The Future of F1 perhaps?

[JamesH]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11354875

I like it!!

[Sodemo]

Its probably the only kind of racing that will be allowed at Castle Combe and probably Oulton Park soon.

[SennaTheGreat]

Good idea in theory, needs some work though (25 mins before a charge, would make intresting pit stops ) I think I could get used to it but I would certainly miss the roar of a engine.

[JamesH]

I do see it as the saviour of some of the tracks badly affected by nimby's. And of course, it should be a good technology driver if taken up by the top racing series. Should also be cheaper once storage is sorted out - electric motors are more robust, so no £20k engine rebuilds every five minutes. And with so few moving parts, much less to go wrong.

[SennaTheGreat]

I understand what your saying regarding the cost-cutting but surely petrolheads like me will miss the roars of the engines too much?

[JagtechOhio]

That's funny, I read the thread title and was hoping it was about Gutierrez.

Electric race cars still need a better battery or more development of supercapacitor technology, but the day is coming.

[JamesH]

Originally Posted by SennaTheGreat

I understand what your saying regarding the cost-cutting but surely petrolheads like me will miss the roars of the engines too much?

These car will be faster accelerating, with a high top speed, perhaps faster round corners if they can keep the battery weight down. Just quieter. But I do see what you are getting at - you do need noise, and perhaps smell as well!

In the end it will come down to the noise nimby's stopping anything over 95db(ish) anyway. Sad but true. Even the 2CV races at Snet have complaints.

[SennaTheGreat]

2cv races have complaints! Mind i do understand where they are coming from, they do sound like a lawnmower only alot slower lol

[ASCII Man]

Foxy.




The car/bike is fine too, I guess.

[NaBUru38]

I don't need the small. But you can put some speakers on the cars to keep the roar.

[bravo]

A lot of the noise is from the tyres.. so until we have hovercars..

[johntt]

No noise, no soul.

A handful of diesels or electrics at Le Mans is ok because they are balanced out by all the Corvettes, Ferraris and Porsches etc.

But a whole field of electric cars? Thats not going to appeal to people.

[ECW Dan Selby]

It'd just seem like the fans were going absolutely crazy at somewhere like Monza, wouldn't it?

Selby

[Super Hans]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

I don't need the small. But you can put some speakers on the cars to keep the roar.

The only thing worse than no engine noise would be artificial engine noise.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by Super Hans

The only thing worse than no engine noise would be artificial engine noise.

What about dubbed on engine noise, like in the movies?

There are many things that race that don't make a noise, why should F1 be any different? *waits for inevitable tide of opposing views*

Imagine wind tunnels being turned into wind farms so that the cars are charged up only by the effects of mother nature. I feel a tree hug coming on!

[Sodemo]

Adverts promoting racing products or other motorsport related showreels still use Ferrari F1 V12 sounds from 15 years ago...

[Tall Chris]

OK we go electric to satisfy the NIMBYs, however I propose that all the teams insist on charging their cars with power from 250ft wind turbines to be installed around the perimeter of the circuit. If you want green we can do green.

[Birddog07]

Screw it lets just install sails on all the cars. Now that'd take some skill (not to say any form of motorsport already doesnt).

[JamesH]

Originally Posted by Birddog07

Screw it lets just install sails on all the cars. Now that'd take some skill (not to say any form of motorsport already doesnt).

Already have sand yachts. And very fast they are too.

[Birddog07]

But this will be sail powered F1 Grands Prix.

:/

[bravo]

Originally Posted by Birddog07

But this will be sail powered F1 Grands Prix.

:/

Isn't there already F1 Yacht racing? I know there is F1 Powerboats.

edit: and for the record they are VERY loud

[Razor]

Just thinking of an alternative soultion, hydrogen fueled F1?

[Down F0rce]

It probably wouldn't make a huge difference to the TV audience, but it would kill the atmosphere of attending an F1 race in person. F1 should only go this route if they want Turkey and China attendance all year round.

[Lancsbreaker]

I could go for dubbed on engine sounds if they were from that Aston Martin (car 12) that ran in the International GT races at Brands last weekend - fabulous, even if it physically hurt at trackside.

From a driver's point of view our engine noise is pretty suppressed by the helmet - engine noise barely registers until I hear it bouncing off the limiter ;-)

[Pingguest]

Personally I don't think Formula 1 will soon go full electronic. However, things would become very interesting if the rules would dictate that the propulsion should be accomplished exclusively by (a) electronic motor(s). Teams could still use a internal combustion engine, but only as a generator.