A1 GP

[BrItIsH LiOn]

Hi, I haven't seen any threads for A1 so i'll start one...What do you guys think of this sport?

 

[Ecco]

Tried to watch a race or two, but it never caught on, even though they had races in SA.

 

[BrItIsH LiOn]

I like the concept that it's nations against each other. But I think it would be interesting if their car must all have locally produced engines, gearboxes etc. But then the problem would be that you will have teams like GB and USA owning in front and Pakistan at the back

 

[killadoob]

I cannot get into it hey, not through a lack of trying either.

 

[ProAsm]

The whole thing is a bit of a joke, especially the SA team with their bee politicians who know less about motor racing than what I know about walking on the moon.

 

[LancelotSA]

The whole thing is a bit of a joke, especially the SA team with their bee politicians who know less about motor racing than what I know about walking on the moon.

And isn't this the case with a lot of motorsports? The boss is not the one with the best understanding of motor racing but the one with the most money to throw at the team!


I went to two of the A1 races in Durban and thoroughly enjoyed myself. It is great being able to support your country rather than some random driver. That is often the problem with formula one. Do you support the driver (who then leaves for another team) or do you support the actual team? I know most people seem to do a mixture of the two.

I have to admit to having lost interest in motor sport altogether now though and really just keep half an ear open for what is happening. I'd definitely recommend going to a race when it is here though.

 

[HapticSimian]

Formula 1 gained its appeal because it was, technologically speaking, the pinnacle of motorsport. It was a playground to see what can be achieved if you throw obscene amounts of money at the goal of making things go fast & stop faster. Much of this innovation has been blunted by safety and monetary constraints, I suppose justifiably so...

But A1, in comparison, is a joke. Sticking a bunch of nobodies in identical cars is just not special enough. Regardless of how spectacular the cars are (and they are - the fastest open-wheelers around, second only to F1) making them all the same just makes it boring.

I also tried. I'll 'try' watching any form of motorsport. But this is just as dull as the rednecks who go around in circles for 500 miles in the US, albeit for totally different reasons.

 

[Willie Trombone]

The problem I have with A1 is that for the past 2 years I believe we have shared Switzerland's tech staff / garage... how can that not be a conflict of interest.

 

[BrItIsH LiOn]

The problem I have with A1 is that for the past 2 years I believe we have shared Switzerland's tech staff / garage... how can that not be a conflict of interest.

South Africa probably don't have the expertise that Switzerland have. Africa isn't know for it's racing and quality racing engineers besides that one from ferrari

 

[cr@zydude]

I think that it is a nice idea. I see it as a step below F1 though, Maybe on par with GP2.

 

[Willie Trombone]

South Africa probably don't have the expertise that Switzerland have. Africa isn't know for it's racing and quality racing engineers besides that one from ferrari

And you know this how?
I am from a small town and know at least one guy from SA who is senior tech for the BMW F1 garage... There are alot of SA folk all over the world, believe me. It's about getting them to work for SA that's the challenge. Still, we do have some skills out there. Maybe not the same as Switzerland but my point is you can be assured that when the rubber hits the road, Switzerland will get preference so we have no hope of a p1 ever.

BTW, what ever happened to Alan vd Merwe?
http://www.southafrica.info/about/sport/features/bonneville.htm

Johannesburg-born Van der Merwe won the the British F3 championship in 2003, following in the footsteps of drivers such as Mika Hakkinen, Ayrton Senna and Rubens Barrichello.

He is currently a member of the BAR Honda Young Drivers programme, and has been selected as one of South Africa's drivers in the A1 Grand Prix series that started in September.

 

[BrItIsH LiOn]

Thats the thing, there are South African people around, but they just move and change citizenship. The government wastes South Africa's talent