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.