44 replies to this topic

[goldenboy]

well the month long wait between hungary and belgium left me scratching my elbows and neck like a crack head with no money and a fierce habbit, so what are the best lower series to follow? And have any changed their names in the last few years? Being australian we dont get anything on tv over here, so streaming it is - how hard is it to find streams for these series also?

Other than the obvious choice of GP2.

Renault 3.5?

[Morbus]

Formula 3, GP3 and Superleague are all good series to follow, in my experience.

[William Hunt]

You can watch the Superleague races in streaming. It's not really a feeder series but it's got some interesting drivers. Italian Davide Rigon (a driver I really like) is on pole tomorrow with the Anderlecht car.

Edited by William Hunt, 05 September 2010 - 03:11.

[Chubby_Deuce]

Moto2.

[pingu666]

nascar, not a feeder series, but pretty busy scheduel

[domhnall]

Honestly, outside of Gp2 there's not a lot worth watching. Most junior formula have way too much grip for their small power outputs. The result is processional racing. Also with so many series around these days, the driving talent is spread thin. If you're looking for something to watch between grand prix's sports cars is probably your best option.

[goldenboy]

Honestly, outside of Gp2 there's not a lot worth watching. Most junior formula have way too much grip for their small power outputs. The result is processional racing. Also with so many series around these days, the driving talent is spread thin. If you're looking for something to watch between grand prix's sports cars is probably your best option.

the last time I watched anything in the lower series was when briscoe and klien were in european F3 (?) quite a few years ago, and found it great. But there does seem to be an absolute **** load of series so yeah that would have to dilute the talent pool a bit wouldnt it.

[greenblood]

I watch GP2 because it's the best place to see the future F1 drivers, but I also watch F2. The main attraction of the F2 series for me is that it isn't part of the Grand Prix package, so it runs on some weekends when there's no F1 and on some circuits not currently used by F1, such as Brands Hatch, Portimao and Imola.

[BrendanMcF]

Euro F3.

Hamilton, Sutil, Vettel & Hülkenberg are graduates

[KateLM]

GP3 for the pure entertainment value (despite the horrible sounding cars) - though it runs with F1 so its not good as a stop-gap.

F3 Euroseries is a shadow of its former self IMO.

The best stop-gaps I find are actually non-feeder series. I've gotten really into Indycar this year. And while I don't often watch Superleague, the cars are pretty awesome. Don't be put off by the stupid football gimmick.

[billm99uk]

Euro F3.

Hamilton, Sutil, Vettel & Hülkenberg are graduates

But it's gone downhill a lot this year with a much reduced field.

At the moment, I'd say I follow them in this order of importance:

GP2, WSR, Brit F3, GP3, Euro F3, F2, Brit FRenault, Brit FFord.

Maybe FRenault Eurocup and FBMW (last year) would be worth a look, if there was UK TV coverage.

There are a few decent pros still with F1 chances in DTM too (mainly through Mercedes links), but it doesn't fit into the feeder system as such, and there's not much racing.

[goldenboy]

Renault 3.5? Pretty keen to see Ricciardo drive. Or is that more of just something to do while he is testing video games for red bull?

sorry to sound ignorant I've just only ever watched F1 (and motogp). But religiously though!

thanks for the info so far though have a better idea now.

[billm99uk]

WSR (World Series by Renault) and Renault 3.5, are the same thing, by the way. They keep changing the darn names - used to be Nissan.

Apologies if you already knew that.

[Necromancer]

I can't recommend Superleague Formula enough to everybody. The football-idea is maybe hard to get into for someone who isn't a big football-fanatic, but if you just see it as a way to name your teams and just provide excellent racing, any motorsport aficionado will like Superleague Formula.

Why?

1) It's an easy formula: the 2x45 minutes format with a Superfinal afterwards is a very easy to get racing formula. You Sunday will be filled immediatly with great racing.
2) The cars are excellent: they are derived from the Panoz ChampCar with a V12 engine in it. It has a great sound and it's a challenging car for the drivers. Next to that, it provides excellent overtaking possibilities.
3) The drivers: no, the best known drivers don't drive Superleague Formula. Unfortunately for the series, Bourdais stepped out, but there are some very good other drivers: Dolby, Buurman, Rigon, Parente, Martin, Wissel and all the others provide excellent racing. In 16 events, there were 12 different winners!!
4) The circuits: they race well known (Silverstone, Magny-Cours, Nürburgring) circuits, but also lesser known (Jarama, Adria, Ordos); although not all as good, they all have their own charm.
5) The online streaming: every race is streamed online! I don't know too many other series doing this.

Just check it out! http://www.superleagueformula.com

[ivanalesi]

Some wet races from British F3 are pretty cool and almost any UK Formula Ford race is spectacular:) Other than the already mentioned Superleague which is the best racing probably in the world... I dunno, WSbR can be boring sometimes. FR2.0 or the new Formula Abarth races aren't really well televised, so may be WSK karting is the next best thing:)

[lbennie]

i've started watching alot of formula renault, f2 & f3 this season (first time i've had access over here) and one thing i've noticed is that there is even less overtakes than f1.
i was under the impression that f1 was THE anti-overtake formula, but this is clearly not the case.

[Bloggsworth]

Any formula with front wings is an antidote to overtaking...

[billm99uk]

i've started watching alot of formula renault this season (first time i've had access over here) and one thing i've noticed is that there is even less overtakes than f1.

True. But Pal Kiss appears to be trying to change that

[Crafty]

Havent managed to see many races but have been following F2 a bit this year as a local guy (Dean Stoneman) is in it this year and has certainly stepped up to the plate. From what I've seen/read theres quite a bit of action in F2.

He has a 31 point lead with 50 available, so looking good but not in the bag yet.

I'm guessing hes going to have to go into GP2 to get into F1 ?

[Fastcake]

Havent managed to see many races but have been following F2 a bit this year as a local guy (Dean Stoneman) is in it this year and has certainly stepped up to the plate. From what I've seen/read theres quite a bit of action in F2.

He has a 31 point lead with 50 available, so looking good but not in the bag yet.

I'm guessing hes going to have to go into GP2 to get into F1 ?

Same here, F2's been rather entertaining the few times I've managed to watch it.

And yes, F2 doesn't really have enough going behind it to convince teams to look there based on the results alone.

Edited by Fastcake, 06 September 2010 - 17:29.

[rhukkas]

i've started watching alot of formula renault, f2 & f3 this season (first time i've had access over here) and one thing i've noticed is that there is even less overtakes than f1.
i was under the impression that f1 was THE anti-overtake formula, but this is clearly not the case.

That's mainly because daddy usually has to foot the bill in the lower formula!

[Turn 1]

I've been really impressed with GP3 this year. As somebody else mentioned they sound pathetic but the racing is pretty good, very aggressive stuff. I've got both GP2 and GP3 on series record and always tend to watch the GP3 races first.

[Seanspeed]

This thread reminds me how much I miss A1GP(pre-'Ferrari powered' days).

[billm99uk]

I've been really impressed with GP3 this year. As somebody else mentioned they sound pathetic but the racing is pretty good, very aggressive stuff. I've got both GP2 and GP3 on series record and always tend to watch the GP3 races first.

I wish they'd change that "farting camel" engine though

[Disgrace]

Other than the obvious choice of GP2.

Then we're out of luck.

[chrisblades85]

I like many forms of motor sport. Of course F1 is my favourite though. But the list is endless really, right down to club racing for me.

Going back to GP3. Yeah, awful sounding things. But good racing.

[KateLM]

That's mainly because daddy usually has to foot the bill in the lower formula!

What has that got to do with anything on this thread, apart from that massive chip on your shoulder about well funded karters?

Who makes the engine for GP3, is it Renault? Because nothing they have done for other formulas sounds anywhere near that awful, so god knows what they did to the engines to make them sound like that.

[chrisblades85]

That's mainly because daddy usually has to foot the bill in the lower formula!

If they can't find sponsors, then who else is going to fund it? Unfortunately it's an expensive sport. Not like football, cricket, rugby etc where all you need is a ball/bat whatever.

[rhukkas]

What has that got to do with anything on this thread, apart from that massive chip on your shoulder about well funded karters?

Someone asked why there was less racing in lower formula. The answer being that because daddy/mummy pays for it they may take a little more care!!! A big crash could be season over financially speaking.

[billm99uk]

Someone asked why there was less racing in lower formula. The answer being that because daddy/mummy pays for it they may take a little more care!!! A big crash could be season over financially speaking.

Less crashing? You obviously haven't seen much GP3 this season.

[BullHead]

I love F3 and FRenault UK. Even FPA if you want to go lower. All have a history of making F1 drivers....

[rhukkas]

Less crashing? You obviously haven't seen much GP3 this season.

Well there comes a point where the drivers are so wealthy they don't care Someone asked for a possible explanation I gave one.

[scheivlak]

This thread reminds me how much I miss A1GP(pre-'Ferrari powered' days).

This thread reminds me how glad I am A1GP went down

Nationalism..... Yuk yuk (insert vomit emoticon)

Now if only that Football League hooliganism reminder nonsense thingy (Superleague or something like that) got down as well

I'm glad GP2 is great, though I would really like to see all those spec sub-formulas rather merge in something like F2 / F3 of yesteryears - maybe I'm a dreamer

[SonnyViceR]

This thread reminds me how much I miss A1GP(pre-'Ferrari powered' days).

A1GP didn't market itself as any kind of feeder series, so this is really not the right topic to talk about it (same with SF). However, A1 was one of the only single seater series I really liked - before Mr. Teixeira ruined it.

If I for some strange reason want to watch lower formulae nowadays, my choice would probably be British F3 or World Series by Renault powered by Nissan presented by whatever... when I can be bothered, these series are all the same. Or some national catecory from New Zealand etc.

Edited by SonnyViceR, 08 September 2010 - 12:34.

[domhnall]

Interesting to see some saying the racing in GP3 is good. I was initially excited by the series as it has an Irish team (Status GP). However I only watched the first race at Barcelona and the awful sounding engines and some dodgy eurosport coverage really out me off. I might try and catch some of it at Monza. It looks like Status are trying to sign Conor Daly for next season, will definitely follow it closely it that deal comes together.

[SonnyViceR]

The cars might sound lame, but they're still visually better than the new GP2 Dallaras for next year! As for the driving standards, they've been pretty damn low.

Edited by SonnyViceR, 08 September 2010 - 21:33.

[Seanspeed]

A1GP didn't market itself as any kind of feeder series, so this is really not the right topic to talk about it (same with SF). However, A1 was one of the only single seater series I really liked - before Mr. Teixeira ruined it.

True, it wasn't a pure feeder series, but it still nurtured young talent. The OP seems to want to watch alternative open-wheel series that might also have possible bright stars to look for and I think A1GP is[was] relevant in this way.

Guess its a moot point, though, so yea, maybe not worth arguing about.

[domhnall]

Well I said I'd try and catch the Gp3 at Monza, just finished watching the first race. What a race!!!! The best race I've seen all year. Lost count of the number of lead changes.

[noikeee]

I've got to download it then. Like you I watched GP3 at Barcelona and gave up, that race was the dullest I've ever seen. I wasn't aware the series had improved since then!

[goldenboy]

thoughts on F3 merger?

[KateLM]

thoughts on F3 merger?

Don't think it will happen anytime soon, too complicated with different tyre suppliers and all that. The problem is British F3 is actually doing OK at the moment, and doesn't really need to merge.

[Lotusseven]

WSR (World Series by Renault) and Renault 3.5, are the same thing, by the way. They keep changing the darn names - used to be Nissan.

Apologies if you already knew that.

It´s very annoying... WSR, WSbR, FR 3.5 but it´s great series to follow.
Last 2 races next weekend. I hope Ricciardo be the Champion !
After the race it´s time for WSR testing at Catalunya.

[Rob]

Moto2, 125cc, World Supersport.

[OfficeLinebacker]

nascar, not a feeder series, but pretty busy scheduel

Yep.

[goldenboy]

It´s very annoying... WSR, WSbR, FR 3.5 but it´s great series to follow.
Last 2 races next weekend. I hope Ricciardo be the Champion !
After the race it´s time for WSR testing at Catalunya.

cant believe I didnt watch it from the beginning