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Last Sunday I watched the Formula 1 Silverstone Grand Prix (Great Britain). I have to admit that it was the first race of the series that I watched this season. Until now I only read some summaries or news. Although I consider myself as a fan, somehow I didn’t really feel like watching the previous races. But this was Silverstone – last year it was the best race of the season (very wet track), so I decided to sit in front of the TV and check what will happen this year.

And this first race… was pretty boring. My expectations were low, after reading all the bitter news from the press… About teams vs FIA conflict. About the double diffuser issue…

Where was the competition? The adrenaline? Where are the duels? Overtaking?

Some guy starts from the pole position and earns 1 second advantage every lap. The rest of the cars, just seem to drive there to create traffic on the track, as nobody can get even close to the leader times. BMW which in last season had a potential to become a strong team, now somehow lost their way (they were the originators of KERS). Now they not only don’t use the mentioned system, but also can’t even fit in the top 10. Two former world champions: Alonso was 15th. Hamilton… 16th. They all drive for good teams… did they lost their way also?

And what’s the worst of all: there was only 1 little crash in the race I fell asleep during 40th lap. At least I managed to stay awake 20 laps longer than my father.

This season is horrible

2 minor teams, that were in last 3 positions for ages, suddenly became the leaders of the championship. Their drivers, that actually had hardly any success before, became superstars now? All this thanks to some inconsistency in regulations that was used by “double diffuser gang” (teams that are using the solution this season). This is absurd! It’s not a way to work Your way to the top. How could FIA allow this situation to occur?

I know that every year there are stronger and weaker teams, but not by this difference. Last year Ferrari and McLaren were strong. Then Renault and BMW were chasing. Now it’s just Redbull and Brawn… And a nice turmoil: FIA against FOTA (World Motor Sport Association vs the Teams Association). FIA wants to level the teams yearly budgets, and these don’t want to agree. It’s understandable. Ferrari doesn’t need so much money for research as Toyota, as they have the technology already available. Toyota is just a beginner there, so they need to work their way up and do some extra research – and that’s expensive. So we have an issue that can end by teams leaving. So next year we might see Formula 1 branded by some other name. I don’t care about the name actually, but the rules, regulations and MONEY issues are killing the fun. And they are supposed to do opposite.

I remember 1994-1996 seasons best, when Benetton and Williams (both with the same engines) were head to head with Ferrari. And You had 6 top class drivers that were fighting with each other (Berger, Hill, Alesi)… And You knew that cars are pretty much the same, so the win was deserved thanks to good tactics, car config and the most important: DRIVERS. The diversity of makes and cars was working in favour of the sport event.

Then McLaren came with Mika Hakkinen, who won the championship. Michael Schumacher (BTW. he IS NOT the Stig ) was furious, blaming Ferrari. But anyway they were close.

Now?

Budget and rule bending wins the races. The 10 teams that use 5 different engines (Renault, Toyota, Mercedes, BMW and Ferrari) seems like not enough now.

And that’s not all about motor sports death… Let’s take a look at…

World Touring Car Championship

I always liked this series. As the cars racing there were pretty often factory cars – sport versions. And what’s the most important thing: it was the most entertaining sport. There were crashes… and crashes… And car contact, bumper to bumper duels and… even more crashes…

Again I remember Volvo T5 engine dĂŠbut with S40 – that was terrible in it’s first season… and then for the next 2 seasons unbeatable. I bought Volvo V40 with it’s strongest engine, after the engine success in the competition. That is the point of this sport – to see which brand has more edge and skill, to make a 2.0 liter sport engine. And the diversity of makes was good too: Honda Accord, Alfa Romeo, Ford Focus, BMW, Seat, Opel… I spent hours playing TOCA.

Let’ s check now: Seat Leon, Chevrolet, BMW and Lada ??  (Please…). Again diversity is gone. They mixed diesel with gasoline engines in one class, and now can’t manage to balance these 2.0 liter engines. As TDI is turbocharged and gasoline can’t use the turbo. Also gasoline engines have rev limit to 8,5k RPM. TDI don’t have any strong limitations (charging over 3 bar). They should keep the engine types separate. Instead they killed another series…

World Rally Championship?

10 years ago Peugeot was outclassing the opponents. Then came Citroen. There was always Subaru and Mitsubishi. Skoda came also. Diversity! You could see the Fins wining everything on the snow. Others: Sainz, McRae, Loeb… had their highlights.

Now what’s left? This year we will have 5 teams racing. 5 sounds not much? Check out their cars…

We will have Citroen and Ford factory teams… Then private teams with: Citroen, Ford and a… Ford. Wow! 2 makes left… Does look promising? Rather boring… And looks like drivers are also slowly leaving. And without them…

What will be left in few years?

Probably some 2 biggest and richest car makers will create it’s own racing classes. As they will be alone after buying everyone else on the market. And racing will become a… promotion tool for only these 2 (GM? Toyota?)… Borrrrring…

This is just my imagination, but it’s the direction… You can feel in the air. I hope that won’t happen.

I hope that Honda will reappear in some worldwide sports racing. I hope that Subaru and Mitsubishi will return to WRC with style. That there will be at least 10 different cars in WTCC. And I hope that Formula 1 will stop making me fall asleep…

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