Old car=winner?

[kmchow]

An intersting comment was brought up by another member.

Should an older car be able to win a championship? What about a single race? Would it be bad if a 2 or more year old car wins a race?
What's the oldest age of veh that should be able to win a race? I feel it would be bad if a car over 5 years could win a race against the latest spec machinery?

[flor]

i would have absolutely no problem with 1 or 2 year old cars winning races, manufacturers probably would though.

[Tim Wilkinson]

Which championship are we talking about?

In one where the rules remain static, then innovation and technological advancement should mean that the latest models would win. If they don't then that's not a problem for the organisers, but for the manufacturers and teams running the latest cars that aren't up to the standard of previous years.

BTCC is a different matter, though, as there are cars running to what are effectively two sets of regulations. In my opinion the age there isn't important (see above, if a 2004 S2000 BMW can beat a 2007 Seat then good for them as they're both built to the same regs) but the different specs are. Rather than try and run the two specs parallel and make one ineligible for overall victory, why aren't the two run as seperate classes (as the handover from Group A to 2l ST rules) and the BTC-spec cars ballasted so that they run behind the newer models, yet still allow privateers on smaller budgets to be involved inthe championship?

[kmchow]

To clarify and be a bit fairer, let's say there's only a single class of racing cars. Should a S2000 '04 BMW be able to beat a '07 Seat?

In the DTM, they've tried to encourage that by giving the older spec DTM cars decr minimum base weights based on age.

But I agree, most manufacturers would have a problem if their older cars are winning against their newer ones. They obviously have a lesser problem if their older spec car beats another brand.

[Smokey 6 litre]

will technical progression newer cars should always be quicker, otherwise the teams wouldn't bother developing their models.
But there will always be stunning drives, unpredicatable conditions, and pure luck that could see an older car win a race, but with the vast resources of the manufacturers put into testing, devlopment, the best drivers and (in the WTCC, BTCC, DTM) running 3 cars or more, it would be impossible to stage a competative chapionship challenge with a car even a year old.
The possible exception to this could be the WSR MG's in the BTCC, a 4 year old chassis managing numerous race wins, but that car still had serious development potential but still couldn't win for the title. WSR obviosuly felt that a newer car was needed to challenge for the title next year (S2000 rules obviously forced this but it probly would've happened anyway)