 September 2014 - 07:32

Funny all the talk about how racy it was. I watched some of the E race, but got bored.

I watched Goodwood Revival damn near all day - now that was racy.

Neil


I have to agree in some respects but by far the biggest factors in this thinking are the track followed by the sound. Goodwood is an amazing flowing circuit of the highest order whereas the Beijing track was improvised, dangerous and abysmally laid out. I've never seen a worse circuit from a drivers perspective, made Valencia look like Spa! And the sound, well, I wasn't expecting much but the tweety high pitched sound was instantly and continuously annoying even through my decent speakers. They literally sound like the 1/10th electric biggies I used to race 20 years ago!

All that said I did enjoy it and will follow purely because it's progress and the only really new form of motor sport in years.

And as for Prost... my God that really was the worst piece of life threatening driving I've ever seen. Had Heidfeld gone in a couple of degrees different it was a snapped neck and goodnight. Forget car safety, it was pure luck he didn't die.

Hope the circuits get better.

#684 ensign14

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Posted 16 September 2014 - 08:26

I have to agree in some respects but by far the biggest factors in this thinking are the track followed by the sound. Goodwood is an amazing flowing circuit of the highest order whereas the Beijing track was improvised, dangerous and abysmally laid out. I've never seen a worse circuit from a drivers perspective, made Valencia look like Spa!

 

Do you not remember the other Beijing street circuit?  For A1GP?  They were doing three-point turns to get around a hairpin.  It was bloody hilarious.



#685 CJFG

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Posted 16 September 2014 - 08:52

Just joined the forum so be kind on me haha. I watched all the race on Saturday and I echo most people sentiments on some things but not others.

To me the race itself wasn't at all that bad. The driver line-up helped to a degree as I have mates who took interest because they knew many of the ex-F1 recruits. Some of the racing was good to see (Heidfeld on the outside of Chandhok, pretty much everything Montagny did, Servia pulling off a move or two) and the fact that it was pretty close (at the front anyway) helped. For an inaugural event it wasn't too bad, even the girlfriend watched it with me, which is a rarer occurance than seeing Halley's comet.

There were a number of drawbacks; the Fanboost gimmick which in my opinion should never have gone ahead, the down-right bizarre pit-stops, music playing during the race (?) and the layout of the circuit which was so poor (even for a street circuit, the backstraight down towards turn 14 was way too narrow and the kerbs were lethal, playing their part in Heidfeld's launch into the barriers.)

The one thing I disagree with a number of people on is the sound of the cars. Personally I like it. It's different, almost futuristic sounding and after going to the final official test at Donington Park I can say that to me it sounds better live than on TV. But I know it's not to everybody's tastes so while some will have been pleasantly surprised by the noise, others will have been deterred.

Anyway they're just my thoughts for what it's worth.

Edited by CJFG, 16 September 2014 - 12:29.


#686 SophieB

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Posted 17 September 2014 - 19:13

Hiya,

Just a reminder that this thread is about the race in China. You write what you thought of it here. (That Nicolas Prost, he is a rascal, isn't he?)

General thoughts/observations about Formula E go here in this thread: http://forums.autosp...24#entry6882479

I moved some posts over, so if you're wondering what happened to your post, it's probably there now. Moved by the futuristic power of electricty!



#687 Muppetmad

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Posted 18 September 2014 - 19:39

Finally got to see the race. Overall, I really enjoyed it - there was some good clean racing there, and I think it's a promising platform to build on.

 

I've always joked to myself that I should be a motorsports commentator, but there are rare moments like the last lap crash where I find myself simply incapacitated by emotion. I really wasn't expecting that, and it took my breath away.



#688 midgrid

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Posted 18 September 2014 - 21:55

I've always joked to myself that I should be a motorsports commentator, but there are rare moments like the last lap crash where I find myself simply incapacitated by emotion. I really wasn't expecting that, and it took my breath away.

 

Happily, that needn't be a problem.

 



#689 jonpollak

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Posted 19 September 2014 - 15:36

Scott Pruett has some adroit observations. http://racer.com/mor...rmula-e-s-debut