Discussion
The entry list for the FHRA Nitro Nationals at Alastaro next month http://www.fhra.fi/pdf/NITRO_ilmo.pdf shows a very healthy 13 entries for FIA Pro Stock.
Is this a record for the FIA series to date ?
There was talk a couple of years ago of sixteen car fields in the future, it seems to be heading that way.
Which begs the question, can the promoters afford to run a sixteen car field in FIA Pro Stock without affecting other classes ?
Is this a record for the FIA series to date ?
There was talk a couple of years ago of sixteen car fields in the future, it seems to be heading that way.
Which begs the question, can the promoters afford to run a sixteen car field in FIA Pro Stock without affecting other classes ?
JohnW said:
Which begs the question, can the promoters afford to run a sixteen car field in FIA Pro Stock without affecting other classes ?
Probably not. It wasn't so long ago that some promoters were only wanting to run an 4 car field in Top Fuel. I suspect we're likely to see a similar situation to what we have in Top Fuel Bike, with large numbers of entrants chasing 8 qualifying positions.Apart from the large Pro Stock field, the thing that struck me about the Alastaro entry list was the welcome return of Patrick Wikström in Pro Mod. It's been a while, and it'll be great to see him back on track.
http://argent.fia.com/web/fia-public.nsf/A7E7B84BD...
Regulation 6.2 of the Championship reads:
6.2 At each event a minimum of three and a maximum of 6 qualifying
sessions (except Top Fuel maximum 4) should be scheduled for
each class, of which at least one session must be completed. The
maximum number of cars taking part in first round elimination is
16 in each class. Each organiser has the right to maximize the
first round of elimination’s to 8 cars in each class. For 8 cars
or less FIA progressive ladders must be used. The minimum
number of qualified cars for a 16 car ladder is 19. All eliminations
have to take place on the final day of the event unless more than
13 cars are in the first round of the elimination, in which case the
first round can only take place on the day before the final day of
the event or on the final day of the event. The system of qualifying
and eliminations is described in the Drag Racing Regulations.
Therefore don't hold your breath for a 16 car field.
Regulation 6.2 of the Championship reads:
6.2 At each event a minimum of three and a maximum of 6 qualifying
sessions (except Top Fuel maximum 4) should be scheduled for
each class, of which at least one session must be completed. The
maximum number of cars taking part in first round elimination is
16 in each class. Each organiser has the right to maximize the
first round of elimination’s to 8 cars in each class. For 8 cars
or less FIA progressive ladders must be used. The minimum
number of qualified cars for a 16 car ladder is 19. All eliminations
have to take place on the final day of the event unless more than
13 cars are in the first round of the elimination, in which case the
first round can only take place on the day before the final day of
the event or on the final day of the event. The system of qualifying
and eliminations is described in the Drag Racing Regulations.
Therefore don't hold your breath for a 16 car field.
Edited by NitroWars on Thursday 21st June 13:43
NitroWars said:
http://argent.fia.com/web/fia-public.nsf/A7E7B84BD...
The minimum
number of qualified cars for a 16 car ladder is 19.
Did not realise that the rules had changed from 13 cars minimum to 19 cars minimum for 16 car eliminator.The minimum
number of qualified cars for a 16 car ladder is 19.
Edited by NitroWars on Thursday 21st June 13:43
Thanks for pointing that out Nitrowars.
JohnW said:
NitroWars said:
http://argent.fia.com/web/fia-public.nsf/A7E7B84BD...
The minimum
number of qualified cars for a 16 car ladder is 19.
Did not realise that the rules had changed from 13 cars minimum to 19 cars minimum for 16 car eliminator.The minimum
number of qualified cars for a 16 car ladder is 19.
Edited by NitroWars on Thursday 21st June 13:43
Thanks for pointing that out Nitrowars.
NitroWars said:
You're welcome and probably not the only one!
No, I'd managed to miss that as well. I'm guessing that was put there to pacify the promoters at each track, but I really don't think it's a good idea. The rules already allowed the promoters to restrict any of the FIA classes to an 8 car field. The only outcome I can see of this change will be to stifle the growth of the sport. We've had 13 Top Fuel teams at a meeting before now. And that's just about workable. 5 teams not qualifying gives everyone an incentive, and adds excitement for the crowd. But it's probably about at the limit of what's sustainable. With the new rule, we could reach the stage where over half the field don't qualify. Given how expensive it is, what incentive is there for new teams to join the class, particularly given that the established teams are now consistently running the numbers, and thus likely to take the lion's share of the qualifying slots? Surely if the class is to grow, then the field sizes need to grow with it. But as it stands, even if one of the bigger meetings (Mantorp, say) wanted to run a 16 car field with 14 cars, and deemed it profitable to do so, the rules wouldn't let them. I can't see how that benefits anyone.BTW, none of the above applies exclusively to Top Fuel, but I think it's the class that will suffer most. It's the most expensive to run in, and it's the one that's probably closest to being able to run as a 16 car field (under the old rules, at least), excepting Pro Mod which is already there, of course.
Edited by Tet on Friday 22 June 11:20
Just wondering, anybody from the UK heading over to check things out?Gassing Station | Drag Racing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff