Is anyone watching the formula E?

[Dusty964]

Having never seen a full race, followed the championship nor even able to tell you team names or drivers for that matter....
The TV coverage is putting a lot of emphasis on Jaguar.
The cars look.....generic.

Is it utterly dull?

Would rather be watching Bathurst but can find it...

[ajprice]

Yes I'm watching. I think I prefer it without Jenny Gow and the McLaren ex mechanic in the studio as it was on ITV4 last season, and happy they kept Dario. Front wings look better. Looks like Piquet Jr is back in it this time (he won the first championship, then had a crap car last season). Watch it for the oddness of changing cars at the pit stop, and there probably will be some crashy shenanigans.

[Dusty964]

Seems to be some well known drivers.
Certainly more than i expected.
Will watch with an open mind.

[Adrian W]

They are looking very slow, would love to see them on a circuit to get an idea of the actual speed now, i saw them in London and they were very slow

[geeks]

Well the lap the full Donington GP in 1:28.910 (fastest time from the pre season test) make of that what you will!

I enjoyed watching them run, it has potential I think.

[Dusty964]

Suprisingly enjoyable.

[Hub]

First one I've watched properly too. The cars looked slow, but maybe partly because the track isn't that exciting. The race is short and the last few laps are the most interesting when they go for it to use up the rest of the batteries (they don't last long do they?!)

[Adrian W]

geeks said:

Well the lap the full Donington GP in 1:28.910 (fastest time from the pre season test) make of that what you will!

I enjoyed watching them run, it has potential I think.

So in real terms about the same as a formula ford or a gt3 car

[geeks]

Adrian W said:

geeks said:

Well the lap the full Donington GP in 1:28.910 (fastest time from the pre season test) make of that what you will!

I enjoyed watching them run, it has potential I think.

So in real terms about the same as a formula ford or a gt3 car

Yeah seems about right, but they can only get faster, which is a good thing.

[768]

I watched it. More expertise around electric cars can't be a bad thing, but as an event it's just so dull.

[HustleRussell]

I've dipped into the championship every year to see how it develops. I'm now watching the inaugural race of the 3rd season. As I say every year, the biggest problem is the circuits which are all shyte. The shyte circuits make the cars look shyte and the races boring. They need better track surfaces, wider tracks and a greater variety of corners. The other thing I say every year is for fks sake lose 'fanboost'.

[AnotherClarkey]

Adrian W said:

So in real terms about the same as a formula ford or a gt3 car

In real terms a second off F3 pace and achieved on treaded tyres rather than slicks.

[AlexRS2782]

Just like last year I didn't even realise it was due to start up again.

Last year ITV barely advertised it apart from the occasional sting on ITV4, except for the London race of course which was on ITV1 so had more placement, and from what I can now find online they decided to dump the coverage after last season due to "poor viewing figures". Ah yes, that old chestnut where fewer people watch than before, but it has nothing to do with them doing little to advertise when it's on, unless you have already looked up the race calendar online.

I only realised it was back on this weekend when I saw a promo for it on C5 last night and realised they must have picked up the rights from ITV for this season.

I still quite enjoy it tbh and it's nice to see a few new manufacturers entering - I think Mercedes have announced they intend to join by 2018/9 too. Hopefully by then the cars and tech will be at a stage where you can actually get a full race without the current car swap scenario.

Edited by AlexRS2782 on Sunday 9th October 20:01

[Big Al.]

As you've asked, err No.

[WonkeyDonkey]

I watched the race last weekend. The racing itself isn't too bad, just wish the cars were faster though, they never seem to pick up any kind of speed on the straights. If it wasn't for the grid being full of familiar names I probably wouldn't watch it much more.

[andrewcliffe]

They're quick-ish for a heavy single seater.

Minimum weight is 880kgs with driver, compared to 570kgs for the latest 2011 spec Dallara F3 car permitted in F3 Cup.

Power is equivalent of 225bhp or 270bhp in qualifying trim.

Testing times in race trim were a couple of seconds a lap slower than F3 Cup, and slightly faster than Monoposto F3 - both series aimed at skilled amateur drivers working on a tiny budget in comparison.

[MitchT]

I've watched a few races but I miss a lot because I'm never really aware of when it's going to be on and don't feel motivated to make the effort to find out. The cars are too slow and gimmicks like fan-boost, having to swap cars at half distance and its whole clinical, squeaky clean persona don't do it any favours. It just doesn't feel enough like real motor racing to me. It strikes me as a race series that's trying to get noticed by employing vaguely recognisable names who, in turn, have agreed to participate because doing so is marginally better than vanishing from the public consciousness. Maybe 'millennials' understand it.

[T0M]

Watching reminds me of the Red Bull soap box challenge. Ahm oot

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

The whole season finished up in confusion last year. Still not sure who won it or why

[smn159]

I was at Battersea Park to see the championship race last season and it was pretty piss poor experience TBH. Very poor viewing arrangements - could barely glimpse the cars (didn't have a grandstand ticket sadly) and ended up watching it on the big screen in the field after a while.

Rules seemed complicated as well. Cars themselves looked good when I could actually see one, but I won't be bothering to attend again.