So what did he base it on? Dream land and fantasy, perhaps? An ability to see into the future, that no-one else has? Because, for all the troubles F1 faces currently, there's no way in hell that FE is going to even come close to challenging F1 in terms of viewership, any time soon. That's reality. And, as the only thing we have to base such talk on is one season, then it does come across as a rather silly comment.
Perhaps I'm being overly cynical. But we've seen a fair share of new start up championships, that talked of great things and were alright for a season or two, (A1GP/Superleague Formula) come and go. I was reading Autosport's season report on Formula E a couple of days ago. What I wasn't aware of (and I guess, therefore, that many others were also not aware of) was the financial problems the series was facing after a couple of rounds. Had they not secured investment, the series may have collapsed before the season was out. So, you know, it's great making comments like Branson did - but the fact is, none of us know what the future holds, none of us are Doctor Who.
Formula E may go on to become a huge success. Equally, in a couple of years some new technology may come along that makes electric vehicles seem like yesterday's news.
"FE hit the ground running" - well, that's as maybe. But season two will be the real barometer to see whether it has captured the public's imagination. I dare say a lot of people went along to the races just to see what it was all about, this new concept. In several locations, it may have attracted crowds just for people's interests to see motor racing in person, and nothing to do with what was powering the cars. Will they return next season? Again, we just don't know. A1GP attracted decent crowds where it went in its first few seasons too.
I don't want to sound like I'm bashing Formula E just because I have a thing against electric vehicles or whatever - it's just like I said in my original post, I found Branson's comment at best laughable, and at worst, ridiculous. But as others have rightly said, perhaps I shouldn't be surprised given his involvement in the series. He's bound to want to talk it up as much as possible, no matter how silly those comments turn out to be.
For someone with a lot to say, I'm surprised you didn't listen properly to or even research what Branson said in the first place. The same with the other naysayers on here who are all blatantly clueless to the current state of motorsport.
The biggy that you all missed was that he regards ICE engines as 'antiquated technology'. "I personally think things are going to move that rapidly now," he added. "What goes on in a petrol-driven engined is really complicated and antiquated and out of date and polluting." and he's right.
Also... "As time goes on, the clean energy-type of businesses are going to power ahead of other businesses." "dreamland", "fantasy" and a "silly comment" you say? sales of electric cars have quadropled in 2 years, the Tesla P85D was described by Top Gear as "a paragrim shift in motoring" and "This car asks some pretty serious questions of conventionally fuelled performance machines. Whatever follows might just render them all but redundant.
http://www.topgear.c...5dr/first-drive
equally the majority who drive an electric vehicle realise it's a leap above what they were driving before.
As for the "5 years statement" he wont be right, but he had no choice. It's just a happy medium number that will keep people interested and guessing. He couldn't possibly have said 10 years.
When mocking Branson's business savvy, also consider he accepted payment of $250,000 in BITCOIN and stated that he thinks the coin's value would continue to rise, also stating he would be cashing them in as not to look like a pump and dumper. The price rose approx $300.
Anyway. Below is an interesting article regarding the state of motorsport. A state that the naysayers appear totally blind to, during their heavy criticism.
http://www.motorspor...k-to-formula-e/
“We’re losing the fans. And I have to say as an industry we are not going anywhere in the next decade unless they come back. Those who are trying to earn a living in motor sport, in the commercial business, will have no future without fans, because without them you have no sponsors and no investment. We’re losing them hand over fist, not helped by you-know-who… We’ve got nothing without them.”
"The country where fans always come first lost its IndyCar audience long ago (just 3000 witnessed the incredible, plain terrifying ‘pack race’ at the Fontana oval in California last weekend), but even the religion that is NASCAR has not escaped the decline
"I continue to be dumbfounded how so many long-time racing aficionados dismiss and denigrate Formula E because it apparently goes against everything they believe motor racing should be. They are missing the point, belligerently so "
"The backlash has been predictable, and frankly it’s boring. Motor racing can be so repetitive and conservative, its hard-core community refusing to accept that maybe, in a world that is increasingly hard to relate to, there might need to be new ways of attracting people through the gates. It’s almost as if they want to keep the sport for themselves, a sport unsullied by the interest of a wider public ignorant of how it used to be…
That’s selfish "
Edited by chrisPB15, 15 July 2015 - 19:17.