F1, F2, and the future of Grand Prix racing in Europe

[Fish_Flake]

As we all know, the future of Grand Prix racing in Europe is uncertain. Bernie Ecclestone seems more interested in taking the show global in untested waters rather than preserving the classic races of old. Formula 1 is at odds with the European Union over tobacco advertising, a battle they can only lose. Costs are skyrocketing so much that the entire feeder system is on the brink of collapse. So I began thinking for an idea that would solve these problems, and I came up with one solution that came from the days of yore: a Formula 2 European Championship.

First of all, Formula 3000 is a joke. Teams have been dropping like flies right and left for several years now, and the current grid is at the absolute minimum. Next year, Formula 3000 will become Formula 2, but besides the name change, nothing will be different. The problem, as I see it, is because the current Formula 3000 itself — a normally-aspirated V-8 with a capacity of 3000cc — is obsolete. The formula was created in 1985, when Formula 1 was full-blast in the Turbo Age, and the venerable Cosworth DFV was going the way of the dodo. To make use of all the Cossies lying around, Formula 3000 was born. The concept was good in the '80s, but times change, and in the grounds of safety, turbos were banned in 1989 to make way for a 3.5 liter open formula. In 1995, the regulations were modified again to a 3 liter V10 spec formula.

So, instead of F3000 being 30-year-old technology as it was originally drawn up to be, the engine formula is now nearly identical to today's Formula 1 specifications, and it has been developed along with it, at nearly the same price. It is really no wonder why F3000 is too expensive for most of the junior teams at this time. The current Zytec V-8 generates only 460 horsepower, about the same as the old DFV, so the millions of dollars it costs for today's F3000 engine is not even close to the value one gets from it. The top F3000 teams with money would really be better off investing in an R&D department, build its own chassis, and make the step up to Formula 1.

That's why I think that Formula 3000 should be put to rest, and a new Formula 2 should be created. What is Formula 2? The name doesn't just stand for "it's the nearest step down from Formula 1, hence Formula 2," like it will mean next year under the same F3000. F2 signifies the engine formula: 2-liter V-6s, just like it meant in the old category's heyday in the 1960s and '70s. These F2 engines were the base for the earliest F1 turbo engines from Renault and BMW. The engine was slightly scaled down to 1.5L, then a turbocharger was added. Ironically, the F2 engine therefore was in part responsible for its demise in the early '80s. Logic dictates that if the current F1 engine is a 3L V-10, an F2 engine would be architecturally two-thirds that. Hopefully, that would carry to the fields of finance. Using two-thirds logic, the engine would generate around 550 horsepower, which would be a good step up from the F3000 powerplant.

I'm no automotive engineer, but I think that it would be rather easy to just remove the last two pairs of cylinders on an F1 engine to form this F2 engine. Saying that, there is no practical reason why F1 teams should not be involved in this new formula. Of course, there are plenty of reasons involving money that they shouldn't, but to have your own junior division would really pay off in the long run. So, the FIA makes some generous concessions to the F1 teams to take a part in F2, and with it comes the F2 European Championship. They could even use their own chassis, albeit stripped of much of their aero. Competitive spec chassis and engines would still be available to non-F1 teams, of course. Three benchmarks of the formula: slick tires, no tobacco advertising, and a budget cap with "checkbook cops" who will keep a close eye on all the team's finances to make sure not even the biggest teams are spending over their limit.

The reasons for the Championship are simple: Bernie can have his Grands Prix in Bahrain and East Pakistan if he wants, but Europe would have its own show, and a much more exciting one at that. Thirteen races, including the support races for the four or five F1 events that will remain in Europe. I envision close racing among up-and-coming racers with hopefully some one-offs by the F1 stars (I should mention that there would be no limit to the number of entries a team could have, as long as it's at least one). My idealistic vision also says that the Formula 1 dates would rotate from year to year to separate venues on the Formula 2 calendar. The rest is clockwork: the drivers earn points over the course of the season, and the one with the most at the end of the year is crowned the F2 European Champion and is on his way to the ultimate goal, the F1 World Championship.

So, what do you think? Am I completely off my nut, or could this really happen?

[GTV27]

Thats a very thought provoking post.

Specialised engines (ala F1 - even 2/3's scale) are probably still too expensive and for little overall benefit.

If you really want to slot something in below F1, you could use stock block v6's, probably about 2.5 litres and maybe engine rules akin to F3 - the objective being to have about 400ish hp and reliability.

A bit of neat symetry there F3 is 200hp, F2 is 400hp and F1 is 800hp - or thereabouts).

But, it would be a lot more entertaining if the old F5000 rules were reinvigorated - about 600 to 700 hp, nice sounding, big-banging open wheelers with gumball tyres, fat wings and fearless pilots - Oh YEAH, now that would be good (doesn't really fit into your overall plan though - nevermind, your plan is far too logical for the FIA to adopt anyway )

[Fish_Flake]

My alternative was for a 2.5L stock block. It wouldn't have the power I was hoping for (on the upside of 500 horses) but it would be more economical.

What were the regulations for F5000? I know those cars had some big engines at the time. I'm guessing they were a sort of open-wheeled Can-Am, looking at the timeline, but that's just a guess.

[Rob29]

All these formulas failed due to expense.So one make series seen to have replaced them but even these in the shape of F3000 are no longer economic.Is it not the cost of building /developing the cars but the way teams are run that is the problem?

[Lee Janotta]

I'd go for 3.0L six-cylinder, stock block. A stock-block engine provides a built-in cap on the power that can be made, and therefore, on the money that can be spent.

As for the chassis, I'd put no limits on the numbers of manufacturers, but how about a price cap, adjusted to keep pace with inflation, for a rolling chassis and a spare set? And, of course, after one year of picking and choosing their customers, any engine, tire or chassis manufacturer would have to open up availability and sell to anyone with the money, unless (in the case of a small chassis manufacturer), they could prove to the FIA that they did not have the capacity to produce enough components, _and_ did not have the resources to scale up to such capacity. And in such case, they'd still have to pursue such capacity in good faith to maintain homologation.

If CART goes in the direction it appears to be going, with Bernie and Craig Pollock having a lot of influence, it might be worth having common rules between Euro F2 and the American Grand Prix series, if that the direction it takes (there's that nautious feeling again). Running championships in Europe, North America, and Asia to the same rules could slash costs even further.

Restricting the materials/configuration of certain components could be a good idea too. Maybe a spec gearbox, spec brakes... And of course, since the cars would have to be all-new, I'd introduce the reforms in design regulations I'd like to see anyhow in F1.

[EERO]

Great Post Fishy. I think you are onto something. I'd like to see F2 as was with established F1 stars competing against young up and comers.

I think those who have suggested a stock block Formula are on the right track though. Though I recall reading the F2 proposal suggest 2.4 liter engines which is a 3 liter V10 minus two cylinders.

[f1manoz]

Whatever happens, they need to make F3000/F2 far cheaper than it is. Considering that F1 only has 24 grid spots open, I think the new format should allow as many teams as possible, so then there can be an eventual change in the rules allowing a few more teams in F1, if they can fund it, so then F2 and F3 can keep producing teams and drivers.

But I don't see that happening...

[Irv the Swerve]

It is a difficult formula to get right. F2, being one step below F1, has to prepare the drivers for F1 racing. To do so will require fabulously expensive and complicated cars if they are even going to get close, but these are not cost effective. In an ideal world, the situation would be that a privateer could turn up and be competitive with anyone else(within reason) regardless of budget. The more hi-tech and complicated the car, the less this is likely.

The Nissan V6 Telefonica World Series, or whatever they offically call it, seems like a much better series than F3000, with up and coming new drivers going up against more established and ex-Grand Prix drivers.

The problem is that on the ladder to Grand Prix racing there are too many classes even for those burdened with a big budget, F.Renault,F3, F.RenaultV6, F3000, NissanV6, FNippon, EuroF3000 and even IndyLights for some drivers - surely that is too many. If there was one formula, slotted in after F3 instead of all of those, with common rules all over the world (Lee Janotta's point), then the costs would come down, the playing field would be as level as it could be and we could see who the best drivers were.

I don't think the actual engine capacity, HP, or configuration shouldn't matter too much, just so long as they are cheap, reliable and readily available.

[Peter Mallett]

I liked the old F2. The diversity of engines and chassis made it seriously interesting. I recall Ted Toleman taking Ralt on and beating them with a Hart engine. It's what brought Brian Hart to the fore.

Honda came along with it's V6 and stole the show. But we had March, Ralt, Boxer (see Brian Henton), Spirit, Toleman and many other chassis all playing before us.

I don't like the idea of one chassis and one engine. The expense remains the same except you spend it on aero improvements instead of engine development.
The F5000 analogy is quite good. There weren't many engines around and indeed I recall some cars running a cast iron Coswoth GA V6 3.4 litre.

But Fish Flake has a good idea. I just think it should be a free formula.

[Jordi]

The Superfund World Series is the official name of the Nissan V6. Telefonica no longer a sponsor. Their formula seems to work... Should F-Nissan be readopted as F2 by the FIA?

[Rob29]

Yes,someone needs to investigate why NissanWS is more popular than F3000,(with entrants)despite being the main event at meetings attracting almost zero spectators? Does Superfund and/or Nissan put a lot of money into it?

[climb]

Originally posted by Jordi
The Superfund World Series is the official name of the Nissan V6. Telefonica no longer a sponsor. Their formula seems to work... Should F-Nissan be readopted as F2 by the FIA?

100% with you, Jordi.
decision on which is the "substancial" F2 must not be taken by a bureaucracy (FIA, who created an artificial formula like F3000), but by "the market": it's no mistery that F-Nissan is very successful, with a positive trend that began some years ago, who seems destinated to last.
The only problem is how to link the appointed series to F1 without spoiling its natural appeal, by "enclosing" it in the bureaucracy/politics of an official institution like FIA.

[BSchneiderFan]

I've always yearned for a return to an 'open' F3000 (or F2), and I quite like the idea of 2-litre, six-cylinder engines, though 3-litres would be better (but that may just be because I want to hear a single seater with a BMW straight six). The idea of common regs between CART and F2 is interesting; don't quite know what to make of it.