The Mall - Page 2

kdr · 11 May 2005, 10:28 (Ref:1298155)

i thought it was funny the guy in mercedes slr mclaren that went past and blipped his throttle...yeah you cruise up and down the mall mate...show what mercedes are all about now.

SALEEN S7R · 11 May 2005, 14:50 (Ref:1298380)

Looked very good yesterday going by the photos on DSC the official FIA GT site and KDR's pics, lots of people milling around the cars which is exactly what any series wants. Lets hope that this has generated some intrest for this weekends round at Silverstone and that we get some more fans at Silverstone and of course watching LIVE on Eurosport 2.

TerryC · 11 May 2005, 15:02 (Ref:1298384)

I'm wondering the very same thing about this weekend. Are we expecting 20,000 spectators?

SALEEN S7R · 11 May 2005, 15:09 (Ref:1298389)

Well the Donnington round last year attracted 25,000 spectators and this year the package IMO is somewhat bigger, sure we have lost the Formula Renault V6 Eurocup cars, but the WTCC is extrmely strong and so is the FIA GT championship particulary with the Maserati's being there this year and the C5R and of course the Aston Martin's. Id say 30,000-35,000 is achievable this weekend, perhaps im being a bit optamistic but I dont know, ive got a good feeling about this weekend, 3 differnt race winners from 3 rounds?

Graham Goodwin · 11 May 2005, 16:34 (Ref:1298456)

However at Donington last year a sponsor gave away some 14,000 tickets

ss_collins · 11 May 2005, 17:51 (Ref:1298506)

I'd say more like 20... wtcc is meaningless to joe punter, fia gt means even less (its an irrelevance to even Autosport/MN readers) and I'm not even sure I know what the ferrari challenge is... Still for us anoraks should be mega. I reckon the August MGCC club meeting will get more spectators.

chezza · 11 May 2005, 18:00 (Ref:1298509)

August?? Theres one in July and one in September, but not one in August!!

TheNewBob · 11 May 2005, 18:00 (Ref:1298510)

If only they knew what they were missing...

Just needs a little hype. I'm taking a friend with me to Silverstone, he's a complete newbie to sportscar racing (I'm not exactly an expert, though!). I took him to Donington for the opening round of this year's British GT championship, he was pretty impressed. I've sent him things like sounds and vids of FIA GT last year (and 2003) and he's desperate to go this weekend!

So I reckon people just need to hear a little more, get to know more about it and how much of a fantastic spectacle it is.

Mind you, less spectators means you can do more in less time at the circuit

JAG · 11 May 2005, 20:18 (Ref:1298622)

Well FIA GT crowds have grown significantly in recent years. I believe there were 30,000+ at Donnington last year (yes with 14,000 free tickets).

However I still think a series can only ever become really huge if it has a significant number of full factory teams. FIA GT also suffers from the fact that you always feel like you are watching the support act to the LMPs, like it or not!

The manufactuers provide huge amounts of promotional clout. Just wait until Audi, Posche etc. arrive in the LMES.

TheNewBob · 11 May 2005, 20:39 (Ref:1298634)

Arrivals of Aston Martin, Maserati and the first Corvette the series has had aren't quite enough, then?

JAG · 11 May 2005, 20:41 (Ref:1298637)

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheNewBob

Arrivals of Aston Martin, Maserati and the first Corvette the series has had aren't quite enough, then?

Not works entries though, with the exception of Aston (for 2005 only).

Look at the input Audi puts in the LMES, even without a works entry at the moment.

TheNewBob · 11 May 2005, 21:00 (Ref:1298667)

true, but I was thinking along the lines of the fact that there will be 12 different types of car lining up on the grid at Silverstone (13 if the Lambo was in) this weekend - we don't see that many in LMP1 and 2, and we certainly haven't seen it in any GT racing of late.

I guess the cars are there, they just need works support and some more advertising (particularly the Lambo lol)

SALEEN S7R · 11 May 2005, 21:09 (Ref:1298682)

Personally for me the GT1 cars are the real deal, sure the LMP's are faster but the racing normally isnt as good as u get with GT cars and u dont have the variety. Just big single seaters with bodywork almost. With GT racing at least u get a huge variety of cars and normally very close racing from start to finish, just like we had at Monza with the FIA GT's this year, and Magny Cours come to think of it with 4 cars finishing on the lead lap. You just dont seem to get that in the LMES or the ALMS.

If as Martyn suggests the FIA GT coverage got more hype and promotion I too feel that the series would grow greatly in terms of spectator numbers. This is already happening though, the WTCC and FIA GT series are getting more tv exposure than ever before on Eurosport and on site attendances are growing year upon year, at least in countries that the series traditionally visits. Given time and good TV exposure and promotion there is no reason as to why the FIA GT/WTCC package cannot be every bit as strong as the LMES, the SRW does after all have the advantage of having 2 major series under 1 umbrella, something which the LMES lacks.

JAG · 11 May 2005, 21:15 (Ref:1298690)

I suppose its whatever floats your boat.

For me though you can't beat the LMPs, and Silverstone last year just confirmed that even more.

And variety, particularly in the engine dpt. is exactly what makes LMPs so exciting.

TheNewBob · 11 May 2005, 21:17 (Ref:1298694)

Just as long as Stephane Ratel's ideas don't get out of hand, the world championship status, shorter races to suit TV and loads more works teams would seem to suggest he's trying to get too big too quickly, perhaps - but it's all working so far

SALEEN S7R · 11 May 2005, 21:20 (Ref:1298697)

Agreed, Ratel has done and is continuing to do a fantastic job both with the FIA GT and LMES championships. Lets hope that things carry on getting better at the rate they are now, slow and steady. Providing Ratel's ideas are implimented over a long period of time I see no reason as to why the FIA GT championship will one day not become a FIA World championship.

Graham Goodwin · 11 May 2005, 21:22 (Ref:1298702)

Just keep an eye on grid sizes - GT2 is NOT good at the moment and there are few signs of an immediate recovery - GT1 is less stable than it should be too. Cars dipping in and out is not a good thing

TheNewBob · 11 May 2005, 21:26 (Ref:1298710)

Can't help but agree on the GT2 front there.

GT2 this year should be named GMW - short for "Gruppe M's Walkover"

A couple of regular LNT TVR's would do the trick just nicely. As would a Spyker entry. I guess they'd be G2 really, though, unless they gained homologation in time for '06. Would love to see a Panoz in there too. Even a regular 360 would be nice.

lj79 · 11 May 2005, 21:27 (Ref:1298712)

Quote:

Originally Posted by SALEEN S7R

With GT racing at least u get a huge variety of cars and normally very close racing from start to finish, just like we had at Monza with the FIA GT's this year, and Magny Cours come to think of it with 4 cars finishing on the lead lap. You just dont seem to get that in the LMES or the ALMS.

I counted 12 different Prototype manufacturers on the grid at Spa.

The LMES races are 6hrs so there is less likelihood of cars finishing on the same lap, however Monza 04 was a belter and with xxxx all between the two Audis at the end. At Nurburgring the 2nd and 3rd cars finished on the same lap, only a lap behind the leader. And erm, Le Mans last year btw...

But I do prefer GT because I think the cars look and sound fantastic.

ss_collins · 12 May 2005, 14:36 (Ref:1299214)

I much prefer prototypes - pure race cars. I also think that GT is going to die slowly soon - prototypes are cheaper, higher profile and faster. Why have a GT? perhaps this is wht the maser is in - is it the first of a new breed of uber GT?

12 prototype manufacturers on the grid at spa -- no variety? and radical / porsche / riley all on the way with new cars. GT deserving of beigger promotion? I think not.

lj79 · 12 May 2005, 14:49 (Ref:1299222)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ss_collins

12 prototype manufacturers on the grid at spa -- no variety? and radical / porsche / riley all on the way with new cars. GT deserving of beigger promotion? I think not.

The post was aimed our southcoast V8 american supercar seer, referring in a comparison to Prototypes that "With GT racing at least u get a huge variety of cars"

But I'm not sure why GTs don't deserve bigger promotion - do you decide that?

ss_collins · 13 May 2005, 08:46 (Ref:1299714)

the way GT is now its cheaper to go racing in a new Lola P2 than it is to race a GT2 Porsche. Perhaps the money needs attention - but really GT needs to change fast - with the exception of some of the GT1 cars they have all lost the wow factor - something prototypes have bundles of.

Perhaps the Maserati is the start of something - super GT's perhaps - mad mad cars like wot GT1 used to be - now that was mega.

lj79 · 13 May 2005, 09:19 (Ref:1299732)

And this is where tastes, not facts, come in to it.

For me, there is much more of a wow factor watching GT racing than prototypes, at the moment.

For the last 4 years I've looked forward to going to Spa 24 more than Le Mans, although I admit some of that is to do with the circuit and the absence of the wxxkers who descend on Le Mans each year. I just think that the cars look and sound better than prototypes, increasingly so with the twin roll hoops, increased ride heights, little wings and those plates either side of the tunnels at the rear.

Whilst the battle for this years' outright victory at La Sarthe looks more open than any year since 99, my focus will major on GT1.

Happy Snapper · 13 May 2005, 09:34 (Ref:1299738)

Quote:

Originally Posted by lj79

And this is where tastes, not facts, come in to it.

For me, there is much more of a wow factor watching GT racing than prototypes, at the moment.

For the last 4 years I've looked forward to going to Spa 24 more than Le Mans, although I admit some of that is to do with the circuit and the absence of the wxxkers who descend on Le Mans each year. I just think that the cars look and sound better than prototypes, increasingly so with the twin roll hoops, increased ride heights, little wings and those plates either side of the tunnels at the rear.

Whilst the battle for this years' outright victory at La Sarthe looks more open than any year since 99, my focus will major on GT1.

Yep I agree the two races are very different not just the cars, this year I will be there for the two weeks does save me driving 1000 miles home to turn round and go back for the race!