169 replies to this topic

[SmallHorsey]

Wasn't there a contest a few years ago where a playstation winner got a contract or a test drive in a real car? I wouldn't be surprised to see more of this in the future but on a bigger scale, like with a proper simulator. At least, I hope so.

[Force Ten]

  Good one.

 

More days off and extra money for me every time too.

yeah but you work for a year and pick up a Jessica.

[Ross Stonefeld]

That's true, but we are now at a stage where it has become impossible for someone to come from a background like say Button and Hamilton to get spotted, and get supported.

 

I agree with that, certainly in the single seater world. I think costs have really increased just in the last 10 years too. When I was standing in the snow at Mallory Park I think a season of works Formula Ford was like £110k? Though that might be the sticker price and not include all the testing a serious entry would do.

 

Karting is something I never knew much about, and certainly seems to be your patch, so I don't know how it's changed. Though again, late 90s, I knew North American Formula A was almost a $100k season. Which baffled me. Where does the money for that come from? Can a factory really sell that many karts to make that money back, on a single driver?

 

I have noticed lately people jumping to GTs sooner(rather than the years wandering around waiting for someone to call). Calado to AF Corse actually surprised me. Bird made sense because he was 'done'. Maybe drivers have gotten smarter? Or more disillusioned and realised they're not getting to F1 because they have no money(rather than nothing getting to F1 because they weren't *that* good).

[Risil]

Wasn't there a contest a few years ago where a playstation winner got a contract or a test drive in a real car? I wouldn't be surprised to see more of this in the future but on a bigger scale, like with a proper simulator. At least, I hope so.

 

The GT Academy contest is still going on. Some of the old winners have been enjoying some success. The big question is whether any of them are signed to drive for Nissan's LMP1 effort.

[SmallHorsey]

The GT Academy contest is still going on. Some of the old winners have been enjoying some success. The big question is whether any of them are signed to drive for Nissan's LMP1 effort.

Wow! That's fantastic. I had no idea it was an ongoing thing and they sure do seem to be having some success. I'll be looking out for those names in future.

[Jeeves]

Yeah the Midweek Motorsport fans are massive snobs, hate F1 for no other reason than it's more popular than their own favourites..

 

Rubbish.

 

If I were to generalize the entire Autosport forum user base purely based on some of the comments here at 'racing comments'- section, I'd say that 99% of all the people here are 'a bunch of arrogant fanboys who can't have a single thread without someone trolling or getting into petty arguments about their favorite drivers, don't know anything about other motorsport series and think that if a driver doesn't get into F1, his career is ruined'. But I won't, because it's common sense to understand that it's the vocal minority which causes this sensation.

 

Though it must be said that I find it very easy to follow WEC and especially GT racing in general, because they don't have the aspect described above, whereas F1 so often unfortunately does. 

 

---

 

As for the topic itself, if Jenson were to take part in a factory P1 effort, I'd guess a Japan-based effort would be more likely than a German one..

Edited by Jeeves, 19 October 2014 - 17:19.

[CoolBreeze]

Honestly, I hope he joins Ferrari, if he is dropped, and Alonso really leaves. 

[TF110]

Button seems a particular type of driver, so sharing an lmp1 may not be his best show of performance. But he may be able to run with a driver combination with similar driving styles.

[markeimas27]

Reference Button and the Porsche offer he has. I would say that he would be better off knocking F1 on the head and doing triathlons for the next few years, before he loses his ultimate fitness (e.g. before middle age catches him!) There is nothing for him to gain in doing sports cars. Nothing. 

[Skizo]

True,nothing in it.Except he loves racing.There was an interview months ago,he can see himself doing Rallycross after F1.

[ForeverF1]

Reference Button and the Porsche offer he has. I would say that he would be better off knocking F1 on the head and doing triathlons for the next few years, before he loses his ultimate fitness (e.g. before middle age catches him!) There is nothing for him to gain in doing sports cars. Nothing. 

Has he had such an offer or is this thread about speculation?

If he has had an offer, please enlighten us.

[03011969]

Reference Button and the Porsche offer he has. I would say that he would be better off knocking F1 on the head and doing triathlons for the next few years, before he loses his ultimate fitness (e.g. before middle age catches him!) There is nothing for him to gain in doing sports cars. Nothing. 

What if he enjoys racing? You don;t have be be driving F1 cars to get a thrill.  Different series, different challenges.  He might have a great deal of pleasure to gain racing sports cars, or many other series. 

 

F1 is not the only form of motorsport worth competing in.

[desmoulins]

I would say that he would be better off knocking F1 on the head and doing triathlons for the next few years, before he loses his ultimate fitness (e.g. before middle age catches him!) There is nothing for him to gain in doing sports cars. Nothing. 

 Why not go the whole way and suggest he give up the running and swimming and ride his push bike for Alonso's cycling outfit? Its about as likely

Edited by desmoulins, 20 October 2014 - 12:49.

[ForeverF1]

Reference Button and the Porsche offer he has. I would say that he would be better off knocking F1 on the head and doing triathlons for the next few years, before he loses his ultimate fitness (e.g. before middle age catches him!) There is nothing for him to gain in doing sports cars. Nothing. 

Has he had such an offer or is this thread about speculation?

If he has had an offer, please enlighten us.

Still waiting for a reply....

[maverick69]

 

 

Karting is something I never knew much about, and certainly seems to be your patch, so I don't know how it's changed. Though again, late 90s, I knew North American Formula A was almost a $100k season. Which baffled me. Where does the money for that come from? Can a factory really sell that many karts to make that money back, on a single driver?

 

From rich Daddies running their kids privately. A £2000+ chassis will have been deemed to have gone past its elastic limit after 5 or 6 races (sometimes less depending on how jr has been taking the curbs). So it either gets sold on to some oik..... or thrown out altogether! Then there's the tyers...... lots and lots of them. Then the engine rebuilds..... after every two sessions. It's bloody crazy at that level of karting. You can get a full season in Formula BOSS in a pukka F1 or GP2 car for less than that!

Edited by maverick69, 20 October 2014 - 13:08.

[markeimas27]

Still waiting for a reply....

 

 

Guess what internet warrior. This (as you should know as you are the forum host) is a forum. This is not a text messaging system. I infrequently visit this forum, and only today - for the first time in a very long time have visited on more than one occasion. Expecting with a demanding tone an answer within a two hour window is not what I would expect from a forum host. 

 

You will now have to ponder your own question a bit further and wonder and dream and well... you get the idea....

[TheMidnight]

Reference Button and the Porsche offer he has. I would say that he would be better off knocking F1 on the head and doing triathlons for the next few years, before he loses his ultimate fitness (e.g. before middle age catches him!) There is nothing for him to gain in doing sports cars. Nothing. 

 

Apart from that little race called Le Mans.....

[TheMidnight]

WEC is basically the hipsters of motorsport.

 

Yes it's really cool standing out in the pouring rain at a deserted Silverstone in April.....I felt really 'bang on' trend there 

 

As opposed to all those diehard F1 fans getting chauffeured around to hospitality dressed to the nines during F1 weekend. At the British GP i find two types of fan....those dressed comfortable are the genuine fans, waiting out at all hours in all weathers for the 'sport', whereas most people dressed up smart are there for hospitality and the GP is another thing to be 'seen' at that season. F1 has much more 'hipster' appeal than WEC.

 

They're idiots following both sports, but imo it's fair to say F1 has genuinely a lot more hangers on and less committed fans than WEC. Although I can agree on some aspects of the sentiment that some WEC fans are up themselves, Martin Haven being a particular annoyance to me with his trolling F1 comments when commentating WEC races. F1 has a immeasurably larger fanbase than WEC, for all the F1 committed on here there's plenty of people I know that have no more than a passing interest, I don't see the same with WEC. 

 

There's nothing 'cool' about WEC at all in comparison to F1, it's just nice and easy to tar WEC fans with the hipster moniker, objectively I think it'd hard to prove WEC fans are intrinsically following their sport at more shallower level than some F1 fans. 

 

Personally as much as I love the thought of JB coming to WEC, I'm not happy about the inevitable influx of F1 fanbois trying to pick holes in the sport every chance they get. Button is fine...the inevitable crowd following, nah!!! You'd be forgiven for thinking the two sports can't co-exist going by the comments on here (albeit this site is massively biased towards F1 going by forum discussions), imo they fit two different audiences and it's too simplistic to compare then directly. I personally like both, but I guess if WEC keeps going I'll be forced to take sides as nobody can be unbiased on these forums right? 

Edited by Elissa, 20 October 2014 - 16:30.

[Alfisti]

I can't help but feel Button still has a lot to offer in F1, maybe at a team like Williams or staying at McLaren (I know that won't happen and there is already a 2015 sill season thread)

This. If I am Frank i get him in the car and ditch massa unless Massa is bringing in serious sponsor money. 

[Peat]

There are alot of dribblers on MWMLC. There are an awful lot of dribblers here too.

Moral of the story - People are idiots.