Discussion
Shooting the breeze with a mate over the weekend we were lamenting the dire state of F1 and theorising that part of the problem was the huge amount of regulation which meant the cars were very similar in concept and design. Stripped of their fag-packet livery how many F1 cars could you recognise "in the white"?
So, we invented Formula Zero. It would take place on current GP circuits over GP race distances.
Rules are.
1) you must have a driver who must reach the end of the race alive
2)no offensive weaponry - this is racing, not Rollerball !
3) maybe a width restriction (to stop you from building something that just blocks the whole width of the track at 10mph)
4) there are no more rules.
Fuel, engine type and capacity, transmission, aspiration type, aerodynamics (passive or active), wheels and tyres, driver aids and computers - anything you want. Rocket assist on the straights, air brakes, ground effect, gas turbines - totally open. Two wheels, three wheels, four wheels, twenty wheels - whatever you think will be fastest.
The idea is you'd get widely different concepts ranging from behemoths that were awesome on the straights but a pig in the corners to nimble lightweights with smart aerodynamics that could take the whole circuit pretty much flat.
What do you think would be the best concept? What would a F0 championship winning car be like?
So, we invented Formula Zero. It would take place on current GP circuits over GP race distances.
Rules are.
1) you must have a driver who must reach the end of the race alive
2)no offensive weaponry - this is racing, not Rollerball !
3) maybe a width restriction (to stop you from building something that just blocks the whole width of the track at 10mph)
4) there are no more rules.
Fuel, engine type and capacity, transmission, aspiration type, aerodynamics (passive or active), wheels and tyres, driver aids and computers - anything you want. Rocket assist on the straights, air brakes, ground effect, gas turbines - totally open. Two wheels, three wheels, four wheels, twenty wheels - whatever you think will be fastest.
The idea is you'd get widely different concepts ranging from behemoths that were awesome on the straights but a pig in the corners to nimble lightweights with smart aerodynamics that could take the whole circuit pretty much flat.
What do you think would be the best concept? What would a F0 championship winning car be like?
As to width restriction, how about making it relative to the widest point of the track e.g. cars no more than 33% of the widest point on the circuit
5)must remain in contact with the race track for at least 90% of the race distance. (room for knight rider style turbo boost there to get in front of that irritating back marker...)
6) In normal operation the vehicle should not directly or indirectly causes harm or damage to the other competitors, spectators or track. (should rule out rocketry and weaponry)
5)must remain in contact with the race track for at least 90% of the race distance. (room for knight rider style turbo boost there to get in front of that irritating back marker...)
6) In normal operation the vehicle should not directly or indirectly causes harm or damage to the other competitors, spectators or track. (should rule out rocketry and weaponry)
You make care to read up on the history of the Can-Am series (late 60s onwards, Canadian American Challenge would you believe). Sports race cars, big start and prize money, no max engine capacity, no aero regs, run what you brung.
Some great cars (McLarens, Lolas) and some whacky ideas incl. an engine at each corner and huge driver adjustable wings.
AdrianR
Some great cars (McLarens, Lolas) and some whacky ideas incl. an engine at each corner and huge driver adjustable wings.
AdrianR
quote:
I always liked the Idea of a race (be it F1 or whatever) where the teams have to all buy and run the same model of car..
Then it is down to the driver....
You need to be looking out for Premier1 GP starting next March then.
www.premier1grandprix.com
I'm not involved with them, just a completly p
d off F1 fan/idiot/money reserve/Bernie Eccleston distributed money pit* (* delete as appropriate)
I was shooting the bull with a mate about this, and we reckoned Gordon Murray (in a column in Car IIRC) suggested the best fix:
The cars simply have to have a driver in them, and fit inside a chickewire cage that will be dropped over them at the scrutineering at the finish.
We also thought power should be limited to say 800 BHP, but acheivale however (capacity, turbos whatever you want). This would give designers the opportunity to truly design the cars, rather than just fit them to a rulebook (aso would end the one rule for Ferrari, one for everyone else situation), so that the cars would be quite different, and overtaking would return (though wether any of the drivers could cope with that I don't know, doubt many of them have experienced it in a long time
).
Edited to add: Might also give the smaller teams a chance to be competitive by going out on a limb?)
>> Edited by Fatboy on Thursday 14th March 11:21
The cars simply have to have a driver in them, and fit inside a chickewire cage that will be dropped over them at the scrutineering at the finish.
We also thought power should be limited to say 800 BHP, but acheivale however (capacity, turbos whatever you want). This would give designers the opportunity to truly design the cars, rather than just fit them to a rulebook (aso would end the one rule for Ferrari, one for everyone else situation), so that the cars would be quite different, and overtaking would return (though wether any of the drivers could cope with that I don't know, doubt many of them have experienced it in a long time
). Edited to add: Might also give the smaller teams a chance to be competitive by going out on a limb?)
>> Edited by Fatboy on Thursday 14th March 11:21
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