Superleague Formula - background and general discussion thread

JimW · 22 Nov 2007, 10:55 (Ref:2073402)

I see that the dates for this Superleague Formula have been announced and Donington is down for the first round on August 30/31 2008.

Seems an odd concept to me but provided it's not too sucessful in attracting the wrong sort of football supporter, I hope to be at that round.

See http://www.whowon.com/sResults.asp?S...StoryID=236785

Regards

Jim

SALEEN S7R · 22 Nov 2007, 11:00 (Ref:2073409)

Thats a pretty good looking calender, hopefully there will be some sort of live TV coverage for the series too. Going by the description of the cars they could well turn out to be even faster than GP2 machinery.

lovebritF3 · 22 Nov 2007, 11:18 (Ref:2073423)

what about drivers?
is there rulew on who can drive?

**ScotsBrutesFan** · 22 Nov 2007, 11:56 (Ref:2073447)

For this to take off, and attract a family of football supporters, they are going to have to talk nicely to the various football associations to ensure that the local teams aren't playing on the same sunday afternoon as their motorsports circus hits town.

SALEEN S7R · 22 Nov 2007, 12:25 (Ref:2073464)

I dont think you neccarcily need to attract football supporters. Once the series has established itself as serious I think a lot of motorsport fans will turn out to see this series, sure a few moan at the moment how its another Premier 1 Grand Prix but really if the series has a couple of good races I think most motorsport fans will be willing to look beyond the fact that the concept behind the series is football. If there is good racing then motorsport fans will turn out. IMO.

roachy101 · 22 Nov 2007, 13:43 (Ref:2073523)

it'll hopefully be either mugello or monza for the italian round.

JamesRamone · 22 Nov 2007, 13:50 (Ref:2073528)

I follow football. I will follow this series, but not because i am a football fan, because i am a motorsport fan. I fail to see football fans catching on to this apart from maybe the odd event. I think maybe they should of tried to get on the WTCC bill, which it too late now with IFM (which is one of the best single seater catergories in my view). We already have plenty of series, so its whether this series can shine and then last.

Anyway i can see me attending Donington, if it goes ahead. Im still dubious after Premier 1 and everything.

Rob29 · 22 Nov 2007, 14:25 (Ref:2073547)

Fairly boring list of circuits-what happened to the idea of racing around the football stadiums?

nycuk · 22 Nov 2007, 17:34 (Ref:2073662)

Whilst I applaud the sentiments behind this series I can't see it taking off in the way the organisers are hoping.

I just don't think that the average football fan with no prior interest in motor racing is going to be interested in this just because one of the cars has his teams colours on it.

What about the sponsors of the clubs? Are they funding the affiliated race teams too?

duke_toaster · 22 Nov 2007, 18:09 (Ref:2073684)

If it actually works, it would be good but I doubt it will. Good calendar though, let's hope they go to Valleunga as I'd like to see those cars take that tight hairpin ...

kipper · 22 Nov 2007, 20:44 (Ref:2073761)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob29

Fairly boring list of circuits-what happened to the idea of racing around the football stadiums?

Given the fact that the creation of any street/parkland circuit is likely to involve a significant amount of bureauocracy and investment, it is perhaps prudent to get the series established before attempting to create six new circuits. In addition, it is possible that the choice of stadium to race around would probably be dictated by the clubs involved. Afterall, Club X may have reservations of appearing at a neighbouring ground, occupied by a club with no involvement in the series.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nycuk

What about the sponsors of the clubs? Are they funding the affiliated race teams too?

I believe that the Clubs have no requirement to provide financial support.

Go_For_Pole · 23 Nov 2007, 08:05 (Ref:2074002)

Quote:

Originally Posted by kipper

I believe that the Clubs have no requirement to provide financial support.

That's true, clubs only bring their name to the party, nothing more. Which of course means that the obvious question is where will the money come from?

climb · 23 Nov 2007, 11:18 (Ref:2074078)

spot on gfp,

that is the reason why some years ago the project was abandoned

BTW most football clubs live in constant financial trouble, then why should there spend more money in side activities when it's hard to them to afford the ordinary ones is a mistery to me.

One more point: companies sponsor racing series in order to attract customer and sales, whereas I don't see a club funding the same series to raise what... fans in the stadium?

cos · 23 Nov 2007, 11:39 (Ref:2074086)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Go_For_Pole

That's true, clubs only bring their name to the party, nothing more. Which of course means that the obvious question is where will the money come from?

I've been ignoring this series, assuming it will go away; but to their credit the website is constantly being updated with (real) news, cars and engines are being built. The plan is obviously for the football teams to receive a cut of TV money, merchandise and sponsorship, but I just can't see it taking off enough to generate enough cash to cover operating costs. A1GP had a unique selling point, but appealing to nationalities covers a much broader base than appealing to football fans of a particular club, and it's taken A1 3 years just to break even.

Not convinced about the planned Donington round; it clashes with BTCC at Silverstone, and I'm guessing any "fair-weather" motorsport fan in the area would probably want to go watch some tin-tops charging into each other than the first race of an unproven series with no British "clubs" taking part.

Go_For_Pole · 23 Nov 2007, 13:33 (Ref:2074154)

Well, their web site is effectively a blog and I have been told there is only one car (without engine) painted in different colours for each football club's launch.

Rob29 · 23 Nov 2007, 14:07 (Ref:2074180)

So they have reached the same state as the previous attempt at a soccer linked series? Reminds me of another failed series.GP Masters-which had around 16 cars-but only ran about 3 races-maybe Superleague could use those?

HCForums · 23 Nov 2007, 16:08 (Ref:2074256)

So who are behind the teams, yet another training ground for the GP2 teams?

JimW · 23 Nov 2007, 16:14 (Ref:2074262)

Well if they have managed to get sufficient credibility to get Donington to allocate them a date, then they must have provided some reasonable evidence that they exist (or will do).

Prime dates at Donington (August Bank Holiday) are a scarce resource and they won't allocate one of those on a whim.

Donington has always had a bit of a record for getting interesting new events (well new anyway). (Need to improve their record on keeping things though.)

Regards

Jm

**ScotsBrutesFan** · 23 Nov 2007, 19:12 (Ref:2074348)

Interesting that their weekend entertainment has no mention of support races either local or part of the travelling circus.

So far they are talking a good game, we just need to see it transfered onto the pitch..Oops circuit

duke_toaster · 23 Nov 2007, 20:00 (Ref:2074376)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScotsBrutesFan

Interesting that their weekend entertainment has no mention of support races either local or part of the travelling circus.

I imagine they will be local, A1GP doesn't have any "travelling circus" support events IIRC.

strider · 23 Nov 2007, 22:38 (Ref:2074439)

I don't see this getting off the ground. There are far too many unanswered questions.

HCForums · 25 Nov 2007, 11:11 (Ref:2075099)

Don't know if this has been posted. The Astromega Team (that runs A1GP China) will both run Flamenco and RSC Anderlecht (those are soccer teams).

sceptic · 25 Nov 2007, 12:32 (Ref:2075127)

Quote:

Originally Posted by cos

Not convinced about the planned Donington round; it clashes with BTCC at Silverstone, and I'm guessing any "fair-weather" motorsport fan in the area would probably want to go watch some tin-tops charging into each other than the first race of an unproven series with no British "clubs" taking part.

Donington also clashes with DTM at Brands Hatch, while Zolder clashes with A1GP at Zandvoort.

kipper · 25 Nov 2007, 12:45 (Ref:2075135)

Quote:

Originally Posted by sceptic

Donington also clashes with DTM at Brands Hatch, while Zolder clashes with A1GP at Zandvoort.

True, but I would have thought that there is sufficient distance between those venues to get a reasonable crowd at each. That said, I would expect the DTM and A1GP to get the bigger crowds on the grounds that as a known quantity it is likely to appeal more to most spectators, particularly if travelling a longer distance.

**bella** · 26 Nov 2007, 13:02 (Ref:2075756)

sounds like they've taken whatever dates are available at the circuits then, which would leave the ones that clash with big events nearby...

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