494 replies to this topic

[Jellyfishcake]

This is quite a poor effort, not sure i'll bother next week.

 

Too much use of chase cam, not live (in the other e-sports events watching the drivers stream has been cool), weak commentator alongside DC, 

[Ben1445]

I don’t even rate DC as a good commentator anyway, and he’s even worse than usual here.

[BRG]

I’m not impressed with the commentary. Dull as dishwater.

As that was a key feature of the first season of W Series, perhaps they are trying to stay true to life?

[Ben1445]

As that was a key feature of the first season of W Series, perhaps they are trying to stay true to life?

Somehow, it was actually worse. Enough so that I wanted Claire Cottingham back - at least she managed to get excited about what was going on.

[jonpollak]

SeeDORKova
Jp

Edited by jonpollak, 12 June 2020 - 23:35.

[Vielleicht]

Jamie Chadwick is set to compete in the Formula Regional European Championship this year with Prema Powertream.

 

https://www.reuters....t-idUSKBN23N0U2

[Stephane]

She should be well-placed in the standings.

[BRG]

I hope she gets some racing in this year.  Her main focus for 2020 seems to have been W Series but that is now toast, so she needed to find an alternative to keep up the positive impetus that she has built up.  Maybe a successful run in this championship - if circumstances do permit enough racing this year to be a series - will be a stepping stone for something better in 2021.  Preferably away from W Series which I fear could be a dead end for her.

[TheGoldenStoffel]

Jamie Chadwick is set to compete in the Formula Regional European Championship this year with Prema Powertream.

 

https://www.reuters....t-idUSKBN23N0U2

With all her experience at this level and being with the best team she has nowhere to hide.

[balage06]

Interesting, because the main F3 series would be a logical next step for her next year, especially if she does well here. I wonder if she would be keen on returning to W-Series in that case.

[Vielleicht]

Interesting, because the main F3 series would be a logical next step for her next year, especially if she does well here. I wonder if she would be keen on returning to W-Series in that case.

To quote from that article:

"Chadwick indicated that if all went well, returning to W Series in 2021 would likely cease to be an option.

“Realistically the aim would be look at FIA F3 for next year, off the back of a successful year hopefully,” she said.

“The ultimate goal at the beginning of this year was a bit different to what it is now, but I think given the circumstances we’ve come out of the situation quite strong.”

 
Finding a backer and getting a seat with Prema is a very strong career step, that's the kind of drive that gives you the tools to deliver. Quoting again:

“I have to credit W Series because none of this would have been possible without them. I wouldn’t have got to this level in my career and get noticed by somebody like Rodin cars without the W Series. I’m so grateful for the leg up they’ve given me.”

Which, it has to be said, is by-in-large exactly what many of us were hoping W Series would do.

[Ben1445]

Sounds like some very promising news. Definitely what we wanted to hear and some evidence that W Series is working as intended. 
 
W Series boss on Twitter: 

Catherine Bond Muir @bondmuir
Congratulations to Jamie on her Formula Regional seat. #WSeries’ aim has always been about creating a springboard to the upper tiers of motorsport, so I’m very proud of our reigning champion for adding more race experience to her tally and continuing on her exciting journey.

[NewMrMe]

Interesting, because the main F3 series would be a logical next step for her next year, especially if she does well here. I wonder if she would be keen on returning to W-Series in that case.

 

Super licence points could a reason for doing so.

[Ben1445]

A W Series return could make sense for Chadwick because of the SL points but I would say would have to be dependant on either a) having no other mainstream junior formula seat available or b) being able to dovetail another racing program with W Series schedules. 

 

Scenario A would not be at all ideal. Scenario B could be quite lucrative. 

[jonpollak]

I’m not impressed with the commentary. Dull as dishwater.

Boy..you got THAT right.

What happened to the team we hated..?

All is forgiven !

 

I must say that Si-DORKova is a a talent +1 and she hates this... 'sim cartoon'.

I hear she 'virtually' burnt up Monza as well.

 

We need some all-stars in this series.

Who Ya Got?

 

Jp

Edited by jonpollak, 18 June 2020 - 22:53.

[messy]

It’s a big opportunity for Chadwick but proper sink or swim stuff - if she doesn’t do extremely well in that championship I suspect she’ll be done in terms of the single seater ladder. She’s already been at this level driving this car for far, far too long. She needs to win the title really, doesn’t she?

[Jellyfishcake]

It’s a big opportunity for Chadwick but proper sink or swim stuff - if she doesn’t do extremely well in that championship I suspect she’ll be done in terms of the single seater ladder. She’s already been at this level driving this car for far, far too long. She needs to win the title really, doesn’t she?

 

I don't know if she needs to win the title, Prema have a lot of entries.

However I would say she definitely needs to challenge for the title, win lots of races etc any less than that and she's go no chance of moving up really.

[Lennat]

I agree, it doesn't really matter THAT much if she wins or not as long as she manages to look like a proper contender for the championship, and especially show proper speed.

[Sterzo]

I always scratch my brain when headlines proclaim "Ferrari must win in 2021" or "Why Giovannazzi has to beat Hamilton." Here we are saying Chadwick must do well. Truth is, the old girl (sorry Jamie, you are older than when I admired your efforts in Ginetta Juniors) is a pretty good racing driver, but probably isn't F1 material. She'll keep trying, of course - that's what racing drivers do. Then she'll divert from the ladder and race cars with more seats, or retire and do something else. She doesn't have to do anything or achieve anything, not even if we tell her she must.

[ANF]

Are those articles so-called must reads?

[Ben1445]

Sophia Floersch was in FREC last season and didn't reach the podium - still managed to make the move to FIA F3 for this year. That may have been Van Amersfoort's problem and less so her ability but that's just the way junior formulae seem to be. Meritocracy my arse. 

 

So no, Jamie doesn't actually have to win the thing at all to make progress, merely show a good enough level of competence for her backers to keep keep stumping up cash and hope they have deep enough pockets. That seems to be what can make a driver "F1 material" in almost any era (not naming any names)... 

 

Countless racing talents get perfectly respectable and even enviable professional drives outside of F1. Not being the right sort of cultural fit or not having the right sort of luck to be one of 20 people in the world on an F1 grid does not a failure make. 

[balage06]

So no, Jamie doesn't actually have to win the thing at all to make progress

 

Eh, but don't forget Sophia pays for her seat with her "own money", that makes a significant difference regarding pressure to perform.

[Lennat]

Well, since she and her team of people talk about progressing up the single seater order, I think the "must" talk is sort of justified.

[BRG]

Truth is, the old girl (sorry Jamie, you are older than when I admired your efforts in Ginetta Juniors) is a pretty good racing driver, but probably isn't F1 material. 

For God's sake, she is a child of just 22 years.  She is barely old enough to be allowed out on her own. 

 

This idea that if you aren't leading the F1 WDC by your 17th birthday, you are a flop, is just so sad.   I have said before  - to almost universal ridicule - that I don;t think anyone should be allowed to race in F1 unless they are 25 yo or more.  It is the top of the heap, not a kindergarten.

Edited by BRG, 19 June 2020 - 11:46.

[Ben1445]

Chadwick has found a wealthy backer to add to her race funding who has sights on supporting her through F3 and F2 and it's got her a seat in perhaps the best possible FREC team. She said herself (to a fair amount of criticism) that she wanted to wait until a winning seat came up rather than take a less competitive drive which is almost certain to make you look mediocre and risks being a dead end. Given her new backing, as long as she's more or less on par with her three other team mate's performances at Prema I think a step up to FIA F3 can be expected. I think that's a reasonable expectation given her talent. Main thing is I don't think she 'has to win' this championship because loads of drivers have made it far, far further than her without the sport requiring from them as what is now apparently expected of Chadwick. 

 

The junior ladder series are harsh, unfair and unequal. It is absolutely screwed up, but it's the way it is until someone changes it for the better. 

 

This idea that if you aren't leading the F1 WDC by your 17th birthday, you are a flop, is just so sad.   I have said before  - to almost universal ridicule - that I don;t think anyone should be allowed to race in F1 unless they are 25 yo or more.  It is the top of the heap, not a kindergarten.

I largely agree with you on this point. I'm a bit cold to a hard limit at 25 years old but the sentiment is right - the chasing of almost exclusively prodigious talent that has become all the rage is not good for the sport. It is contributing to the inequality of favouring those who have the most cash growing up, not those who can become the best at driving racing cars. 

Edited by Ben1445, 19 June 2020 - 12:05.

[Ben1445]

After 2020 was cancelled because of Covid, W Series has partnered with Formula 1 for 2021 and will host 8 races at F1 Grand Prix events next year. 

 

https://wseries.com/...with-formula-1/

[Muppetmad]

I hope they're just being unclear and that's eight race weekends rather than races; the calendar was far too short last year, and having only one race at each circuit (except the NC race at Assen) seemed like such a waste.

Edited by Muppetmad, 12 November 2020 - 09:35.

[Ben1445]

I'm still hoping that it's not an exclusively F1 thing and 8 W Series races will be held at F1 weekends whilst another 8 will be held supporting something like IndyCar and another 4 WEC and another 4.... you get the idea. Such an approach would maximise exposure throughout the entire motorsport industry. 

 

Getting onto the F1 support billing is no mean feat through. 

[balage06]

And will they still use those awful Tatuus regional F3 cars? I don't know how big of a spectacle will that be on those huge GP tracks, especially next to those big single seaters.

[jonpollak]

And looking to stay FTA.
Smart move.
Jp

[BRG]

I'm still hoping that it's not an exclusively F1 thing and 8 W Series races will be held at F1 weekends whilst another 8 will be held supporting something like IndyCar and another 4 WEC and another 4.... you get the idea. Such an approach would maximise exposure throughout the entire motorsport industry. 

 

Getting onto the F1 support billing is no mean feat through. 

It's about money though.  W Series is essentially self sponsoring apart perhaps from some small TV money.  They are probably having to pay F1 something to get on  the race card there, so they couldn't afford to expand as you hope - not that it would be a bad idea, far from it! - unless they start to get some significant external support.  Sponsorship on each car would be great, as they might have to abandon their love for sickly mauve and yellow liveries.  

 

Baby steps,  maybe, lets see if they manage to put up a show on the F1 weekends.  At least we know now why the rejigging of the F2 and F3 calendars was done

[Ben1445]

They had previously announced that they had ROKiT on board with significant sponsorship across all cars for 2020 which was seemingly a step in the right sort of direction. Having no sponsors in the first season was supposedly a choice so that they could be sure sponsors were fully aware of what they were all about before signing up. Perhaps being on the billing at some F1 races with FTA coverage might increase sponsorship value for them some more. 

 

Baby steps, as you say - 2020 was a hard knock and it's set them back at least a year. 

[Ross Stonefeld]

Chadwick has found a wealthy backer to add to her race funding who has sights on supporting her through F3 and F2 and it's got her a seat in perhaps the best possible FREC team. She said herself (to a fair amount of criticism) that she wanted to wait until a winning seat came up rather than take a less competitive drive which is almost certain to make you look mediocre and risks being a dead end. Given her new backing, as long as she's more or less on par with her three other team mate's performances at Prema I think a step up to FIA F3 can be expected. I think that's a reasonable expectation given her talent. Main thing is I don't think she 'has to win' this championship because loads of drivers have made it far, far further than her without the sport requiring from them as what is now apparently expected of Chadwick. 

 

The junior ladder series are harsh, unfair and unequal. It is absolutely screwed up, but it's the way it is until someone changes it for the better. 

 

I largely agree with you on this point. I'm a bit cold to a hard limit at 25 years old but the sentiment is right - the chasing of almost exclusively prodigious talent that has become all the rage is not good for the sport. It is contributing to the inequality of favouring those who have the most cash growing up, not those who can become the best at driving racing cars. 

 

Well that didn't age well(no fault of yours).

[Sterzo]

I really, really wish F2, F3, and W Series were headline races at their own events, rather than being buried in the F1 weekend. It means you can't see them without committing to the cost and hassle of attending a multi-day long weekend at a less-than-atmospheric circuit. Last time I attended a live GP (admittedly fifteen years ago), most spectators sat on the Silverstone banks with their backs to the F3... The TV coverage also ends up behind a paywall.

 

Set our racing free.

[Viryfan]

Well that didn't age well(no fault of yours).

 

oh so true, let's see if it is backfireing big time

[KWSN - DSM]

And looking to stay FTA.
Smart move.
Jp

 

Not ruling out Saudi Arabia in the future. The beacon of women's rights auto racing, going to one of the countries curtailing women the most, if that happens should be with a LOT of talking about women and women's rights in all countries.

[PayasYouRace]

I really, really wish F2, F3, and W Series were headline races at their own events, rather than being buried in the F1 weekend. It means you can't see them without committing to the cost and hassle of attending a multi-day long weekend at a less-than-atmospheric circuit. Last time I attended a live GP (admittedly fifteen years ago), most spectators sat on the Silverstone banks with their backs to the F3... The TV coverage also ends up behind a paywall.

 

Set our racing free.

 

The problem is unless you're Macau, nobody goes to F2 or F3 events. Not enough data for W Series. Look what happened at the F2 Jerez event. It's literally about 200 people in that main grandstand. You can actually count them.

 

 

At the end of the day the primary audience for these series are the F1 teams, so they race in front of them.

[Viryfan]

The problem is unless you're Macau, nobody goes to F2 or F3 events. Not enough data for W Series. Look what happened at the F2 Jerez event. It's literally about 200 people in that main grandstand. You can actually count them.

 

 

At the end of the day the primary audience for these series are the F1 teams, so they race in front of them.

 

 

unless F2 or F3 races at iconic places like Pau Gp or Norisring there won't be much crowd outside of F1.

Edited by Viryfan, 12 November 2020 - 21:30.

[FLB]

The problem is unless you're Macau, nobody goes to F2 or F3 events. Not enough data for W Series. Look what happened at the F2 Jerez event. It's literally about 200 people in that main grandstand. You can actually count them.

 

 

At the end of the day the primary audience for these series are the F1 teams, so they race in front of them.

Jerez was always like that. When it was an F1 track, it was regularly the worst attendance of the year.

Edited by FLB, 12 November 2020 - 23:25.

[boomn]

Not ruling out Saudi Arabia in the future. The beacon of women's rights auto racing, going to one of the countries curtailing women the most, if that happens should be with a LOT of talking about women and women's rights in all countries.

I don't think W Series is considering Saudi Arabia out of ignorance or just chasing after money.  They perceive themselves as a force for positive change in that area.  Whether they are naïve or overly optimistic about their potential impact in Saudia Arabia is a different question though

[ensign14]

Jerez was always like that. When it was an F1 track, it was regularly the worst attendance of the year.

For one race, the tannoy operators decided to announce the changes in the crowd to the drivers, as it was quicker than the other way around.

[FLB]

For one race, the tannoy operators decided to announce the changes in the crowd to the drivers, as it was quicker than the other way around.

I don't have my Autocourse from 1989 with but what was the attendance? 40,000 maybe? For a race that could have been the championship-deciding race?

 

10,000 in 1986 to witness what was at the time the closest finish in history between Senna and Mansell?

[PayasYouRace]

Jerez was always like that. When it was an F1 track, it was regularly the worst attendance of the year.

 

No it wasn't. It did have poor attendance the first year when ticket prices were too high. But it did begin to draw the crowds, especially with the ex-pats and Mansell-mania. Certainly the stands were full in 1997.

 

(Photo from personal collection)

 

[FLB]

No it wasn't. It did have poor attendance the first year when ticket prices were too high. But it did begin to draw the crowds, especially with the ex-pats and Mansell-mania. Certainly the stands were full in 1997.

 

(Photo from personal collection)

 

I need to re-check what sources I have (old Autocourse books, L'année Formule 1 1986, old Sport Auto), but 1997 and to a certain extent 1994 were exceptions. One of the reasons some people were at first opposed to have the planned 1994 Argentinian Gramd Prix replaced by Jerez was because of the historical low attendance. It was also one of the reasons why the Spanish Grand Prix was moved to Barcelona in 1991 (that and the fact Catalonia was spending money like it was going out of fashion because of the 1992 Summer Olympics).

[KWSN - DSM]

I don't think W Series is considering Saudi Arabia out of ignorance or just chasing after money.  They perceive themselves as a force for positive change in that area.  Whether they are naïve or overly optimistic about their potential impact in Saudia Arabia is a different question though

 

I hope that is it.

 

I am also old enough to remember F1 not going to South Africa for political reasons, of all the wrong places F1 have been and are racing Saudi Arabia would be the worst.