54 replies to this topic

[August]

How would you rank the different racing series? I don't mean your personal preference but based on the quality of drivers and manufacturers/teams and the prestige of the series.

 

I leave rallying and bikes off from my list as it would be comparing apples with oranges.

 

#1 F1 - The obvious no. 1 and will remain unless they completely lose the plot or something revolutionary happen.

#2 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. - If a racing driver's dream isn't to make F1, then it's most likely NSCS. And obviously the series with second-biggest following.

#3 WEC - Starting to surpass F1 (or already has) as the most technologically advanced racing series. And is nowadays the no. 1 destination for drivers when they're finished with / never made F1.

#4 Verizon IndyCar Series - A shadow of the heyday of CART but still the only open-wheel series besides F1 with prestige and the Indy 500 is possibly the greatest race on Earth.

 

After that it gets harder to rank them. I'd give #5 for DTM as it seems like the only touring/sports car series where you can still get to F1. But otherwise it's hard to compare junior open-wheel series and touring/sports car series, the first ones are for drivers aiming to F1, the latter ones for those who never made it or couldn't stay there. A great F3 driver might not be ready to succeed in Super GT, WTCC, or something but he might be a future F1 WDC.

[Marklar]

For me it's

#1 F1

#2 NASCAR

#3 IndyCar

#4 WEC

#5 WTCC

#6 V8 Supercars

#7 DTM

#8 Blancpain GT Series

#9 Super GT

#10 BTCC

 

It's not what I like most or is the best racing series, It's what I think is the most prestigious.

Edited by Marklar, 10 June 2015 - 12:40.

[V8 Fireworks]

 

 

 

For me it's

#1 NASCAR

#2 F1

#3 WEC

#4 Indycar

...

....

...

....

#10 DTM, Blancpain GT, BTCC, WTCC, V8SC etc

 

Honestly these lesser series have minimal profile IMO.

[Kristian]

It depends on the incides you use for 'ranking'. I'd say WEC has already surpassed F1 - more manufacturer involvement, harder for the drivers, better and non-sanitised circuits, awesome technology. So as a challenge both for man and machine, it is the no. 1 series. The fact that F1 drivers now speak about it in reverence whilst moaning about F1 says a lot. 

 

Unfortunately, it doesn't have the short duration of an event needed to capture the TV ratings, especially in today's instant gratification world. So that's where F1 has the advantage - if you are talking about viewers, then F1 wins. 

 

Indycar is entertaining, but technically there's no variety anymore. I just can't get into it like I used to. 

 

So I'd say...

 

1. WEC

2. F1

3. Indycar

 

I don't watch enough series to say more than top 3 though. 

[GSiebert]

I'd say WEC has already surpassed F1 - better and non-sanitised circuits

Appart from Le Mans (which has been sanitized just like a F1 track) they race on the same tracks ...

Edited by GSiebert, 10 June 2015 - 13:47.

[Kristian]

Appart from Le Mans (which has been sanitized just like a F1 track) they race on the same tracks ...

 

Obviously le mans week has clouded my judgement there  

[chunder27]

MotoGP

MXGP

NASCAR

WEC

F1

 

lol

[GoldenColt]

F1, MotoGP, CART (back when it still existed)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the rest

[HeadFirst]

For me it would be F1 by a long way, then IndyCar (the Indy 500 is still a major event), WEC (LeMans keeps it in the public eye) and perhaps NASCAR (the Daytona 500 is still a big deal, but I don't know how much respect it garners outside the USA) ....... the rest are hardly on my personal radar.

[MikeV1987]

1. F1

2. Indy Car

3. WEC

4. NASCAR

 

F1 will get bumped down to #3 soon by the looks of things.

Edited by MikeV1987, 10 June 2015 - 16:32.

[chadwick8505]

1. WEC

2. F1

3. Indycar

4. WRC

5. DTM

6. Moto GP

7. Nascar

 

To me WEC is by far the best. The tech is incredible, the number of constructors/manufactures is great to see, and the racing has been really exciting and intriguing. F1 just hasn't been able to compete with what WEC has become despite some really great tech and a more established/straightforward championship. Indycar just isn't as exciting car wise to F1 but the racing is interesting. WRC is just plain fun to watch, although it's hard to keep up with like the other series. DTM is fun because it's close racing with roughly real cars. MotoGP is something I've recently gotten more into, and it's great racing, but seems to fall into issues like F1. NASCAR is mostly stupid, except for a couple of races a year.

[dweller23]

1 IndyCar

2 F1

3 WEC (going to Le Mans tomorrow, so expecting to surpass everything)

4 Nascar

 

I don't watch other racing series.

[PlatenGlass]

I don't know about prestige, but Formula E has got some pretty decent drivers.

[mdaclarke]

1.  F1

2.  WRC

3.  WEC

4.  Indycar

5.  Nascar

6.  Formula E

7.  DTM

[windy1603]

The TT has got to be at the top

[Strontiumdog]

F1

MotoGp

Formula E

 

 

 

 

Indycar

 

 

The rest

Edited by Strontiumdog, 10 June 2015 - 20:05.

[Dan333SP]

Moto GP

F1

WEC

Indycar

Blancpain (based purely on the entries and quality of racing, not driver talent)

 

Don't watch anything else these days, not enough time. Really sad that ALMS as we used to know it no longer exists and the TUSCC that replaced it is a bit of a sad sight.

[SR388]

F1
IndyCar
NASCAR
24 hours of lemans
Spec Miata

[Pontlieue]

#1 WEC

#2 IndyCar

#3 Formula 1

#4 Formula E

#5 ELMS, TUSC

#6 Single-seater junior formulae

#7 GT Endurance races - Nürburgring 24h, Spa 24h, Bathurst 12h etc.

 

I don't understand those who say "F1 number 1 and will ever be". Formula 1 is the commercially most successful series, but other series have been far more enjoyable in recent years. And in terms of outright speed, WEC and IndyCar aren't far off F1.

[HeadFirst]

#1 WEC

#2 IndyCar

#3 Formula 1

#4 Formula E

#5 ELMS, TUSC

#6 Single-seater junior formulae

#7 GT Endurance races - Nürburgring 24h, Spa 24h, Bathurst 12h etc.

 

I don't understand those who say "F1 number 1 and will ever be". Formula 1 is the commercially most successful series, but other series have been far more enjoyable in recent years. And in terms of outright speed, WEC and IndyCar aren't far off F1.

 

 

To you perhaps.

[P123]

1.F1
2.Indycar
3.NASCAR
4.WEC
5.Formula E
6.DTM
7.GP2
8.V8s
9.BTCC
10.........

As a series F1 trumps them all. As stand alone events, F1 has nothing to touch the Indy 500 or Le Mans. Formula E has been enjoyable, a bit like I found the original incarnation of GP2 back in '05, and then they ruined it by trying to ensure the chassis be mini-me F1 clones (Dallara HRTs) and it got a bit stale with veteran drivers. F1 isn't at it's strongest in terms of race action at present- last time it was like this in the late '90s, and CART deserved the No.1 spot then. US open wheel racing is a recovering patient itself, but can still be farcical at times.

Edited by P123, 10 June 2015 - 21:26.

[scheivlak]

 And in terms of outright speed, WEC and IndyCar aren't far off F1.

Motorsport fans shouldn't be that much satisfied with the current laptimes of WEC and Indycars.

 

There were times when they far closer - yes, even faster (at least World Sports Car Championship cars were in the early 70s as well as Indycars somewhere in that decade)

[Otaku]

1.- F1

2.- MotoGP

3.- Argentine TN

4.- Argentine TC

5.- WTCC (just to see Lopez trash the rest)

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[scheivlak]

1. Formula 1 (in spite of Pirelli tyres, Bernie and all that)

2. Indycar (a fun series but quite trying at times)

3. WSR 3.5

4. GP 2 (below WSR because of the stupid Sunday reverse grid)

5. Formula E (actually already the 'most fun' monoposto formula, potential #1?)

6. WEC (should be higher up but God, those cars are really ugly)

7. F3

8. DTM

9. Moto GP (a shadow of the past, with the most annoying post-juvenile "look at me!" type competitors)

10. WRC (another shadow of its past)

[ClubmanGT]

Hard to WEC at the top when we see so little of it in New Zealand (it has nowhere near the same global presence as F1, people who think it does are either living in a Eurobubble or kidding themselves) and the WRC is a shadow of its former self. 

 

I'd also struggle to place V8 Supercars anywhere in the top ten either - the cars may be unique but the racing is bland and processional. Indycar is a bit of a shambles sometimes and the driving standards are just flat-out ****.

 

So if I were pressed to order them, I'd have:

 

1) F1

2) Nascar

3) Indy/WEC

4) WRC

5=) FR3.5

5=) GP2

7) DTM

8) TRS (call me biased) 

9) BTCC

10) Maybe V8SC but I also don't have any MotoGP or WSBK in here and the racing there is usually pretty interesting. 

[StudMuffin]

Have always loved F1, but the last few years it has lost it's soul, whilst this years Moto Gp is shaping up to be a classic. Don't really get to see much of anything else. Formula E at the moment is pretty poor, but can forgive it in it's early days as I assume it will improve over the next few years as technology evolves around it.

[Pilla]

Hard to WEC at the top when we see so little of it in New Zealand (it has nowhere near the same global presence as F1, people who think it does are either living in a Eurobubble or kidding themselves) and the WRC is a shadow of its former self. 

 

I'd also struggle to place V8 Supercars anywhere in the top ten either - the cars may be unique but the racing is bland and processional. Indycar is a bit of a shambles sometimes and the driving standards are just flat-out ****.

 

So if I were pressed to order them, I'd have:

 

1) F1

2) Nascar

3) Indy/WEC

4) WRC

5=) FR3.5

5=) GP2

7) DTM

8) TRS (call me biased) 

9) BTCC

10) Maybe V8SC but I also don't have any MotoGP or WSBK in here and the racing there is usually pretty interesting. 

 

The toyota racing series has some interesting races and some good drivers, but its a bit short. Although its one of the only series where you can say you've won an FIA recognised grand prix.

Edited by Pilla, 10 June 2015 - 23:02.

[crooky369]

F1

WEC

Moto GP

Indycar

WRC

Formula E

DTM

NASCAR

[ClubmanGT]

The toyota racing series has some interesting races and some good drivers, but its a bit short. Although its one of the only series where you can say you've won an FIA recognised grand prix.

 

Double-edged swords though, if you made it any longer then they might not be able to get the same sort of international drivers showing up that they do now. I'd love to see it longer and with a proper street race on the calendar though. 

[lbennie]

f1

motogp

wec

wrc

indycar

gp2

wsr3.5

nascar

dtm

[KingTiger]

1. F1

2. NASCAR

3. Indycar

4. WEC

5. TUSC 

6. DTM/Super GT

 

Not going to include MotoGP and WRC because I don't watch them anymore and they are completely different dominions.

[Diablobb81]

"based on the quality of drivers and manufacturers/teams and the prestige of the series" - not personal preference:

 

1.F1

2.WEC

3.NASCAR

4.INDY

rest

Edited by Diablobb81, 11 June 2015 - 04:35.

[loki]

How would you rank the different racing series? I don't mean your personal preference but based on the quality of drivers and manufacturers/teams and the prestige of the series.

 

 

Those are personal preferences.  How do you quantify who is best?   What is prestigious?  Who gets to determine that for everyone else?

[HeadFirst]

Those are personal preferences.  How do you quantify who is best?   What is prestigious?  Who gets to determine that for everyone else?

 

Good questions. I went with ....... name recognition on an international level (both races and drivers), money invested in the series (sponsors, TV contracts etc.), ticket prices, prize money, and driver salaries. Not very scientific, but money does make the world go round and at least it is measurable (well sort of).

[Jimisgod]

1. F1
2. MotoGP
3. WEC
4. NASCAR (United States)
5. IndyCar (United States)
6. WRC
7. WSBK
8. Formula E
9. GP2
10. Blancpain GT Series
11. V8 Supercars (Australia)
12. BTCC (Britain)
13. Super GT/DTM (Japan & Germany)
14. WTCC
15. Super Formula (Japan)

WRC used to be about 3rd until the mid-00s, and Champcar was ahead of NASCAR until a similar date.

[Gyno]

Only racing series I follow at the moment.

 

1 Irish Road Racing including the TT.

2 WEC.

3 VLN endurance series.

4 F1

[BlinkyMcSquinty]

I'm going to go against the OP's suggestions because based on the requirements, Formula One is the most prestigious and has the best drivers because of the money involved. So I'm going for my personal choices, based on access being equal, and all race series were on the same time and I had to pick just one, and so forth.

 

Indycar

WEC

Blancpain

iRacing iRWCGPS

Aussie V-8's

VLN

Formula One

WOO

[Imateria]

Despite what the OP says, this is entirely personal since F1 will always be top of the list as it's so massive.

 

WEC

Indycar

F1

BTCC

Super GT

USC

ELMS

BES/BSS

DTM

V8 Supercars

WRC

WTCC

Edited by Imateria, 11 June 2015 - 12:39.

[Dan333SP]

The toyota racing series has some interesting races and some good drivers, but its a bit short. Although its one of the only series where you can say you've won an FIA recognised grand prix.

 

Just looked up that series. The current champion, Lance Stroll, is the son of a Canadian billionaire that owns one of the best collections of Ferraris in the world. His son is signed to the Ferrari young driver program. I wonder how that happened?

 

Must be tough to fly to NZ to race on your dad's Gulfstream

[Nonesuch]

How would you rank the different racing series? I don't mean your personal preference but based on the quality of drivers and manufacturers/teams and the prestige of the series.

 

Those are quite a lot of different yardsticks! I think it's impossible to argue with the prestige of F1. Of course it has its problems, but no other category consistently draws the same crowds or the same TV audience on a global scale.

 

I have no idea how one can compare the quality of drivers in a meaningful way. Is Hamilton a better driver than Kanaan or Lotterer or Ekström? Who knows. There's probably a reason they're in the series that they are and not in others.

 

The WEC has made big strides in recent years with Nissan, Porsche and Toyota picking up where Peugeot left off - but manufacturers aren't just looking at endurance racing. There's plenty of involvement by big manufacturers in other series, as well.

 

I personally have zero interest in Nascar, but it's a big thing in the United States where it apparently easily gets 10 million+ viewers. It should be included in any list of notable racing series.

 

By coincidence my cable package includes MotorsTV again, but I have been rather unimpressed by most of the racing in the smaller series. It just doesn't excite or interest me to see GT3 cars driving around an abandoned circuit or have teenagers crashing into each other in formula cars that are barely worth being called such.

 

I'd rank the series I've watched frequently this year as follows:

 

1) Formula 1

2) World Endurance Championship

3) Super Formula

4) IndyCar

[Atreiu]

1 - MotoGP, all speed, no bullshit. Too bad it comes with plenty of politics and moving goals, but it's still better than anything else.

[GSiebert]

1 - MotoGP, all speed, no bullshit. Too bad it comes with plenty of politics and moving goals, but it's still better than anything else.

 

To me bikes series are now the only true racing series. No gimmicks, no bullshit, just racing. A true sport.

Appart from WEC, I see car racing more as a show than a sport now.

[Jimisgod]

1 - MotoGP, all speed, no bullshit. Too bad it comes with plenty of politics and moving goals, but it's still better than anything else.

 

I remember the ****-storm when they moved from 2 to 4 stroke, but it's still a fair bit better than F1.

[andrewr]

1. MotoGP - by a long shot this year - now the only series where I watch every race live

2. Indycar - some excruciating safety car periods, but pretty good to watch otherwise

3. F1 - used to be #1 for many years for me

4. Formula E

5. WSBK - some good racing in the support classes

6. WRC - only watch the highlight videos on the site

7. WEC - would probably be up the list if I bothered to watch more

Edited by andrewr, 11 June 2015 - 15:55.

[vowcartaGP]

1. F1

2. Indy Car

3. WEC

4. NASCAR

5. Formula E

 

Viewing figures would disagree with me on 2 vs 4 but:

1. Indy Car has a greater history and more diverse drivers and the greatest race in the world IMO - The Indy 500

2. In saying the above I mean no disrespect to NASCAR drivers who have to be talented in their own right

3. (going out on a whim) If Indy Car can remain financially stable it has more of a place in the future 

4. I am blatantly biased

 

Also I put Formula E as number 5 because it's the future.

[HeadFirst]

 

To me bikes series are now the only true racing series. No gimmicks, no bullshit, just racing. A true sport.

Appart from WEC, I see car racing more as a show than a sport now.

 

No politics? When factory teams are involved there are always politics. What about the move to a spec series in the lower classes? How do you feel about running the 2nd class spec bikes to fill out the field?

[redraven9]

Am I the only one who finds WEC overrated?

 

1. F1 by far

2. IndyCar

3. NASCAR

4. WEC

5. WRC

6. Formula E

7. WSR

Edited by redraven9, 11 June 2015 - 17:40.

[HeadFirst]

Am I the only one who finds WEC overrated?

 

No.

[mclarensmps]

Since I don't watch them all, I can't rate them all, and although I think the presentation of something like NASCAR is brilliant, I don't have enough interest in it to follow it, therefore, I don't want to include it in my rating (which doesn't mean that it's lesser than anything in my list, by the way), so as far as my list goes:

 

- F1, for all of it's fallacies, I will still watch every race of the season be it live or recorded

- WRC, even though it isn't what it used to be in it's pomp. I wasn't old enough to appreciate the legendary Group B (which I love, still, from watching videos, reading books and taking in documentaries), but for me the hayday was subaru imprezas, lancer evos, toyota celicas and ford escort cosworths. 

- WEC, I loved the track experience of ALMS at Mosport. The drivers were so accessible, the racing was great, and the atmosphere was cozy but excellent for anyone who is a car buff. Watching or listening to Radio Le Mans is an annual ritual.

- DTM, because I have a strange obsessive fascination with Mercedes road cars, and it's a series where I can just support them and enjoy it. I am unable to follow it the way I used to, mostly because of inaccessibility from Canada, but I follow it as best I can

- Moto GP, should be higher in terms of the actual racing, but I love things with 4 wheels more than I love things with 2 wheels, so I rank this below the others. In terms of on track entertainment, I actually would put this as #1, because it's absolutely phenomenal to watch the bikes on track.

[RealRacing]

How would you rank the different racing series? I don't mean your personal preference but based on the quality of drivers and manufacturers/teams and the prestige of the series.

 

I leave rallying and bikes off from my list as it would be comparing apples with oranges.

 

#1 F1 - The obvious no. 1 and will remain unless they completely lose the plot or something revolutionary happen.

#2 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. - If a racing driver's dream isn't to make F1, then it's most likely NSCS. And obviously the series with second-biggest following.

#3 WEC - Starting to surpass F1 (or already has) as the most technologically advanced racing series. And is nowadays the no. 1 destination for drivers when they're finished with / never made F1.

#4 Verizon IndyCar Series - A shadow of the heyday of CART but still the only open-wheel series besides F1 with prestige and the Indy 500 is possibly the greatest race on Earth.

 

After that it gets harder to rank them. I'd give #5 for DTM as it seems like the only touring/sports car series where you can still get to F1. But otherwise it's hard to compare junior open-wheel series and touring/sports car series, the first ones are for drivers aiming to F1, the latter ones for those who never made it or couldn't stay there. A great F3 driver might not be ready to succeed in Super GT, WTCC, or something but he might be a future F1 WDC.

Some people think you can't compare F1 with Nascar or even Indy. I'd say even WRC is comparable if you look at all of them on the most general of principles: driving cars fast. I agree with you that F1 is still No. 1 in terms of the quality of drivers and manufacturers, but increasingly less so based on prestige. So, if pressed, right now, I would say:

 

1. F1/WRC

2. WEC

3. WTCC/DTM/Blancpain/Rally X

4. Indy

5. Nascar