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Old 13 Apr 2019, 03:51 (Ref:3897145)   #17
Tourer
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Tourer is going for a new lap record!Tourer is going for a new lap record!Tourer is going for a new lap record!Tourer is going for a new lap record!Tourer is going for a new lap record!Tourer is going for a new lap record!
Pattern?

This has been considered before.

Initially, during the early years of the 20th century, when the Blitzen Benz was such an outstanding performer but then the result of WW1 ended the domination, serious chaps sat around low tables in their darkly-upholstered clubs, considered this and other matters of import whilst their moustaches were waxed and their hair brilliantined but they couldn't come up with a definitive answer however they felt that Versailles might put paid to the domination.

Then in the late 30s, serious chaps met initially over tea and cakes and muttered through their stiff upper lips about those bloody silver arrows but WW2 and rationing meant that there was more concern about other weapons than the silver arrows, bread and water replaced tea & cakes, lips became so stiff hardly a sound was made and then the result of the 2nd go-round stopped the domination for the foreseeable future.

Then in the mid 50s, enthusiastic but serious amateurs wondered about the potential for Mercedes domination again after the 1955 Le Mans tragedy and the Daimler-Benz withdrawal from motorsport - the 1966 World Cup result came at a good time to remind those German chappies that domination could be hard to achieve again.

Then of course Mercedes had a crack with a full factory sports prototype team cunningly disguised as a Swiss independent in the late 80s / early 90s until results looked a little stronger and the cars became silver arrows again - but although results were good, dominance didn't rear its head again, leading many a carefree, lager-drinking type to agree that Mercedes domination wouldn't happen again - then England won the Rugby World Cup and any thought of domination ended.

Now of course in the 21st century we've had "Mercedes" domination but have we really? Those clever Swabians merely bought a successful team in the UK, then bought a successful engine builder in the UK, threw in a top-shelf crew from all around the world, blended it all together and Voila - some "Mercedes" domination. With Brexit (maybe) around the corner, based on a bit of pattern in the 20th century, it could be the end of domination for a little while - but I wouldn't bet against them coming back to some form of domination at some stage in the future.

In any case, domination isn't (yet) over - maybe it'll all hinge on how successful Brexit is?

(now removing tongue from cheek)
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