FIA announces new(ish) Formula 2 category - Sensationalist Headlines

[t]http://media.crash.net/original/AU1392204.jpg[/t] [quote]The FIA has reached an agreement with the Formula One Group regarding the transition of the GP2 Series to FIA Formula 2. This agreement was approved today (9 March) by the World Motor Sport Council, and will further strengthen the FIA’s single-seater pyramid which provides a clear path for drivers from grassroots to the pinnacle of motor racing. It also highlights the strong will of both the FIA and the Formula One Group to work closely together to build a strong future for the world of motor sport. Since its inception in 2005, GP2 has been an excellent platform for drivers to progress to Formula One, and with the series now coming under the umbrella of the FIA, there is a complete ecosystem in place which will nurture future talent as well as be clearer and more engaging for motor sport fans. FIA President Jean Todt said: “Completing this process with Formula One Group and bringing FIA Formula 2 to life is a very important step. The championship will provide the final level for junior drivers who are looking to reach the ultimate goal of Formula One, and we have achieved a key target for the FIA in completing our single-seater pyramid.[/quote] [url]http://www.fia.com/news/fia-announces-fia-formula-2-championship[/url] It's not really a new category; they're just re-branding GP2 as Formula 2. It makes sense, because open-wheel racing is so convoluted. There was: - sub-national Formula Ford, Formula Vee, karting etc - national Formula 4 - regional Formula 3 - international GP3 - international GP2 - international Formula 1 Now it's going to be the tiniest bit clearer: - sub-national Formula Ford, Formula Vee, karting etc - national Formula 4 - regional Formula 3 - international GP3 - international Formula 2 - international Formula 1 Then there's of course Formula E, but that's its own separate thing really (not on that ladder). [editline]10th March 2017[/editline] If anyone was wondering, the former-GP2, now Formula 2 cars, use 450kW/600hp 4.0L V8s that can rev up to 10,000 RPM. They'll be replaced with turbo V6s starting from next year.

I imagine this will help with television coverage. It's a racing series I haven't got into, initially because of the brand confusion (which they've overcome), and lack of networks picking up on it.

[QUOTE=CMB Unit 01;51937148]I imagine this will help with television coverage. It's a racing series I haven't got into, initially because of the brand confusion (which they've overcome), [b]and lack of networks picking up on it.[/b][/QUOTE] I seriously hate this. I'd love to watch motorsports more often, but it's often hard enough to find coverage of events in your own country, let alone in other countries. And when it is on free TV, it is advertisements galore. There's a motorsports channel on Foxtel pay TV here, but you have to pay the $30 per month for the basic package, plus an extra $30 for the entire sports package, just to access it. $60 per month for motorsports, when it probably won't even broadcast the lot? No thank you. There needs to be some kind of Netflix for motorsports; you pay $20 per month or whatever, and whenever there's an event happening in the world, whether it's a DTM event in Europe, a supporting race for the Formula 1 wherever they are at the time, or a rally in South America, you can just tune in and watch it. Or if you missed a recent event, you can watch a replay of that too.

Can we have street car racing instead?

[QUOTE=Rocâ„¢;51937194]Can we have street car racing instead?[/QUOTE] They tried that from the late 60's to the early 90's with various categories like Groups C and E in Australia, and Group A internationally. But they always lead to extreme cost overruns, and manufacturers making absurd homologation specials to get an advantage (you can partially blame the Ford Sierra Cosworth and R32 Skyline GT-R for killing Group A). So there's a few very good reasons for why things like the DTM, V8 Supercars and Super GT are silhouette categories now. The closest you'll get is things like the [url=https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Australian_Production_Car_Series]Australian Production Car Series[/url], Japan's [url=http://www.supertaikyu.com/overseasdrivers.html]Super Taikyu[/url] and Group GT3 (the latter of which have like 50% part commonality with their road-going counterparts).

[QUOTE=BF;51937185]I seriously hate this. I'd love to watch motorsports more often, but it's often hard enough to find coverage of events in your own country, let alone in other countries. And when it is on free TV, it is advertisements galore. There's a motorsports channel on Foxtel pay TV here, but you have to pay the $30 per month for the basic package, plus an extra $30 for the entire sports package, just to access it. $60 per month for motorsports, when it probably won't even broadcast the lot? No thank you. There needs to be some kind of Netflix for motorsports; you pay $20 per month or whatever, and whenever there's an event happening in the world, whether it's a DTM event in Europe, a supporting race for the Formula 1 wherever they are at the time, or a rally in South America, you can just tune in and watch it. Or if you missed a recent event, you can watch a replay of that too.[/QUOTE] Coverage in the UK isn't too bad - for the BTCC, which is probably the most notable championship, it gets 6 or so hours of coverage (with some ads) every race day, as well as a highlights program about a week later. F1 also gets qualifying and race day coverage. BT Sport seems to be buying up a lot of the rights for motorsports, which is either a good thing (for me) or bad if you're with another television provider. They rebroadcast WRC from WRC TV, and I [i]think[/i] they've had the rights the past two years for Indycar. DTM is very hard to find, as is WTCC. I don't think I've ever seen STCC either. A Netflix style package would be a good idea; WRC already offers something similar, but obviously that only caters to their sport. Especially for the smaller or more localised tournaments like ETCC or Brazilian Stock Cars.

[QUOTE=Rocâ„¢;51937194]Can we have street car racing instead?[/QUOTE] I'd love it if they'd drop a lot of this bullshit they've got going on. Let the teams refuel again, let them use tires that last the whole race, let the drivers dictate who wins and loses not the pit strategist or the wind tunnel guy. Also get rid of the Tilke tracks. They're boring as fuck.

[QUOTE=TestECull;51937250]I'd love it if they'd drop a lot of this bullshit they've got going on. Let the teams refuel again, let them use tires that last the whole race, let the drivers dictate who wins and loses not the pit strategist or the wind tunnel guy. Also get rid of the Tilke tracks. They're boring as fuck.[/QUOTE] Not all of Tilke's tracks are bad; Yas Marina is alright. But Sochi? It's so dreary and forgettable.

[QUOTE=BF;51937185]I seriously hate this. I'd love to watch motorsports more often, but it's often hard enough to find coverage of events in your own country, let alone in other countries. And when it is on free TV, it is advertisements galore. There's a motorsports channel on Foxtel pay TV here, but you have to pay the $30 per month for the basic package, plus an extra $30 for the entire sports package, just to access it. $60 per month for motorsports, when it probably won't even broadcast the lot? No thank you. [b]There needs to be some kind of Netflix for motorsports[/b]; you pay $20 per month or whatever, and whenever there's an event happening in the world, whether it's a DTM event in Europe, a supporting race for the Formula 1 wherever they are at the time, or a rally in South America, you can just tune in and watch it. Or if you missed a recent event, you can watch a replay of that too.[/QUOTE] I pay $8 a month for Motor Trend on Demand and like it enough. They seem to have decent race event coverage, but I mainly watch their original content so your mileage may vary. They even do live stuff and had the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship for steaming, if that means anything to you.

[QUOTE=Ltp0wer;51937642]I pay $8 a month for Motor Trend on Demand and like it enough. They seem to have decent race event coverage, but I mainly watch their original content so your mileage may vary. They even do live stuff and had the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship for steaming, if that means anything to you.[/QUOTE] Like many American things, most of the content is blocked here in Australia unfortunately.

[QUOTE=TestECull;51937250]let the drivers dictate who wins and loses not the pit strategist or the wind tunnel guy.[/QUOTE] I liked the A1 GP for this reason - nationwise driver driving an identical car, so it was only about driver skill. Made it enjoyable, but coverage of the event was fucking terrible. :frown:

[QUOTE=snookypookums;51937948]I liked the A1 GP for this reason - nationwise driver driving an identical car, so it was only about driver skill. Made it enjoyable, but coverage of the event was fucking terrible. :frown:[/QUOTE] The GP2/Formula 2 cars are all virtually identical as well. They almost have the same performance as Formula 1 cars (including the same tyres I believe), but the key difference is that everything is controlled - the chassis and engine in each GP2/F2 car is the same, unlike in F1 where there are constructor teams that build their own engines and chassis to regulations. This means that there is a level playing field - it all comes down to driver skill rather than budget and engineering. The costs are lower than F1 (because of the controlled specs), so there will be more teams for a larger grid. And because they'll be racing as a supporting series at most of the F1 GP events, they will get coverage by any company also covering the F1. It will probably become a fan favourite - and perhaps more-exciting to watch than F1 itself.

[QUOTE=BF;51938069]The GP2/Formula 2 cars are all virtually identical as well. They almost have the same performance as Formula 1 cars (including the same tyres I believe), but the key difference is that everything is controlled - the chassis and engine in each GP2/F2 car is the same, unlike in F1 where there are constructor teams that build their own engines and chassis to regulations. This means that there is a level playing field - it all comes down to driver skill rather than budget and engineering. The costs are lower than F1 (because of the controlled specs), so there will be more teams for a larger grid. And because they'll be racing as a supporting series at most of the F1 GP events, they will get coverage by any company also covering the F1. It will probably become a fan favourite - and perhaps more-exciting to watch than F1 itself.[/QUOTE] That's interesting! I wish coverage for motorsports was better worldwide - right now, the current focus on sports channels tends to be dominated by other sports, with "motorsport hours" getting used as filler content between yet even more highlight shows. I'd love to have a channel just dedicated to only motorsports of all kinds that was available here in India, because then I'd actually just get a TV and watch it. When I'm in the US, I even enjoy watching stuff like NASCAR too, because I like the spectacle they make out of it. :v: