12/21/24
March 25, 2005
A1GP: "At least 23 countries will take part, each represented by a seat holder for each territory or country...." Founded by His Highness Sheikh Maktoum. Check it out. Starts 09/23-25/05 at Brands Hatch, UK.
clever jabs aside, I think this could be really cool. An olympics for motorsport. everyone driving the same car, "...re-emphasising the skill of the driver and the ability of the team to get the best out of the car on the given day and the given track..." and giving "...the opportunity to countries like India, Pakistan, Africa, Malaysia and Lebanon to compete on a level playing field against Europe." Several 'big names' have signed on as seat sponsors : Ronaldo, Luis Figo, Manchester United coach Carlos Queiroz, ex-Formula One world champions Alan Jones and John Surtees.
posted by garfield at 10:41 AM on March 27, 2005
Alan Jones once referred to Michael Schumacher as an "arrogant little kraut". He gets my vote:) God knows A1 can't be any worse than current F1.
posted by Drood at 03:03 PM on March 27, 2005
Identical cars just remove part of the interest for me. Yeah, yeah, I know, some people just want to see driver against driver. I like to see what the manufacturers can come up with, and I loathe the fetters placed on F1 and WRC development.
posted by rodgerd at 03:51 PM on March 27, 2005
Weren't WRC cars limited because too many drivers were dying? I'm somewhat of a novice fan, but I thought I saw that somewhere.
posted by garfield at 08:42 AM on March 28, 2005
That was the Group B, back in the eighties, that had given birth to monsters like the Porsche 959 and mid-engined Puegots; essentially bespoke cars with no (significant) road-going version. In recent years most of the limits have been around costs, technology (to the point that they've been contemplating eliminating 4WD), and, one suspects, making WRC less interesting so it stops competing with F1 8-/.
posted by rodgerd at 03:00 PM on March 28, 2005
rodgerd, are you close to the WRC route this year? My NZ geography is admittedly horrendous. Have you attended in the past? Will you again? Any close calls?
posted by garfield at 04:32 PM on March 28, 2005
Not particularly close - it's in the top half of the North island, and I'm in the South. I generally get better coverage on TV than in person, I'm sad to say. I do get to see the finish of the Dunlop Targa as the final stages work through Wellington.
posted by rodgerd at 03:17 AM on March 29, 2005
Yeah - check out the management team - South African diamond magnates, OPEC oil barons, etc. I can't help but wonder what the over/under is on the total number of people these guys have had killed.