19 replies to this topic

[August]

When you compare European-based series to those of the rest of the world, you can see the Euro-based ones have little variety in race formats. For example, DTM or WTCC basically have one event format for every race whereas V8 Supercars has different formats, including the endurance races with co-drivers. Or another example; IMSA has variety of race formats from sprint races to 6/10/12/24-hour endurance races as well as races on street courses whereas WEC (excl. Le Mans)/ELMS always have the same 6/4-hour format and races are solely on road courses.

Also in open-wheel racing, the only different format in F1 is the shortened distance for Monaco whereas IndyCar doesn't seem to have any standard distance for its races. Also, if you think about the USA's most popular racing, NASCAR, it has lots of variety in race formats.

So, do you think Euro-based series have too generic race formats? If so, would variety of race formats improve those series?

Personally, I prefer variety, that's what gives races character.

[Vepe1995]

I'd love to see more variety. Maybe not different formats like V8SC, but different lenghts definately.

 

• WEC has a good basic lenght of 6 hours, but I feel there shoud be one 'sprint endurance' of 4 hours and a couple of longer races (9-12 hours). Plus Le Mans obviously.
• ELMS also has a pretty good length of 4 hours, though I feel the 'IMSA standard' of 2h40 is a bit better. Plus they should add one longer race, maybe run with the WEC?
• WTCC has two 60 km races per round (I think), so maybe 2 or 3 longer ones. And They should run a single 200 km race at Nordschleife.

[maximilian]

Indycar, if and when done RIGHT, has/had/may have again an awesome mix of race varieties - including ovals, street courses, road courses and an airport or two.  500-mile superspeedway races (including the greatest racing spectacle on earth), shorter sprint short ovals.  City street double-headers. Classic flowing road courses.  One of the many reasons to love IndyCar.   And yes, it's a lot more diverse than most European-based series.

Edited by maximilian, 10 February 2016 - 00:51.

[Marklar]

Don't care tbh.

[917k]

If F1 started messing with race formats, the purists would rip the sport for going Hollywood or WWE. Actually, most of this board would rip em' anyway, as there doesn't seem to be a thing F1 can do these days that gets any sort of popular support.

 

It kinda the world mantra to hate on things, especially with the advent of [ugh] social media. 

Edited by 917k, 10 February 2016 - 01:36.

[Disgrace]

This is only really a problem for the WTCC as far as I'm aware. They fly their circus all around the world to hold two 20-minute sprints per round. It's rather absurd for what is supposedly a top-tier championship. Despite the pull of the obvious camaraderie between decent enough drivers I'm afraid they'll need more than just an overhaul of the format to get me interested in the series again.

 

For once I don't have a problem with the current F1 system given the variety it produces; Singapore is a full two hours long whereas Monza lasts just over an hour. It's certainly not a priority if it is indeed a problem.

[SenorSjon]

Really? I dislike most other contrived formats. 45 minutes + 1 lap and more of that nonsense. WTCC takes the crown with 2 20 minute races. I understand the endurance part of timing a race 4-6-12-24 hours as a challenge, but in classes like F3 it feel contrived. A SC or two and you hardly had a race.

 

I would love to see a F1 length LMP1 race. I bet Bernie doesn't.

[Seanspeed]

Nah, F1 is one of the few categories that actually gets race formats right, in my opinion.  It's straightforward, no nonsense, just the right general race length and they race at tracks that actually *suit* the cars(barring a couple minor exceptions).  

 

Only complaint is that I'd like to see a *bit* more variety in tracks visited.  A couple more traditional-style street courses, maybe.  But otherwise, I'm quite happy with this aspect of F1.  

[SenorSjon]

A reduced calendar should make races more unique, but the Tilkefying of tracks in combination with all the runoffs ruins the uniqueness of most locations these days.

[Grayson]

 

• WEC has a good basic lenght of 6 hours, but I feel there shoud be one 'sprint endurance' of 4 hours and a couple of longer races (9-12 hours). Plus Le Mans obviously.

 

This is the main one that I'd like to see. Le Mans shows that the cars can do 24 hours, and a mixture of 4, 6 and 12 hour races for the rest of the season could make the season interesting to watch if some of the cars are better on outright pace while others are more consistent.

 

Of course, there might be lots of logistical difficulties that I don't understand which means that this would be unreasonable...

[AlexLangheck]

The WEC is the one series that needs variety. Le Mans 24 Hours, then all other races 6 Hours of Country-X/A/B, etc  A 10/ 12 Hourrace plus maybe a 3 or 4 hour race would mix it up nicely. Start the season with a shorter race - or make the race after Le Mans a short 3/4 hour race, say 3 weekends after, to build on the interest.

Edited by AlexLangheck, 10 February 2016 - 10:39.

[August]

Good points in the comments.

 

Yeah, F1 doesn't really need the weekend format changed. If anything, a 100km sprint plus 200km main race would feel wrong in classic GPs like Monaco, Britain, Italy, and Belgium. Even though I wouldn't mind if some races were doubleheaders, but not all. Or if there was a double-distance race for double points, I wouldn't mind.

 

As for touring cars, I think the current DTM format is fine, and the new V8SC format for road courses is gonna be quite similar, just a bit longer (non-timed) races. But one thing DTM lacks is events like Bathurst 1000. It lacks such a must-win race, all weekends seem so generic there.

 

WTCC's format is so dull. Nordschleife could be such a must-win race for WTCC but I think the doubleheader dilutes it. It should be one long race there.

Then ELMS; it also lacks races with character compared to IMSA, the other regional series for Le Mans machinery. OK, ELMS is just the ACO feeder series what IMSA WeatherTech Championship isn't. But IMSA has still a more exciting schedule than WEC, excluding Le Mans; IMSA has races like Rolex 24, Daytona 12h, and Petit in its schedule. Blancpain Endurace Series is almost the best European series in that department, it has a classic event like Spa 24h plus races of various distances.

[JHSingo]

I've long been an advocate for a variety of race distances in the WEC, outside of the normal six hour duration. It would be super cool to have a race like Sebring or Petit Le Mans on the calendar rather than six hours of Bahrain, or Shanghai. I'll be really honest, as good as LMP1 clearly is, I'm still not inspired to watch the majority of WEC races. It's missing something. Compared to IMSA, it is lacking in variety.

 

As for the track aspect - again, I agree. But then the WEC limits itself to racing almost entirely on Grade 1 rated circuits (Le Mans aside) hence the proliferation of F1 Tilkedromes on the schedule.

[tormave]

What WEC needs much more than duration variety, is a much more varied field in GTE Pro. If the current field is as big as it can be, why not boot off GTE Am, and replace it with more Pro crews driving Mercs, Beamers, McLarens, and the like? Having a class with 6-7 cars racing for a "world championship" or Le Mans victory is a joke.

[ardbeg]

A three hour race in WEC would be cool, that is about maximum I can imagine spending watching with reasonable concentration. A couple of three hour races in F1 would also be cool.  

[PayasYouRace]

I've often said that it's good to have a bit of variety in a series. One of my ideas for F1 would be to have a world championship of 16 races in the current format, with new races being non-championship and allowed to experiment with different formats.

For WEC I'd be more inclined to watch if there were some shorter races.

That's one of the things I like about Indycar.

[V8 Fireworks]

i dont think it matters. i like the grand prix 300km format.

[JHSingo]

What WEC needs much more than duration variety, is a much more varied field in GTE Pro. If the current field is as big as it can be, why not boot off GTE Am, and replace it with more Pro crews driving Mercs, Beamers, McLarens, and the like? Having a class with 6-7 cars racing for a "world championship" or Le Mans victory is a joke.

 

I agree, but first that would rely on those manufacturers producing a car to GTE regulations. I mean, it's great having BMW in GTLM over in the States, but that's not even a true GTLM car, just a modified GT3 that they got special dispensation to race. Hence why it's not allowed to run at Le Mans, unfortunately.

 

But yeah, the GT classes in IMSA are a lot better than in WEC. I don't think anyone cares about GTE-Am, but it looks like it has been an inspired decision to allow GT3 cars in IMSA. Now if they could just get rid of those old LMPC cars and replace them with LMP3s, it'd be perfect.

 

I've said before I prefer IMSA to WEC, and a lot of that is down to the tracks they race at and the variety of race distances they have.

Edited by JHSingo, 10 February 2016 - 17:25.

[chunder27]

Hilarious, utterly hilarious that anyone with a brain cell votes anything other then yes.

 

How can a race with a 6 hour format be anything other than dull

[DampMongoose]

1988 WSC was a good season, a few short sprints, several 1000km and le mans, all with a weighted points system.