What if there were no car design regs? Answered...
Discussion
Well you get this!
Turns faster than an F1 car, accelerates faster... 0-100mph and back to 0mph in 6 seconds, or less if the driver had kept up with the speedo...
Now, obviously, this electric car could not possibly manage a GP distance. But what's really interesting is that, unlike an F1 car, anyone with a driving license can (soon) buy one and run it on the road, on the track - you don't even need a team of people to start it and maintain it.
But the real question: If we imagine in twenty years time F1 cars might be fully electric, is this car actually any less stunning to see or hear than the current V6 turbo mufflers that romp around the circuits? To my eye, I quite like the frenetic nature of instant torque exiting a corner, the car can skip yet hang on, it's a limpet that can sidestep on demand using only the accelerator pedal yet doesn't spin - mostly..
is this perhaps a small glimmer of hope that an electric F1 car could offer something more than silent and smooth progress?
Turns faster than an F1 car, accelerates faster... 0-100mph and back to 0mph in 6 seconds, or less if the driver had kept up with the speedo...
Now, obviously, this electric car could not possibly manage a GP distance. But what's really interesting is that, unlike an F1 car, anyone with a driving license can (soon) buy one and run it on the road, on the track - you don't even need a team of people to start it and maintain it.
But the real question: If we imagine in twenty years time F1 cars might be fully electric, is this car actually any less stunning to see or hear than the current V6 turbo mufflers that romp around the circuits? To my eye, I quite like the frenetic nature of instant torque exiting a corner, the car can skip yet hang on, it's a limpet that can sidestep on demand using only the accelerator pedal yet doesn't spin - mostly..
is this perhaps a small glimmer of hope that an electric F1 car could offer something more than silent and smooth progress?
Edited by TheDeuce on Thursday 11th May 23:13
Edited by TheDeuce on Thursday 11th May 23:15
rdjohn said:
On a lap around Silverstone, my guess would be that an F1 car would be at least 20s faster.
It would be nice to see, but I doubt that McMurtry would like to have their bubble burst by that.
McMurtry reckon that a single standing lap at Silverstone, would be close to a modern F1 car. IIRC they are actually planning a demo at this year’s GP, after they took the Goodwood hillclimb record last year. It would be nice to see, but I doubt that McMurtry would like to have their bubble burst by that.
The problem, as always, is range. This is a great technology demonstrator, but it can only go a few miles turned up to 11, they might get a ‘Ring lap out of it.
Batteries are still several generations behind being able to run the Grand Prix distance, but there’s massive investment going into it from auto manufacturers. The worry is that they stop short, because good enough for road cars isn’t good enough for race cars.
It’s a shame that Formula E has an FIA monopoly, with what’s little more than a spec series. A well-funded prototype series would generate more interest, and that direction was one of the reasons Mercedes pulled out of that series. They need to say that your car weighs X plus the battery, and be prepared to put out some fires.
mk1coopers said:
Be interesting to see what it could do round a lap against an F1 car, same as those old challenges you see where they would hold the F1 car for 30 seconds whilst the other (fast) car set off on the lap, they may have to do it the other way round with this one 
Apparently it's likely to beat the existing fastest ever Silverstone lap by several seconds - bonkers if true!Here's a thought, F1 drivers always say that out of season training is no match for being in the car, feeling the forces.. but they can buy one of these privately and practice all they want.
Sandpit Steve said:
McMurtry reckon that a single standing lap at Silverstone, would be close to a modern F1 car. IIRC they are actually planning a demo at this year’s GP, after they took the Goodwood hillclimb record last year.
The problem, as always, is range. This is a great technology demonstrator, but it can only go a few miles turned up to 11, they might get a ‘Ring lap out of it.
The McMurtry is undoubtedly very fast, but it's a contrived (very limited range) prototype that isn't eligible for any form motorsport. We've been able to put fans on cars for decades, but no one cares as it wouldn't meet any motorsport regulations and it's useless on the road.The problem, as always, is range. This is a great technology demonstrator, but it can only go a few miles turned up to 11, they might get a ‘Ring lap out of it.
TheDeuce said:
rdjohn said:
On a lap around Silverstone, my guess would be that an F1 car would be at least 20s faster.
It would be nice to see, but I doubt that McMurtry would like to have their bubble burst by that.
No chance. The McMurtry would easily beat the F1 car over a lap.It would be nice to see, but I doubt that McMurtry would like to have their bubble burst by that.
Olivera said:
The McMurtry is undoubtedly very fast, but it's a contrived (very limited range) prototype that isn't eligible for any form motorsport. We've been able to put fans on cars for decades, but no one cares as it wouldn't meet any motorsport regulations and it's useless on the road.
50km at Silverstone lap record pace.otolith said:
Olivera said:
The McMurtry is undoubtedly very fast, but it's a contrived (very limited range) prototype that isn't eligible for any form motorsport. We've been able to put fans on cars for decades, but no one cares as it wouldn't meet any motorsport regulations and it's useless on the road.
50km at Silverstone lap record pace.otolith said:
Olivera said:
The McMurtry is undoubtedly very fast, but it's a contrived (very limited range) prototype that isn't eligible for any form motorsport. We've been able to put fans on cars for decades, but no one cares as it wouldn't meet any motorsport regulations and it's useless on the road.
50km at Silverstone lap record pace.We should all celebrate advances in technology, and this is a brilliant car - but it’s not a serious challenge to F1 pace. It makes less than 3g around the corners, and of course it can accelerate with 4wd and mad torque vertoring, while an F1 car is rwd with no traction control.
Sandpit Steve said:
25km. National circuit rather than F1 circuit.
We should all celebrate advances in technology, and this is a brilliant car - but it’s not a serious challenge to F1 pace. It makes less than 3g around the corners, and of course it can accelerate with 4wd and mad torque vertoring, while an F1 car is rwd with no traction control.
McMurtry is RWD only according to Catchpole's vid?We should all celebrate advances in technology, and this is a brilliant car - but it’s not a serious challenge to F1 pace. It makes less than 3g around the corners, and of course it can accelerate with 4wd and mad torque vertoring, while an F1 car is rwd with no traction control.
otolith said:
Yes, it's RWD, though it does have torque vectoring. The key difference is that it makes downforce standing still - and without incurring a drag penalty.
Which is approximately twice the downforce of an F1 car at around 100mph too.They say it can do around 25 minutes at track speeds so would love to see say a 5 lap comparison running against an F1 car in quali mode just for the fun of it.
Daston said:
They did this a while back for Gran Turismo. Newey was given a breif to make the fastest F1 car possible with no regs.
Would be interesting to see what they both could do lap time wise as the RB motor will have a ton more downforce (plus able to go a full GP distance)
I remember watching a sim racer do a run on the Isle of Man TT course in a little over 10 minutes driving the RB X. Obviously being virtual negates the effect of gravity (which I’d imagine are neck snapping at those speeds) and the risk of instant death is somewhat removed, but the lap was still impressive.Would be interesting to see what they both could do lap time wise as the RB motor will have a ton more downforce (plus able to go a full GP distance)
To put that into perspective, the fastest TT lads complete a lap in around 17 minutes, IRL.
Siao said:
TheDeuce said:
rdjohn said:
On a lap around Silverstone, my guess would be that an F1 car would be at least 20s faster.
It would be nice to see, but I doubt that McMurtry would like to have their bubble burst by that.
No chance. The McMurtry would easily beat the F1 car over a lap.It would be nice to see, but I doubt that McMurtry would like to have their bubble burst by that.
But the question is so often asked 'what if there were no regs', and this car is the closest thing yet so it seemed worth highlighting.
Also, it's a car that anyone (with deep pockets) will soon be able to buy, which I think probably will be of interest to wealthier F1 fans because it opens up the possibility to practice and tackle a lap on any GP circuit in a machine that is genuinely F1 fast, F1 forces.
It's a road car that can pace an F1 car on a circuit. That hasn't happened before.
TikTak said:
otolith said:
Yes, it's RWD, though it does have torque vectoring. The key difference is that it makes downforce standing still - and without incurring a drag penalty.
Which is approximately twice the downforce of an F1 car at around 100mph too.They say it can do around 25 minutes at track speeds so would love to see say a 5 lap comparison running against an F1 car in quali mode just for the fun of it.
The Silverstone National circuit lap record is by a 2005 F1 car, it’s not a record set at the 2005 GP, but rather a demo run of an historic car.
It’s not going to be close to the contemporary F1 car on the Silverstone GP circuit.
Still love it though, and think we should all celebrate the technology. I hope they do turn up at the GP and do a demo lap, it’ll be great to watch.
Sandpit Steve said:
TikTak said:
otolith said:
Yes, it's RWD, though it does have torque vectoring. The key difference is that it makes downforce standing still - and without incurring a drag penalty.
Which is approximately twice the downforce of an F1 car at around 100mph too.They say it can do around 25 minutes at track speeds so would love to see say a 5 lap comparison running against an F1 car in quali mode just for the fun of it.
The Silverstone National circuit lap record is by a 2005 F1 car, it’s not a record set at the 2005 GP, but rather a demo run of an historic car.
It’s not going to be close to the contemporary F1 car on the Silverstone GP circuit.
Still love it though, and think we should all celebrate the technology. I hope they do turn up at the GP and do a demo lap, it’ll be great to watch.
It's also capable of firing out of slow/med corners faster than the F1 car and, braking later - or at least more consistently able to brake later, as it will never lose downforce irrespective of how much it has to slow down or how late or how tight the approaching corner.
I suppose we'll know for sure if it can take the lap record soon enough. Those private buyers are for once not just going to hide their new car away in a shed - they're going to head to the circuit and see if they can grab a new fastest lap record - which would easily add value to their new investment car sufficient to warrant the use of it. The first 'road car' to beat an F1 fastest outright lap at a circuit? That's something of a milestone moment. I think it'll do it, and with surprising ease.
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