133 replies to this topic

[GrumpyYoungMan]

I continue to be baffled by your certainty that F1 teams will be interested in entering A1GP, when the series hasn't even been officially launched yet!

But what little we do know so far is that this will be a single spec series. As such, it is extremely unlikely that an F1 team will ever leave a series in which designing and building the car is an integral part of the series' DNA, to join a series where they'd be racing a single-spec, off-the-shelf chassis, likely with spec engines. I mean, for goodness' sake, Red Bull is spending millions to have their own engine facility at their factory. Why on earth would they go from doing that to entering a completely different series, with a completely different ethos, in the space of a couple of years?

I can't say this firmly enough, but this is not and never will be an alternative or rival to F1. It may well become another cool racing series to enjoy - maybe some of us on this forum will come to prefer watching it to F1. But believe that leading F1 teams are suddenly going to jump ship and enter this is just ludicrous, and as far removed from reality as you can possibly get.

You can never say never, it’s all about the ROI… there is no real racer team owner/boss now…

[Sterzo]

You can never say never, it’s all about the ROI… there is no real racer team owner/boss now…

Wolff, Horner & Marko, Brown, Stroll.

[JvsKVB77]

While they didn't leave F1, McLaren is most certainly competing in a spec series.

As i remember in previous A1GP there was no mention about teams, which run national entry, so for McLaren or RedBull teams there no interest, like McLaren have at Indycar or FE.

[GrumpyYoungMan]

I was meaning it, more in the context of (Frank) Williams, (Bruce) McLaren etc...

 

 

 

Wolff, Horner & Marko, Brown, Stroll.

But they only go racing because of the ROI it returns, the minute it stopped on the ROI they would drop it like a hot potato, IMO.

Edited by GrumpyYoungMan, 20 July 2023 - 11:22.

[Sterzo]

I was meaning it, more in the context of (Frank) Williams, (Bruce) McLaren etc...

 

But they only go racing because of the ROI it returns, the minute it stopped on the ROI they would drop it like a hot potato, IMO.

Wolff, Horner, Marko, and Brown, all put money INTO racing. They are racers. Go on, tell me Marko, who made it to F1 before losing an eye, Horner who was British F3 class B champion, Brown who raced in FF and all sorts, Wolff who paid to race in GT - tell me they aren't racers. As for Stroll, he made his fortune in the clothing business, then turned away from that to use his wealth for what he enjoyed - cars and racing. You really think Aston Martin gives a bigger return than Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Laurent? You really think his rescue of Mont Tremblant made him a fortune? Or that he's raking it in by funding his son's drive?

 

There's plenty to disagree with, but let's not be lured into making up stuff about people's motivations, when the evidence is the opposite.
 

[Sterzo]

Oh dear. Unique selling point, space completely captured, resonate with the man on the street, appealed to our investment group. Where can I re-find the will to live?

[Risil]

What a wonderful coincidence that the man on the street's interests are aligned with the interests of Chinese billionaires!

[SenorSjon]

The engine-audiophiles are not served in single seaters.

[Ben1445]

Random thread bump really just because I wondered if anything new was happening with this and I can't seem to find any reports of developments beyond those initial May 2023 articles.

 

At the time it said the plan was to target a December 2024 launch, so not like a target has been missed exactly... but the silence is not at all encouraging for their prospects. 

Edited by Ben1445, 19 April 2024 - 14:53.

[PayasYouRace]

Not encouraging? Does anyone actually want this back?

[Secretariat]

Random thread bump really just because I wondered if anything new was happening with this and I can't seem to find any reports of developments beyond those initial May 2023 articles.

 

At the time it said the plan was to target a December 2024 launch, so not like a target has been missed exactly... but the silence is not at all encouraging for their prospects. 

I would like to see something like this again, but I think the structure is all wrong. The novelty of a series such as this goes away if an entity tries to operate it as a normal series from year to year. I think the original series set up confirms this. If they actually operated it as an Olympics of Motorsport where the series runs 9 races over a "season" every 3 or 4 years, it would be a showcase. What formula would they would use? I don't know but I can envision a formula that changes every "season": one season its N/A's, one season its hybrids, one season its full electric. That already covers a decade's worth of events.

 

EDIT: You could even "un-retire" whole classes of cars and BoP them or for example use a field Gen 2 FE cars. 

Edited by Secretariat, 19 April 2024 - 15:53.

[Sauberfan]

Not encouraging? Does anyone actually want this back?

 

Yes. There's room for a 2nd international single seater series. It might spell the end of Formula E but there's room. 

 

Especially with the mistakes Formula 1 is insistent on making. Like doubling down on the 2014 hybrid rules that nobody likes. And moving off historic tracks. Just imagine how fresh a normally sized and sounding singe seater racing series would feel right now ? A1 was redundant in 2006. But it isn't redundant now.

 

There's no way they will make a December 2024 start and the silence is concerning. 

Edited by Sauberfan, 19 April 2024 - 19:37.

[jonpollak]

Not encouraging? Does anyone actually want this back?

 

Are you kidding?!?!!?

You should have been to those wild watch parties we had for it.

Paula was  laughing like a hysterical hyena when sith punched Sean.

Gosh I miss the Camel in Victoria

Jp

[PayasYouRace]

Are you kidding?!?!!?

You should have been to those wild watch parties we had for it.

Paula was  laughing like a hysterical hyena when sith punched Sean.

Gosh I miss the Camel in Victoria

Jp

A little. I went to the Portimao round with my dad, and even met Marco Andretti in the pits. It was a great day out but then that’s truer of low level series generally.

 

But the writing was definitely on the wall for the whole concept.

[WonderWoman61]

Anyone remember when the series was rumoured to be relaunching as the A10 World Series and AFRIX?

[William Hunt]

They have said that their plan was to launch and show it to the public in December 2024. Unlike someone who called it a gimmick, the 'Nations team concept' is actually crucial to it's success. It for sure is not a gimmick, it is the essential key factor.

The fact that your run the teams with national liveries will allow to target new fans that don't follow autosport yet or don't currently have a connection with it. One of my friends actually became an autosport follower exactly because of A1GP. It allows fans to connect with the sport because they can support for their own nation, or a nation that they like. This will also be the major selling argument to go to countries that don't have a traditional motorsport scene. They could then support a driver from their country that is not a famous driver from F1, Indyar or WEC.

 

For sure that would get a lot of publicity and would automatically receive coverage in newspapers and it could be mentioned on national tv exactly because those countries currently don't have an F1 or IndyCar driver so it's something special to them.

 

There is a driver in karting, well he is actually in Formula 4 right now, Leo Robinson, who has such an ideal profile. Leo actually already switched to cars last year with Ginetta Junior and F4 Denmark (those 2 championships allow drivers to start from age 14) and he will do British F4 this year.

Well Leo Robinson races under the flag of Algeria. His dad is British and Leo himself was born in Oxfordshire, but his mom is from Algeria and he proudly races under the nationality of his mother. What's makes this interesting is that in Algeria, national newspapers always wrote about his karting results, since Algeria doesn't have many famous sportsmen, apart from probably soccer players, he is actually very well known in Algeria. They keep on following him closely in their media and now he will do British F4.

 

Imagine if you put such a driver in a powerful single seater representing that nation. That would be big news over there, people would follow him and the sport on national media and watch the races online. There is also an Algerian driver (born in France but Algerian nationality) driving LMP3 in the Michelin Le Mans Cup and he was in Asian Le Mans Series LMP3: Julien Gerbi. He's already 38 years old but he could be ideal to form an Algerian line-up with someone like Leo Robinson. It would create new autosport fans on the African continent, where there hardly is any presence right now apart from a Touring Car race in Morocco and the South African market, which has a Touring Car, a Formula Ford and a Dakar style rally championship. But South Africa used to have it's own F1 championship in the '60s & '70s. A South African national team and a race in Kyalami would be a must, A1 GP actually had both that.

 

 

Another possibility, since it's a nations team championship and not an individual drivers championship, is to add famous guest drivers now and then. Like having Mick Schumacher do a race in Germany for the German team. Or imagine Guanyu Zhou racing at a Chinese event!  You might even get former F1 drivers like Jenson Button, Sebastian Vettel, Felipe Massa , Robert Kubica, Christian Klien, Estéban Gutierrez, Kimi Raikkönen , Kevin Magnussen Daniel Ricciardo or Lance Stroll make a 1 race guest appearance. Okay the Magnussen, Ricciardo & Stroll mention was a joke ... but they may already be available as soon as next year.

 

So I would focuss the driver line-ups on young drivers who don't have the budget, but do have the talent, to progress to F. Regional or FIA F3. And mix that with some drivers who are decent from nationals with no motorsport culture, add some drivers from sportscars in the mix and some famous guest drivers that can get people to notice it.

 

The car would have to be relatively cheap but with a powerful V8 or V10 engine of +-500 to 600Hp (no sophisticated expensive hybrid engine, it has to be loud as well and relatively easy to service. Back in the '70s they just put big V8 Checy's in F5000 cars, those were straightforward engines, no high tech stuff, why not put a NASCAR engine like the one they use in EuroNascar in it and adapt it so it can run sustainable fuel?) with sustainable fuel. And the car has to look a bit aggressive with big wings but not complicated aero and if possible a push-to-pass button like in Super Formula, F. Regional Europe or IndyCar. The look of a '90s IndyCar would be cool, it has to have a Halo as well for safety reasons.

 

The biggest challenge will be, as always, to generate a sufficient stream of income. That will in particular be crucial if you don't want to work with pay drivers, that would be a no-go imho as it wouldn't be a realistic alternative for talented drivers lacking budget to do F4 (Italian F4 these days is just as expensive as F. Regional, I'm not kidding), F. Regional or F3. A driver like Hadrien David, who didn't have the money to go to FIA F3 would for example be a fantastic, and very talented, driver to have for the French team.

 

From what I remember the teams / nations did not have company / corporate sponsors on their cars. I would allow them to do that as long as it doesn't obscure or dominate the livery of the nation. A championship sponsor like a Tyre company or an Airplane company offering discounts on the tyres and the travel expenses would be welcome too.

 

Crucial is too keep the income low, like in the days of World Series by Renault (that actually had free income but I certainly wouldn't do that and charge a cheap income price of say 20 euro and free for children). And it would be a good idea to have a full program like a Touring Car nations cup race as the pre program (that could be a single make series). Touring Cars offer door to door racing which is always nice to watch for new fans and they could be in national teams as well. After the race a music concert would offer a full package for people to have a fun day off. That concert could also draw extra fans and generate more income (drinks, food) for the organizer.

 

Another important element is to certainly not hide it behind a paywall, like the FIA / Liberty do with F1, F2 & F3. It has to be on youtube where anyone can find it, with live coverage as well and presence on social media.

 

Now they said, when they anounced it, that their plan is to have ..... 20 teams / nations with each nation represented by two drivers. That is a HUGE amount of cars. You risk getting more yellow flags or pace cars with so many cars (this is often the case in F4 or F. Regional with their large fields, I actually like that because it allows me to skip through the video and watch it in less time but it's not good for viewers at the track).

I assume that their plan is not to have 40 cars on the track but... to have two semi finals with each 20 cars on Saturday and then a Final with 20 cars on Sunday (10 cars qualifying for the final from each semi final). Another possibility is that they might think of having just 1 car per nation but to let each of the two drivers do one separate race, and then add up the points from both races. In such a system they would have two finals with each 20 cars in it. They could then have two 20 car sprint races on Saturday to determine the Sunday grid of each race.

 

20 teams with 2 drivers from 20 nations is a lot. I will have a think about which drivers could be signed for such a championship. It would be exciting for sure, in particular with powerful V8 or V10 single seaters that reminds us of what IndyCar and F1 were like in the '90s or the '80s. Or F5000 in the '70s.

 

The choice to race on Grade 2 circuits is a great one and a must for sure. They also did that with the previous A1GP Series. Nowadays all major single seater / feeder series championships prefer to drive on the same Grade 1 tracks. Since each F4 championship is allowed to do two races outside of their country (F4 is officially a national class so it has to be run on national circuits with the exception of 2 tracks) they almost always opt for two current F1 circuits. Because the young drivers always prefer to race on a track that is currently on the F1 calendar, since they want to have circuit knowledge of those tracks before they move to F3 or F2 later.

 

Sadly the F. Regional Europe Series also mainly opts for current F1 circuits, exactly because of that reason. Those F4 championships compete against each other to get the best and the most drivers with their calendar. The result is that many beautiful race tracks in Europe or used less and less and less in favour of F1 tracks, which is sad. GB3 even convinced the FIA to allow them to visit 3 tracks outside the UK this year, with the argument that they are not a national class like F4. They are visiting the Hungaroring, Zandvoort and Spa this year. That means no GB3 at Snetterton (GB4 races there) or Thruxton or Knockhill (which are on British F4 calendar).

Italian F4 skips Magione (small track but Lance Stroll raced on it when he was in Italian F4 in 2014) and I would love to see them race on the very spectacular Enna Pergusa track that was used in F3000, nowadays only touring cars still race there.

In France Le Vigeant, Albi and Bugatti lost their spot on the F4 calendar. French F3 also used to race at Croix-en-Ternoix.
A consequence of national championships dropping local tracks for more famous tracks abroad, is that autosport is losing the connection of local fans who live near the circuits that are not visited anymore, those circuits often have to love from club races instead which is sad. It actively destroys the connection with local fans thus you are also decreasing your audience that visits races this way.

 

In this excellent article, several former drivers and a former team boss (from Team Switzerland) talk about their time in A1GP, and all of them loved their time in it and are very nostalgic about it.

 

What is very clear is that the defunct A1GP Series was able to get large crowds to visit the races, as this quote from former Team Ireland driver Adam Carroll demonstrates:

"Everywhere we went, I was always blown away by the crowds and how many people actually showed up to watch it" Adam Carroll"

 

https://www.motorspo...ected/10488522/

 

So clearly the concept was able to get people to visit the races in large numbers. That proves that the concept was, and surely still is, attractive. And today it could position itself in a niche target with fast cars that actually make noise and impress all your senses.

 

 

They had beautiful, old school, tracks that they visited, this was the list of circuits they went to and I'm sure several could and will feature again althoug they said they would go to Grade 2 tracks, that would exclude for example Sepang:

 

-  Brands Hatch  (GB)

-  Lausitzring  (Germany)                             (not a big fan of Lausitz to be honest, would prefer a race on the Sachsenring which is a very spectacular track that goes up and down)

-  Estoril  (Portugal) ***                                 (Estoril currently actualy have a Grade 1 licence, just like Portimao, but it is underused)

-  Portimao  (Portugal)                                 (Grade 1)

-  Eastern Creek  (Australia)

-  Sepang  (Malaysia)                                   (Grade 1)

-  Dubai Autodrome  (UAE)                           (fantastic circuit, has Grade 1 licence though, F. Regional Middle East races on it)

-  Durban Street Circuit  (South Africa)

-  Kyalami  (South Africa)

-  Sentul  (Indonesia)

-  Taupo  (New Zealand)                              (fantastic location)

-  Fundidora Park  (Mexico)                         (defunct circuit, doesn't exist anymore)

-  Laguna Seca  (USA)

-  Shanghai  (China)                                    (Grade 1 F1 track so won't be on the calendar for sure)

-  Jinkai street circuit  (China)

-  Zhuhai (China)

-  Chengdu Golden Port  (China)

-  Zandvoort  (Netherlands)                         (Grade 1 F1)

-  Brno  (Czech Republic)

-  Autodr. Hermanos Rodriguez  (Mexico)    (Grade 1 F1)

 

Planned but canceled races (most as part of the season that didn't go ahead)

 

-  Mugello  (Italy)                                          (Grade 1)

-  Jakarta street circuit  (Indonesia)

-  Surfers Paradise  (Australia)                    (former IndyCar street circuit)

-  Interlagos  (Brazil)                                     (Grade 1 F1)

-  Sachsenring  (Germany)

-  Assen  (Netherlands)

 

 

The Superleague Formula was a similar concept but with soccer teams instead of nations and they raced on the following circuits:

 

-  Donington Park  (GB)

-  Silverstone  (GB)                                     (Grade 1 F1)

-  Nürburgring  (Germany)                          (Grade 1)

-  Zolder  (Belgium)

-  Estoril  (Portugal)                                    (Grade 1)

-  Portimâo  (Portugal)                                (Grade 1)

-  Vallelunga  (Italy)

-  Monza  (Italy)                                           (Grade 1 F1)

-  Adria  (Italy)                                             (sadly this track went bankrupt during the corona period, it had top facilities including a fantastic kart track)

-  Jerez  (Spain)                                          (Grade 1)

-  Jarama  (Spain)

-  Navarra  (Spain)

-  Magny Cours  (France)                           (Grade 1)

-  Assen  (Netherlands)

-  Ordos  (China)

-  Beijing street circuit  (China)

 

In 2014, 4-5 years after the A1 GP Series folded, a Dutch organization launched the Formula Acceleration 1 Series with the same concept (nations) and they added a music event + bike, V6 pickups and Legend cars to offer a complete entertainment package). Allas they couldn't finance a second season so it lasted only one year (2014). They used the actual same cars that A1 GP had used.
They used the following circuits:

 

-  Navarra  (Spain)

-  Valencia  (Spain)                                    (Grade 1)

-  Portimâo  (Portugal)                               (Grade 1)

-  Nürburgring  (Germany)                         (Grade 1)

-  Monza  (Italy)                                          (Grade 1)

-  Assen  (Netherlands)         

 

the following planned races were canceled (in 2014):

 

-  Zolder  (Belgium)

-  Le Castellet   (France)                           (Grade 1)

-  Grobnik  (Croatia)

-  Hungaroring  (Hungary)                         (Grade 1 F1)

 

 

 

Which current FIA Grade 2 licenced permanent tracks were never used in A1GP, Superleague Formula or A1 Acceleration?

 

-  Most  (Czech Republic)

-  Franciacorta (Italy)                                 (short track, Italian F4 has raced there, they actually have a world class karting track right next to the car circuit, that is also the case in Portimâo, Valencia and Bahrein)

-  Slovakia Ring  (Slovakia)

-  Oued Zem   (Morocco)

-  Fiorano  (Italy)                                        (this obviously can't be used, Ferrari owns it and it's private)

-  Dijon-Prenois  (France)                          (gorgeous track but quite small)

-  Inje Speedium (South Korea)

-  Yeongam  (South Korea)                        (they don't have a Grade 1 anymore, I assume few races still take place here, I've heard they still do some moto racing on it)

-  Lihpao  (Vietnam)                                   (I honestly didn't know this one)

-  Lime Rock  (USA)

-  Mid Ohio  (USA)                                      (this would be awesome)

-  Avondale / NOLA  (USA)

-  Portland  (USA)

-  Elkhart Lake / Road America)  (USA)     (another gem of a track)

-  Road Atlanta  (USA)

-  Sebring  (USA)

-  Sonoma / Sears Point

-  Alton / Virgina Raceway  (USA)

-  Watkins Glen  (USA)

-  Madras  (India)

-  Motegi  (Japan)

-  Mimasaka / Okayama International Circuit

-  Sugo  (Japan)

-  Sarabetsu / Tokachi International Speedway

-  Norisring  (Germany)                                    (not permanent and small but wouldn't that be cool)

-  The Bend  (Australia)

-  Zhejiang  (China)

-  Zhuzhou  (China)

 

- These are current permanent FIA Grade 3 tracks, some of them might be upgraded to Grade 2

 

-  Darwin / Hidden Valley  (Australia)

-  Philip Island  (Australia)

-  Willowbank / Quensland Raceway  (Australia)

-  Sandown  (Australia)

-  Symmons Plain (Australia)

-  Wanneroo (Australia)

-  Winton  (Australia, licence has expired in 2022)

-  Circuit Chris Amon / Feilding  (New Zealand)

-  Hampton Downs  (New Zealand)

-  Highlands Motorsport Park / Cromwell  (New Zealand)

-  Christchurch / Ruapuna  (New Zealand)

-  Taupo  (New Zealand)                                        (A1GP actually raced here, but it currently has only Grade 3 licence)

-  Teretonga Park  (New Zealand)

-  Timaru  (New Zealand)

-  Brainerd  (USA)

-  Homestead-Miami  (USA)

-  New Jersey Motorsport Parc  (USA)

-  Amozoc / Autodromo Miguel Abed  (Mexico)

-  Aneau du Rhin  / Blitzheim  (France)                   (this one should be easy to upgrade to Grade 2)

-  Pau-Arnos  (France)

-  Enna-Pergusa  (Italy)                                           (very spectacular and very quick track around a lake with a mountain background)

-  Autodromo Riccardo Paletti / Varano  (Italy)

-  Everland Speedway  (South Korea)                     (never heard of this one)

-  Guangdong  (China)

-  Croft  (GB)

-  Snetterton  (GB)

-  Oulton Park  (GB)

-  Thruxton  (GB)

-  Knockhill  (GB)

-  Salzburgring  (Austria)

-  Poznan  (Poland)

 

Grade 4:

 

-  Grobnik  (Croatia)                         (there was a race planned here for Formula Acceleration A1, with A1 GP cars, former Moto GP track!)

-  Goiana  (Brazil)

-  Goodwood  (GB)

-  Mondello Park  (Ireland)

-  Pembrey  (Wales)

-  Guizhou  (China)

-  Nanjing  (China)

-  Shanghai Tianma  (China)

-  Xi'an  (China)

-  Xianmen  (China)

-  Jyllands Ringen , Siljeborg  (Denmark)

 

 

*** a track I'm missing from those lists is Anderstorp in Sweden, it is still used actively.

- 

[PayasYouRace]

Is there a TLDR of that dissertation?

[Gambelli]

It would be great if each driver could run an maximum of ⅓ of the season, so it really would be about the nations and not the drivers.

 

Adding to what Will said, imagine Team Germany announcing Schumacher Vettel and a couple of young up and comers as their racing drivers for the season.  Same can be said for France, GB, or many other nationalities with a solid roster of drivers....

 

It could be pretty good, but it would need to be Super Formula cars with a more advanced aero package and extra power..... to sit in that gap between SF and F1

[Sterzo]

If anything, I think it should be pitched lower - say F3 level. There's a catch-22 in that the higher the series is pitched, the fewer the countries which can find suitable drivers.

[Ben1445]

The national teams idea is something that the FIA and SRO have been trying to achieve through the FIA Motorsport Games. Biennial event of multiple disciplines, with the next one being October this year.  Nations win by medal tally across the categories, like the Olympics. 

 

Think where that perhaps struggles at present is in not bringing in the star-power names. Last few times it happened I barely knew it was on or how/where to watch, and the list of categories and entrants or even locations weren't exactly impressive. 

 

I think it has an advantage over A1GP or a mooted revival by being held over the course of a few days rather than a whole season. If the FIA cleared the calendars so drivers in most major championships were available it might stand a chance. 

 

I do like the idea and think it has potential, but it needs a lot of work to grow it into a meaningful event in the global motorsport calendar. 

[EvilPhil II]

I have been watching reruns of A1GP races from the beginning of the series, with the original Gen 1 'Wacky Races' car and then with the Ferrari F1 2004-esque chassis and V8 engines.

 

Many things have struck me while watching this hidden gem of a series:

1. The cars sound fantastic, particularly the first-gen cars. Amazing tones and strength of sound.
2. The first-gen cars looked ridiculous at the time with their leant-back wings and dorsal fins, but now when I look back, they look somewhat normal and tame. F1 adopted most of those styling cues only a few years after we were laughing at these cars. And actually, these first-gen A1GP cars arguably look better than the F1 car impersonations.
3. The first-gen car slip angles are insanely entertaining. Why can't we do that in F1 today with a control tyre? Why are we moving to a narrower tyre once again? It appears having these super-wide rear tyres created better slip angles and more drag, which was great for slipstreaming and racing.
4. I had no idea A1GP was first to introduce the idea of a boost button. It's similar to DRS, but it somehow increases the power for a specific duration during the races. I recall maybe Formula Palmer Audi did this maybe just beforehand.
5. No DRS equals great, hard, close racing. None of these silly easy passes, even with the boost buttons.
6. I completely forgot Michelin was the spec tyre for the second-gen Ferrari car. Again, you can really see the speed of direction change on the footage. It made observing the cars fantastically entertaining.
7. I completely forgot how many ex-F1 drivers raced in the series before or after their F1 careers: Jos Verstappen, Nelson Piquet Jr.
8. The circuits that they raced on were classics and really solid, flowing tracks: Brands Hatch, Kyalami, Mugello, the original Zandvoort, Portimão, Estoril, Mexico City with the original corners and a few chicanes (The esses and the first corners were so much better back then than they are today), Laguna Seca, Sepang, and even Shanghai.

Amazing stuff.

Edited by EvilPhil II, 16 April 2025 - 20:28.

[FLB]

I have been watching reruns of A1GP races from the beginning of the series, with the original Gen 1 'Wacky Races' car and then with the Ferrari F1 2004-esque chassis and V8 engines.

 

Many things have struck me while watching this hidden gem of a series:

1. The cars sound fantastic, particularly the first-gen cars. Amazing tones and strength of sound.
2. The first-gen cars looked ridiculous at the time with their leant-back wings and dorsal fins, but now when I look back, they look somewhat normal and tame. F1 adopted most of those styling cues only a few years after we were laughing at these cars. And actually, these first-gen A1GP cars arguably look better than the F1 car impersonations.
3. The first-gen car slip angles are insanely entertaining. Why can't we do that in F1 today with a control tyre? Why are we moving to a narrower tyre once again? It appears having these super-wide rear tyres created better slip angles and more drag, which was great for slipstreaming and racing.
4. I had no idea A1GP was first to introduce the idea of a boost button. It's similar to DRS, but it somehow increases the power for a specific duration during the races. I recall maybe Formula Palmer Audi did this maybe just beforehand.
5. No DRS equals great, hard, close racing. None of these silly easy passes, even with the boost buttons.
6. I completely forgot Michelin was the spec tyre for the second-gen Ferrari car. Again, you can really see the speed of direction change on the footage. It made observing the cars fantastically entertaining.
7. I completely forgot how many ex-F1 drivers raced in the series before or after their F1 careers: Jos Verstappen, Nelson Piquet Jr.
8. The circuits that they raced on were classics and really solid, flowing tracks: Brands Hatch, Kyalami, Mugello, the original Zandvoort, Portimão, Estoril, Mexico City with the original corners and a few chicanes (The esses and the first corners were so much better back then than they are today), Laguna Seca, Sepang, and even Shanghai.

Amazing stuff.

9. The revelation of Nico Hülkenberg.

[Sterzo]

A1GP was a fantastic series, and the cars could certainly RACE. Nico Hulkenberg and Robbie Kerr swapping places on the Grand Prix circuit at Brands Hatch in 2007 was phenomenal to watch. Hulk's winning margin of 0.6 seconds suggests following closely wasn't much of a problem...

[EvilPhil II]

I forgot 1 thing...

 

10. They also had the sprint race weekend back then.  Another one that F1 has adopted only the past few years at least 10 years after A1GP introduced it. 

[Ruusperi]

I forgot 1 thing...

10. They also had the sprint race weekend back then. Another one that F1 has adopted only the past few years at least 10 years after A1GP introduced it.

GP2 had sprints before A1GP.
Not that those are something that F1 should have ever adopted, as it lessens the prestige of the Grand Prix.

[EvilPhil II]

GP2 had sprints before A1GP.
Not that those are something that F1 should have ever adopted, as it lessens the prestige of the Grand Prix.

I did not realize that. Interesting.
And I agree with your sentiment on it diluting the statue of a GP. For example, is my mum aware that lewis has not won a GP for Ferrari yet? Or that he has no poles for them? I doubt it.

[PayasYouRace]

GP2 had sprints before A1GP.
Not that those are something that F1 should have ever adopted, as it lessens the prestige of the Grand Prix.

Both series started in 2005 so it’s much of a muchness.

BTCC had sprints in 1998.

[ensign14]

Heck, Daytona had the twin quallies as championship events back to 1959...

[BRG]

Wasn't Push To Pass introduced in Indycars and/or CART frim 2004?

[PayasYouRace]

Wasn't Push To Pass introduced in Indycars and/or CART frim 2004?

Something like that, as was the “must run both compounds” rule for tyres.

Both were introduced when Champ Car became a single engine and single tyre series.

[jonpollak]

Seeing this on the front page of the forum got my hopes up.

Jp

[Stoffel]

With all their sportwashing I genuinely don't understand why the Gulf states haven't attempted to revive A1GP to rival F1.

[Stephane]

With all the GP they have, they don't need to rival f1

[PayasYouRace]

With all their sportwashing I genuinely don't understand why the Gulf states haven't attempted to revive A1GP to rival F1.

They don’t need to. They know only a handful of enthusiasts will watch a home grown series, while by having multiple GPs on the F1 calendar they tap into the largest motorsport audience in the world.