Time Limit...

[flatlander_48]

Does anyone remember why the 2 hour time limit for the F-1 races was created? I think I know, but the memory is fuzzy as it was quite a while ago. Any details would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[Glen]

Before some wag gets in there first: Is it because to sleep any longer than that would be a waste of your Sunday?

[flatlander_48]

I seem to have attracted the unsavory element...

[Peter Mallett]

Easily done.

Was it to do with TV schedules?

[Glen]

Hey! I just might change my user name: Unsavoury Element

[Peter Mallett]

Nah, we'd know who you were anyway.

[Glen]

Originally posted by Peter Mallett
Nah, we'd know who you were anyway.

You couldn't let me know could you?

[Audi R8R]

It was because the drivers are all a bunch of wimps who can't manage to drive for any longer than that.

[Super Tourer]

Some very helpful answers already...

I would guess as it pre-dates refuelling, it could be down to fuel levels.

[Aysedasi]

Surely its far more likely to have something to do with TV scheduling........

[Andrew Gunnell]

The rule was brought in before TV started to show F1. But to add to the question, why is there also a 200 mile limit to the race too?

[Aysedasi]

Really, that long ago? When are we talking about then?

[Adam43]

Originally posted by Andrew Gunnell
The rule was brought in before TV started to show F1. But to add to the question, why is there also a 200 mile limit to the race too?

I guess the general change came when the championship became more homogeneous and not just a collection of individual races.

[Peter Mallett]

Well that was in the 50's and they were about 4 hours long then.

Good point about tv schedules though so it may be a combination of fuel capacity and tv schedules.

[Super Tourer]

I think Adam is right on the 200 mile point, it was to bring an equivalency to the races across the calendar, with the lap numbers adjusted to make the same race distance regardless of the track.

[flatlander_48]

Interesting answers. From what I remember, it had to do with controlling the length of the races. The races were running 3 and 4 hours and it was thought that it was unsafe to run races that long as the cars got faster and harder to drive (higher G forces with better cornering, better brakes and stronger engines). I checked back to 1970 and the races since then were all less than 2 hours + a lap. As someone pointed out, this was before a consistent TV package, so that wasn't the reason for the time limit.

Anyway, I was hoping for some specific statement or article that told the story. Where I was going was that I believe that CART adopted the same 2 hour limit for the same reasons as F-1, but I can't find any info on that either.

[Super Tourer]

The FIA sporting regs only give the time and distance limit, not the reasoning behind it - so no luck there either!

[Logrence]

If they had to give reasons for half the rules they had they wouldn't be there in the first place!

Although, "safety grounds" is a remarkable catch-all excuse to pass whatever you like.

[Dutton]

Yes, "safety grounds" is kind of like "humanitarian reasons"....

Still, I would expect the time limit came about for a mix of safety, logistics and yes coverage. There would have still been radio coverage even if not much in the way of TV.

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Edited for typos.