2018/19 Formula E season

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by Johno.UK

Why do rally cars race in forests? Why do drag cars race on drag strips? Why do hillclimb cars go up hills?

Street circuits are where Formula E runs as that's the idea of the series.

I kinda like how simple that is. Good way of putting it.

Hong Kong was indeed a terrible track. But so is Bahrain. Formula E has some good ones too.

[RedSquirrel]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

The speed of a car has no relation to whether it can race on a 'proper' track.
Any car could race on a circuit, no matter what speed it has.

The BTCC does not use the full Grand Prix layout at Silverstone because of the speed of the cars, or rather the lack thereof. If they used the full track but kept the same 40-ish minute race distance, the crowd would see the cars less often. So we can conclude that BTCC cars are not suitable for Grand Prix circuits because they are too slow.
Now a Formula E car has 250 kW (335 bhp) and is 900 kg. That's 372 bhp/tonne. Even a Porsche Cup car is at 404 bhp/tonne. Alright, the instant electric torque will offset some of the disparity but still, they're not particularly quick. A WRC car would probably have won Saturday's race.

Then there's the tyres. Michelin and FE say it's for road relevance or something but it's really because the cars are so slow that the braking distances would be tiny on slicks.
And add to this, as you said, the fact that the cars wouldn't be able to last the full race distance at a normal racetrack without the plethora of regen zones in the city circuits.


The next generation of Formula E car I hope might be able to race at the likes of Adria, Nogaro, Croft or maybe the bike version of Val de Vienne. Even Zolder. Around 4 km, tight and with some good hard braking zones.



There is so much potential in Formula E. It's just that the way the championship presents itself puts me off.

[GregUK]

Originally Posted by RedSquirrel

And add to this, as you said, the fact that the cars wouldn't be able to last the full race distance at a normal racetrack without the plethora of regen zones in the city circuits.

I agree with all you say, except this.

The only place FE energy comes from is the battery. Every time you swap around between battery (chemical) and kinetic energy, you lose some. Having lots of regen zones means that you also have lots of acceleration zones.

[CaptRustyNail]

Originally Posted by Johno.UK

Why do rally cars race in forests? Why do drag cars race on drag strips? Why do hillclimb cars go up hills?

Street circuits are where Formula E runs as that's the idea of the series.

Not disputing the fact they race on street circuits for a reason. But is that layout really the best they could have come up with in HK. So tight and narrow that it was like a bumper car race in places?

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by CaptRustyNail

Not disputing the fact they race on street circuits for a reason. But is that layout really the best they could have come up with in HK. So tight and narrow that it was like a bumper car race in places?

I think it's just a crap layout tbh. It's no different to a crap layout at a permanent circuit. Hungaroring or whatever. Arguably street circuits are harder due to existing constraints. Full circuits have no real excuses given they level the ground first.

I'm generally not a Formula E fan (although am enjoying this season, which is great), and I'm certainly not a Formula E apologistic - but Hong Kong was rubbish. The racing was tense (until the final incident), but not good). The layout of the circuit was terrible. I enjoyed Mexico better.

[Juntos]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

I think it's just a crap layout tbh. It's no different to a crap layout at a permanent circuit. Hungaroring or whatever. Arguably street circuits are harder due to existing constraints. Full circuits have no real excuses given they level the ground first.

If you would read one thing or two you would understand why. But people doesn't read nowadays.

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by Juntos

If you would read one thing or two you would understand why. But people doesn't read nowadays.

If you'd like to enlighten us on what we would be reading and where it could be found, I'm sure we'd all appreciate that. The rest of us have not mastered telepathy and may not read everything you've ever read on the internet.

I hope you never have to ask a question on this forum again - because now the default reply will be "people doesn't [sic] read nowadays".

[Juntos]

It is wise to direct your anger towards problems -- not people; to focus your energies on answers -- not excuses.



Highly recommend you guys to read this article https://e-racing365.com/formula-e/ho...at-crossroads/

[Johno.UK]

Originally Posted by Juntos

It is wise to direct your anger towards problems -- not people; to focus your energies on answers -- not excuses.

Highly recommend you guys to read this article https://e-racing365.com/formula-e/ho...at-crossroads/

Maybe I'm missing something but what in that article explains why the HK track is so narrow compared to the others? That's what people here have been questioning. Not why the race exists in the first place or whether it makes any money.

[Akrapovic]

Nothing in that about the layout of the circuit. Indeed, people doesn't read nowadays.

[Juntos]

Second try: https://www.scmp.com/sport/motorspor...ront-formula-e

[Akrapovic]

Hm yes, an article posted after the forum posts questioning the layout. We should now predict these articles coming and read them in advance!

Nothing great in the article. "We'd like it to be better. If we can't then maybe we'll move. Maybe. Who knows. Lawl".

It's just a bad track lol. We don't all have a strop every time F1 goes to Barcelona and the race is rubbish lol. FE has some really fun wee circuits as well.

[Juntos]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

It's just a bad track lol. We don't all have a strop every time F1 goes to Barcelona and the race is rubbish lol. FE has some really fun wee circuits as well.

It is hard to discuss with people that doesn't want to listen. The track is not bad. The track is not rubbish. It is all you can do in the city. Dot.

[Adam43]

Stop now. This isn’t discussion. /mod

[LPP68]

Originally Posted by Juntos

It is wise to direct your anger towards problems -- not people; to focus your energies on answers -- not excuses.



Highly recommend you guys to read this article https://e-racing365.com/formula-e/ho...at-crossroads/

Thank you for that link. It opened my eyes for another reason to find a replacement, either inside or outside of Hong Kong. From the article:

The number of tickets available for this season’s Hong Kong E-Prix has been cut by 50 percent, according to the race’s director of marketing and communications.

“Last year we had about 6,000 grandstand tickets, this year we cut it by 50 per cent,” confirmed Coffee Pang.

One of the circuit’s largest grandstands, at the Lung Wo Road junction, has been removed as part of the modifications, with the space instead set to be used as the Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY paddock.

That is a silly low number when you compare it with what is seen in Mexico, Berlin or Rome. Especially when you claim as an organization that the reason to only use city circuits is to 'bring the racing to the people'.

As a sidenote, the marketing director has an awesome name.

[Armco Bender]

Better track in China,good race so far.

[Akrapovic]

Better track, but odd race. Everybody is under investigation for everything. Seems they don't want contact during overtakes, but that's quite difficult on these tracks. JEV seemed to get away with what others wouldn't for the SC violation.

Race control seemed unable to make a decision with the BMW sideways across the track. And then we end under FCY, which was a shame.

It wasn't the worst race ever, but not the best this year.

[LPP68]

Awesome move of Vergne to take the lead, both his overtake, and his defense after taking his first attack mode.
With all the incidents in recent races the best strategy these days might be not to save any energy, and just hope that there will be enough full course yellows and safety cars.
A bummer for Frijns and Digrassi in the end, throwing away a good race.

[MCWB]

Whilst Buemi didn't cover himself in glory with that last move, he really did get screwed by that pre-race investigation. Surely any such investigation needs to conclude in time for the competitor to charge up for the race, otherwise the penalty, regardless of guilt, is a pitlane start...

[Cinghio44]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

Better track, but odd race. Everybody is under investigation for everything. Seems they don't want contact during overtakes, but that's quite difficult on these tracks.

They're too narrow. Almost impossible to pull a great move, only Vergne managed to do it during the race.

For me all these races lack of action in the first half of the ePrix. It's a bit frustrating, they all wait for the final 10m to try to do something...

[nicker less]

I'm sorry, but what is the point of fan boost now every driver has two Chevron Action Flashes to use?
In any case for 4 seasons it was always the same 3 (Di Grassi, Buemi and Abt) drivers that got it race in race out and now they've increased it to 5, it's them plus Da Costa and Vandoorne. I can tell you who gets the fan boost before the race starts. I never knew Daniel Abt had so many fans, unless it's just Christian getting on the app and voting again and again. I refuse to believe that Daniel Abt has more fans than Felipe Massa?!

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by nicker less

I'm sorry, but what is the point of fan boost now every driver has two Chevron Action Flashes to use?

The fan boost is in addition to the Attack Mode. Everyone gets 2 Attack Mode activations. The winners of the fan boost get an additional one.

Personally, I think fan boost needs to go. Races should not be won and lost on fans voting.

[NSX_LeMans]

Originally Posted by nicker less

I never knew Daniel Abt had so many fans, unless it's just Christian getting on the app and voting again and again. I refuse to believe that Daniel Abt has more fans than Felipe Massa?!

I just assume those guys use bots.

[ArcticRacing]

Nelson Piquet Jr. has left Jaguar according to e-racing365 :

“Following discussions after Sanya, Nelson and ourselves have reflected on the position of the team,” said team director James Barclay.
“Regrettably, it has been agreed that he will leave Panasonic Jaguar Racing and take up other opportunities he has been offered.”

[Juntos]

Feel sorry for Piquet. Just a great driver in that average team.

Originally Posted by NSX_LeMans

I just assume those guys use bots.

Buemi was doing that for a while. Isn't that right?