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07-26-2017, 09:46 AM
From Motorsport.com
Mercedes’ decision to quit its DTM touring car programme in favour of Formula E is far more significant than first meets the eye.
On the surface, it’s simply a manufacturer pulling out of its domestic touring car series to re-appropriate finances towards a different championship, right? But the truly momentous aspect is that it’s a German car giant kicking its last remaining factory-run, non-hybrid internal combustion engine racing programme to the kerb.
The DTM is Germany’s premiere domestic racing championship, yet Mercedes is set to end a 19-year stretch of unyielding support to a series it actually helped create. Its only naturally-aspirated motorsport involvement from 2019 will be for customer GT3 cars of the 6.3-litre V8 variety.
Formula E is a magnet to the OEM mass-produced market, which views electrification as the future of automotive. Renault, Audi, Citroen and Jaguar are already racing there. BMW and now Mercedes are coming. Porsche is almost certain to be next.
With Formula 1 adopting hybrid turbos in 2014, and the FIA’s World Endurance Championship having done likewise with its top LMP1 class, the days of the naturally-aspirated ICE in the highest levels of international motorsport appear numbered. Even GP2 will use V6 turbos next year.
And with half of F1’s engine suppliers now committed to Formula E, there’s a crossroads fast approaching. Should F1 continue its fight to remain road-relevant? Or should it break free from the risk of manufacturer whims?
Personally speaking, I’d implore the decision-makers to steer F1 towards something that Formula E will never be: The fastest, loudest, most daring racing show on earth.
Get the show right by embracing F1’s rich DNA and mutate it. Retain the best drivers and teams, and maintain its position at the peak of the sport. In the long term, give up the losing battle to keep mass-market manufacturers interested, why not switch focus instead to high-performance marques like Aston Martin, Alfa Romeo, Bentley or Bugatti and all the ‘new’ supercar brands.
By any means necessary, F1 should be stratospherically aspirational. Perhaps that means bucking the automotive trend to go naturally-aspirated again, to bring back the noise and fury.
– Charles Bradley, Editor in Chief
Mercedes’ decision to quit its DTM touring car programme in favour of Formula E is far more significant than first meets the eye.
On the surface, it’s simply a manufacturer pulling out of its domestic touring car series to re-appropriate finances towards a different championship, right? But the truly momentous aspect is that it’s a German car giant kicking its last remaining factory-run, non-hybrid internal combustion engine racing programme to the kerb.
The DTM is Germany’s premiere domestic racing championship, yet Mercedes is set to end a 19-year stretch of unyielding support to a series it actually helped create. Its only naturally-aspirated motorsport involvement from 2019 will be for customer GT3 cars of the 6.3-litre V8 variety.
Formula E is a magnet to the OEM mass-produced market, which views electrification as the future of automotive. Renault, Audi, Citroen and Jaguar are already racing there. BMW and now Mercedes are coming. Porsche is almost certain to be next.
With Formula 1 adopting hybrid turbos in 2014, and the FIA’s World Endurance Championship having done likewise with its top LMP1 class, the days of the naturally-aspirated ICE in the highest levels of international motorsport appear numbered. Even GP2 will use V6 turbos next year.
And with half of F1’s engine suppliers now committed to Formula E, there’s a crossroads fast approaching. Should F1 continue its fight to remain road-relevant? Or should it break free from the risk of manufacturer whims?
Personally speaking, I’d implore the decision-makers to steer F1 towards something that Formula E will never be: The fastest, loudest, most daring racing show on earth.
Get the show right by embracing F1’s rich DNA and mutate it. Retain the best drivers and teams, and maintain its position at the peak of the sport. In the long term, give up the losing battle to keep mass-market manufacturers interested, why not switch focus instead to high-performance marques like Aston Martin, Alfa Romeo, Bentley or Bugatti and all the ‘new’ supercar brands.
By any means necessary, F1 should be stratospherically aspirational. Perhaps that means bucking the automotive trend to go naturally-aspirated again, to bring back the noise and fury.
– Charles Bradley, Editor in Chief
Chris
981 GT4
996 GT3 Cup
911 Carrera Sport Coupe
PCA Nationally Trained DE Instructor #200810247
Genesee Valley BMW CCA Instructor
981 GT4
996 GT3 Cup
911 Carrera Sport Coupe
PCA Nationally Trained DE Instructor #200810247
Genesee Valley BMW CCA Instructor