Archive for January, 2014
Formula One 2014: New Rules and Expert Views
Recently I published the official Private Fleet review of the Autosport International Show 2014 which I had the absolute privilege of attending. The show was something of a celebration and a sneak peak into the world of motorsport in 2014. Some of the highlights included details of the BTCC, WRC and the best of national motorsport. It may shock you to your very core to discover that Formula One did indeed play an instrumental role in the talking points of the weekend. As you may have expected, the sheer size of the event meant that there was no way I could fit all the juicy details into one article. It is no secret that I have never really been a dedicated fan of modern Formula One. In fact, I am of the firm belief that the sport is ruining the heritage and name of motorsport. The problem is, F1 is the most commercial of any global race event and for many people is the only motorsport that exists. So for me to be excited for the new season was always going to be rather difficult. However, when word reached my ear drums of a whole host of changes to the sport, it did get me thinking. Therefore, while I was at the Autosport Show, I was fascinated to hear what the experts thought of these new changes and the state of modern F1.
I was lucky enough to have some pretty big names in the world of Formula One at the event, all of whom threw themselves into the public firing line to answer our questions. Some of these people included David Croft, a broadcaster who has shared many years of experience in commentating on Formula One, Adrian Sutil, the ex-Force India driver who has just made the move to the Sauber team, Martin Brundle, driver come voice of F1 commentary and John Surtees, a timeless legend of motorsport. Here is a quick overview of the dramatic new changes that have been introduced to F1 for 2014:
- The 2.4 litre V8 powered engine has been sent to the museum and been replace by a 1.6 litre turbo charged ‘power train’ that focuses on energy recovery.
- Forget KERS, it is now ERS (Energy Recovery System), which gives 33 seconds of an extra 160BHP electrical energy per lap
- Aerodynamic changes – front wing is now shorter, and lower, which will bring the whole front nose down. There will be different exhaust air flow and a smaller rear wing
- A new Pirelli tyre
- Double points for the last race
- Fixed driver number to be used throughout their career between 2 and 99, with 1 being reserved for the current champion if they decide to use it
Before I divulge the information and opinions I heard from the professionals, let me just shoot my opinion out there. I understand that these rules have the potential to dramatically change the sport, but it makes me wonder why this is happening all at once. One level of analysis could be that it was becoming obvious that the championship was beginning to become boring, predictable and turning many people away. As I always said, why people got so excited over the miniscule number of overtakes in a race really was a worry when in all other forms of motorsports, overtaking is one of the foundations of a race and will happen more times than you can shake a stick at.
Whenever I voice my concerns and criticisms of F1, I am always met without fail with a barrage of abuse and a lackluster defense from people. Just because it is called Formula One does not make it automatically better than every other type of motorsport, but I think the glitz and glamour has gone to many peoples’ heads. Anyway, while I was at the Autosport Show and I was in the ‘Live Action Arena’ I was finally given the proof I was looking for. As the show began, David Croft attempted to wow the audience with mention of the new season of Formula One…
“So who enjoyed Formula One last year LET ME HEAR YOU!”
…the most awkward of awkward silences gripped the stadium…
“That is not much of a surprise really… but give us a cheer if you’re looking forward to the exciting new 2014 season!!!”
…in a room with 5000 people, you could probably have heard a flea farting…
It says a great deal that at a dedicated car show which attracts car lovers the world over falls silent at the mention of F1. It seems that the true lovers of motorsport have spoken (or in this case, stayed silent). The fact even a Sky broadcaster who is paid to love F1 even admitted that the 2013 season was dull. I do in a way admire the fan boys who refuse to see any fault with the sport when even those who are most involved with the sport admit there are issues. Clearly ignorance is bliss.
Having seen designs of some of the new cars, I have got to be honest in saying that I feel sorry for the drivers, i would not want to be racing in the most famous and glamorous form of motorsport in a car that appears to have a droopy gentleman sausage attached to the front of it. Furthermore, as much as I am glad that F1 is slowly becoming greener, it really does sadden me that the engines keep getting smaller and smaller. One of the reasons I am a car lover is the noise; the roar of a race car engine is meant to make the hairs on your neck stand up and rattle you down to your very core. And yet the more the years go on, the cars just sound like high powered bee hives.
With the new regulations, the nose of the car will be a lot lower… Looks erm… wonderful
In terms of the double points and fixed number decisions, Twitter really did sum it up for me…
“So as #F1 struggles with bankrupt teams and one-driver domination we get fixed numbers and double points. Because that’ll fix everything.”
“Why stop at double points for last race. How about triple points for third and no points fourth but 100 for fifth and a kinder surprise egg?”
“No need to debate the FIA’s double points for final race idea. Daft. Far too much messing. F1 in danger of becoming a joke”
“Double points for the last round in F1… I can see sprinkler systems and short cuts coming in soon. #ridiculous”
Honestly, the FIA really do have a habit of ruining every single series they take control of, whether it is F1, GTs, WTCC or the World Rally Championship. They take a great series and turn it into a one horse race with the most ridiculous rules that only seem to favour the teams that have the most money. And then there was that whole business where Ferrari would barely ever get penalised as the FIA seems to be on the Ferrari bank roll.
Next, drivers will have to start the race by performing the macarena, spinning around 5 times, then jumping in and driving off, having to complete one lap in reverse, and navigating jumps, land mines and Indiana Jones style boulders. Ridiculous does not even cover it.
The new rules do not seem to have gone down too well with many of the drivers and teams either. The main worry is that the sport is losing any sense of credibility and is merely clutching at straws to salvage the burning wreckage it has become. One of the most popular aspects of the new F1 2013 videogame for example is the chance to drive old classic F1 cars. The film ‘Rush’ showed the story of one of the greatest F1 rivalries in history. And the film Senna documented the life of the greatest F1 driver who ever lived. I am noticing a common factor here. I think F1 has finally realised that it has fallen off the edge of the Olympus that it used to be and is now trying literally anything and everything to try and make it good again.
Once again, my time at the Autosport show did nothing but emphasise these arguments I have made. When asked the question, ‘What was your favourite era of F1 and where is your favourite track?’, Martin Brundle, Adrian Sutil AND John Surtees were all picking eras such as the 60s, 70s or 80s, and tracks like the old Spa, the old Silverstone, Monaco, Jerez. When asked about the new tracks they seemed highly dismissive and would even joke about how some tracks like Singapore are rather laborious. Brundle and Surtees reminisced in fond detail about the close racing, the spectacle, the noise and the thrill of F1 ‘back in the day’. The racing would be close and drivers had barely any driver aids. Sounds a lot more fun really doesn’t it?
Those were the days…
Although they did not say it outright, it seemed apparent that these legends of the sport did not seem too impressed by the state of modern F1. They all loved the old school tracks, and maybe it is not just the public who are massively against tracks designed by Hermann Tilke. Hearing some of the stories told by Surtees really did blow all these modern guys out the water.
When asked about the upcoming season, the stars of F1 had some interesting views on the direction of F1 2014:
Adrian Sutil
“People are quick to criticise the new rule changes in Formula One, but they may actually be a good thing. We will all have to completely change our driving style to suit these new cars. With the high levels of torque there is wheel spin when changing from 4th to 5th, which we have never had before. Not only that but the new aerodynamic changes means that oversteer will become common on most tracks, That is exciting isnt it? As a driver I am looking forward to it, especially since moving to a new team because it is a whole new challenge that we can build on from the start”
Martin Brundle
“This new double points system seems to be answering a question that no one was really asking. Not only that but it does devalue the other races. I think many of the teams will be heading to Melbourne at the start of the year with very basic cars with these new regulations. It will take a lot of time for teams to get on top of these new rules. I do hope that because of this the races will become a lot more exciting and a lot more unpredictable. Chances are that Red Bull will still be the team to beat, but it should be a lot less of a one horse race. Also, I have been told by Ross Brawn that what is going on at Mercedes is very exciting and that he left behind a team very excited for the new season. Lewis Hamilton fans will definitely be in for a good year this year.”
John Surtees
“Everything is just so much different now than what it used to be. With these new changes it may be that the sport begins to go back to how it was in the classic era. Formula One cars used to have no driver aids and it was all about driver skill, as I am sure Martin [Brundle] will agree. These new changes will make the racing closer and as they are so different, no one will know what is going to happen at the start of the year. It really is quite exciting, forgetting the specifics of some of these new regulations”
It really was fascinating to hear these legends speaking about the modern world of Formula One. They may not have said outright that modern F1 is not as good as it could be, listening to them reminisce so fondly about the past would lead one to believe that is what they were implying. Looking at their reactions to certain questions and how they were speaking gave the impressions of hope; it would seem that they are hopeful of the new season, hopeful that the new regulations will bring about positive changes. I guess the main problem with these new regulations is that on paper they seem utterly ridiculous, but I have hope that when put into practice they may indeed be successful.
Interestingly, Christian Horner has predicted that 2014 will begin with a very high drop out rate in races of up to 50%. He believes that with the new regulations, it may bring about many problems for teams and until they have got to grip with them all, audiences may see a lot of cars retiring over a weekend.
I really do hope I can be proved wrong with all this.
Finally, both Surtees and Brundle spoke heavily about the hierarchy and politics involved with motorsport. They both argued that one of the inescapable problems of motorsport and F1 in general is that it is often only open to the super rich, and because of the money needed to fund a season, there is no other way around it. Scholarships for drivers would be a good strategy for breaking down barriers in the future, but where would the money come from? The motorsport industry gives jobs, money and a way of life to so many people and both Surtees and Brundle hopes that one day successful drivers will not just be those who have the biggest pockets but those who have the talent to be at the top. The Red Bull funded race academy is just one example of how the sport is trying to break down the traditional elitist barriers. Good luck to them I say.
As I said at the beginning, it says a lot that there are so many critics of the sport in its state, and I am glad that something is being done to address it, however silly it currently seems. It has not been said outright, but these changes I believe are the FIA admitting that the sport does have faults and changes have to be made. At the end of the day, there will always be people who love F1 to the end of their days, and those who will always be critical. And as I bring this to a close, I just want to say that I am highly critical of F1, but on the other hand I would still love it to return to the success it used to have in its glory years. One day the politics and the technical will fall and the racing will once more take over as the spectacle and talking point of the sport.
The new regulations for the 2014 F1 season may appear to be filled with illogical stupidity, but maybe, just maybe it will be the revolution that we have all been praying for. Just remember, Charles Darwin was once told his concept of evolution was stupid, and now look where we are.
Let’s raise our glasses to the future!
Like me? Hate me? I would love to hear about it, find me on Twitter @lewisglynn69
Keep Driving People!
Peace and Love!
Autosport International 2014: The Racing Car Show
The Autosport International Show is an annual automotive event that takes place at the legendary NEC in Birmingham. It brings together all the icons of the motoring world in one weekend long celebration of the greatest spectacle on earth; motorsport. The ‘Performance Car Show’ runs in tandem with the main show, showcasing the best in the world of high quality motoring. For any car enthusiast it is an event not to be missed. And for this devoted monk who prays on the V8 powered altar of motorsport, 2014 was the year I made the pilgrimage to this hallowed land.
As I pulled into the NEC in my own MG ZS (yes, sometimes I do like to pretend I drive an old school BTCC car) I was quite simply blown away by the size of the event. It is not often that you park your car at a venue and have to then take a shuttle bus to even get to the main entrance. This was going to be big. And then I walked in…
The NEC is an amazing venue – you get a real idea of just how much there is to see
The freezing Midlands air rushed away as my senses were replaced with what I can only describe as a monumental wall of awesome. Words cannot express just what it felt like to see everything I love about cars under one roof. Whether I tackle this article from a personal or objective stance, the conclusion will always be the same. It is just about time you found out why.
The show offered everything that any car lover would need. Let’s say for example you were fascinated by major developments within engineering. The Autosport Show had a dedicated engineering inception (a show within a show if you will), with over 200 specialists showing off everything that is new and exciting from the industry. I will not pretend to have understood everything about a lot of what I saw, but the best part was that there was always someone on hand to explain. Anything from aerodynamics, to small parts, to exhausts or fancy computer developments, it was all there.
The show offered unrivalled access to all types of cars and just how they work
The ‘Live Action Arena’ gave audiences the chance to see some of the amazing machinery in action. To be totally honest this was probably the only disappointing part of the show. The Autosport Show is meant to be everything that is new and exciting about the world of motorsport yet the live arena did nothing but roll out the stereotypes. Live car shows are meant to be thrilling and enthralling, not just another drifting display followed by a motocross team doing some funky jumping off some ramps. The Stock Car disciplines gave me hope, but these seem to be cut rather short and as I was just getting used to these awesome machines, they had disappeared forever.
I would have much preferred to see this beast roaring around the Live Action Arena…
I wanted to see super cars; I wanted to see the latest race cars. If I wanted drifting and bikes I could go to any local car show. The rest of the event was so modern and so innovative that the live action arena felt a bit old fashioned. The reaction of the audience seemed to reflect my views; even the hosts seem to struggle to get some life out of the 5,000 strong crowd. But it is after all a very well known fact; there is nothing on this earth that is perfect. As amazing as the event was, it was no exception.
One of the greatest BTCC machines from its greatest era. This is the Reid Mondeo from 1999
As a recently graduated Masters student, I completely understand the value of education; if you do not instil the seed of excitement into the younglings at the most basic level, how will they germinate and blossom into a vast forest of motorsport quality that propels the industry forward into the vast unknown that is the future? Motorsport can only evolve and change with new technology, and one of the only ways to ensure its survival is training new engineers and pioneers. The show boasted a comprehensive university and college sector, advertising the opportunities available through taking degrees towards motorsport. Each of these stalls gave visitors the chance to chat to professors, students and even famous graduates, proving that the right course can in fact lead you headlong into the dazzling world of Formula One.
The Autosport Show gives young people the route they need to enter the world of F1
Motorsport is the essence that unleashes the pure animalistic enjoyment among every single person. The Autosport Show gave visitors the unrivalled chance to interact with the cars that we all cheer on from the usual comfort of our sofas or grandstands. Never before have I managed to get up close and personal with some of the machines that defined motorsport through the ages. Formula One, British Touring Cars, World Rally Championship cars, GT races, Le Mans Prototypes, Karts, this list could go on. Every form of motorsport was shown off.
Beauty has no limits…
My favourite aspect of this was the F1 and Autosport stages that were the very epicentre of proceedings. Famous faces from the world of motorsport came out and gave us all the chance to ask them our own questions. Some of these guests included the absolute legend that is John Surtees, race driver supreme, Martin Brundle, driver and commentator, Adrian Sutil, new Sauber driver having moved from Force India and a host of current British Touring Car drivers. Some of the interesting conversations that arose brought up some fascinating news about both Touring cars and Formula One, but I shall save them for another day.
It is not everyday you get to have a chat with two legends of motorsport
The entire event was mind blowing beyond all forms of brain function. It may seem slightly strange to say but for me to fully immerse myself into a world I have spent my life in love with is an opportunity that does not come around very often. If I had to put forward my favourite part of my experience, it would very much have to be the British Touring Car displays, coupled with the interviews with some of my racing heroes. Matt Neal and Jason Plato have been true gods of the BTCC since the golden years in the 1990s; to see them talking about their famous clashes, their favourite moments and plans for the future of the discipline was truly a moment that will stay with me for years to come.
The BTCC is once more becoming a force to be reckoned with in motorsport
Autosport International 2014 has, in my mind, blown everything else out the water and for one very good reason. The social media revolution has given everyone a voice in all aspects of industry, and with evolving technology comes progress. The show was truly interactive in all its elements; the visitors were given every chance to become part of the show. This could be as simple as participating in the discussions with the big names of the show, getting to try out some modern engineering innovations or getting to grips with the best that the motorsport video game industry can offer. It is not every day you get to play the latest Formula One game while sitting in the cockpit of an actual Formula One car.
And here was something a little different. This is Jaguart…
All in all I would say that the Autosport International Show 2014 was an amazing experience that I cannot wait to go back to next year. The show brought together everything that is enthralling about the motorsport world, and has cemented its place within modern society. Motorsport is not just about the individual; it is about the car, the team and the entire industry. Motoring is an essential aspect of modern society, spearheaded by the majesty that is motorsport. The interactive nature of the show encapsulated audiences and gave them the ride of their lives. For any petrol head this is a must-see international event. The mixture of motorsport, engineering and live action really does excite the senses.
Stock Cars may not have commercial recognition, but you cannot deny how good they look
The discussion does not end here. Watch this space for where I reveal some of the news, discussions and gossip I gathered from the show.
For my full coverage from my day at the show, please follow me on Twitter @lewisglynn69
The Autosport International Show: the holy land of motorsport under one roof, this will truly become an annual pilgrimage for me.
Keep Driving People!
Peace and Love!
Perfect Poignancy: Holden Commodore SV6
It was with more than a twitch of sadness and emotion that I handed back to the dealership, after three weeks covering the Christmas/New Year’s period, Holden’s VF SV6 sedan, with six speed manual and coated in a a Perfect Blue paint scheme. Coming off the back of confirmation that Holden would cease local manufacturing in 2017, it was somewhat poignant to spend time in the Commodore that has been so well welcomed by the media and public.
The Driven Heart
It’s a strong combination in the VF Commodore; the torquey 3.6L V6 and six speed manual. There’s 210 killer wasps
(at a high 6700 revs) to be had alongside an immensely usable 350 torques at 2800 rpm, a rev point where push in the back acceleration can be had in the right gear. It’s mostly easy on the brain to drive, with a firm and progressive clutch pedal travel but a pickup point that seems to be on/off like a light switch. The gear shift itself, although not heavy, has a notchy feel when slotting the lever home. Reverse is across to the left and up and has no lockout mechanism. Oddly enough, first leaves the SV6 somewhat ragged and breathless but moves into its stride come second and third, where the torque of the V6 can really come into play. At freeways speeds sixth has the donk ticking over just under 2000 whilst the flexibility can be used to either simply slot back into fourth on the downchange or miss a gear on the upchange. There’s some induction noise and a nice rorty tune from the exhaust.
The Sheetmetal
In a nod to Peter “Perfect” Brock, 
Holden offer a blue so very similar in shade to the famous colour that coated the VK HDT range known as the “Blue Meanie” that it’s been called Perfect Blue. It’s a lovely shade and evokes, in those old enough to remember or those that follow motorsport, what HDT’s mid ’80s groundbreaker was all about. With contrasting matt and gloss black bodywork, it’s an eyecatching colour that highlights the curves and creases on the VF shape, from the eagle eye headlights cresting the LED DRLs wrapped in gloss black through to the almost Camaro like tail light clusters above the rear apron, 
sporting twin pipes. 
There’s a subtle lip spoiler for the boot which impedes only minimally on rear vision from the cabin. It’s a strong and assertive profile which suits the various colour schemes available, especially on the SS versions whilst chrome highlights the gloss black inserts at the nose.
The Office Space
The VF has been around for long enough now for it to be familiar to most. The main change to the interior of the VF SV6 is a carbon fibre look to the dash and an interesting carbon fibre style weave in the seat cloth. It’s flexible, looks good and feels good to the
fingers. As a manual, seating position is important and this was the case here, with a comfortable 
seating slot found easily. There’s sports style pedals, manual (not push button) ignition, red highlights to the dash display, whilst the centre dash display is the monochrome style from the Evoke, rather than the colour version found higher up the chain. Reverse camera parking was a doddle however satnav isn’t included, an odd omission. The MyLink system that is now standard across the range is user friendly, look the part and offers the internet based radio apps such as Pandora plus there’s Holden’s parking assist and blind spot notification system to enjoy as well. At the rear there’s the skiport access from the cavernous boot, a 60/40 rear fold would be handy though. Naturally there’s plenty of airbags should they be required.
On The Road
The FE2 suspension setup works a treat on the SV6; it’s firm yet supple, absorbent and fluid, provides confident handling and combines with a sensible steering ratio (with the electrically assisted steering) to give point and shoot driving. The Bridgestone 245/45/18s hang onto the road pretty well for the most part however did seems to lose some traction on barely damp surfaces, including one slide into a left hander on ramp. The six speed manual is not the epitome of smoothness in shifting, with a notchy crunch into each gear nor is the clutch exactly spot on. Although smooth and well pressured, the actual pick up point required a 
measure of finesse and constantly felt a little “lightswitch” on/off. A nice and nifty addition is the hill start brake system, holding the brakes for a second or so in order for the first gear to be selected and not allow rollback. Under acceleration, first felt rough and thready, running out breath even however in third or fourth a good go at the loud pedal saw rapid forward movement plus there was enough of a bark from the bonnet and exhaust to tickle the aural tastebuds. Brakes were progressive with enough bite from moderate pressure to haul in the 1800kgs or so of the SV6. Overall fuel economy was 9.4L/100 km with predominantly suburban driving; the first indication of needing fuel came at around the 600km mark.
The Wrap
It was with more than a sense of sadness that I had to give the mid $30K SV6 back to its temporary home; sad that soon Australia will lose such an excellent, well engineered, home grown product. Sad that, as a manual driver by preference and ideology, that the Australian market prefers the self shifter. Sad that the downsize factor takes away some of the sense of freedom and fun that a solid and torquey V6 offers plus the sheer roominess of a large sedan. Although the Malibu has failed to excite the wallets of Aussie drivers, it is, at least, a size comparable with the VF and requires some styling and engineering tweaks if it’s to be a serious contender to go some way in offering a physically large car exercise once the VF sees the end of Holden made cars in 2017. It was a poignant moment for me to hand over the key to what is a shining example of what will soon be lost to Australia’s future generations.
Information on the VF SV6 and its family can be found here:http://www.holden.com.au/cars/commodore/sedan-range
Motoring Resolutions for 2014
So it’s now 2014, and as this is my first post since we turned over the calendars, I guess I’d better do something new year-ish. As usual in the motoring world, 2014 will see heaps of new versions and things being launched onto the Aussie market and you should be able to keep up with all the new developments on Private Fleet’s car reviews page. On the more personal front, the only big event in my motoring life for this year will be my teenage son going for his licence – I won’t be on the lookout for a new set of wheels (assuming neither the Ford nor my husband’s Nissan Navara work ute blows up). But it probably is time to draw up a list of New Year resolutions for driving. Perhaps the rest of you might like to use this as a little inspiration. After all, all of us could do with some improvements in our driving lives and habits somewhere.
- Keep the car clean inside and out. OK, my Fairlaine isn’t as messy inside as my friend’s Toyota Starlet but it’s high time I gave the seats and the floor of the car a good vacuum. And I need to take out the mats and give them a good shaking, followed by putting them back straight. Maybe finding a rubbish bag to corral old chocolate bar wrappers, receipts and cider bottle caps would be a good idea.
- Use the car less. How many of us have decided (yet again) that we are going to lose weight this year? Ditching the car for short journeys is one simple way of adding a bit more exercise (and is cheaper than a gym membership).
- Keep up the fluids. Oil, brake fluid, the radiator, the window washing fluid…
- Upskill in some area of my driving and car-related activities. Everybody’s got something that they could improve when it comes to cars. Perhaps you/I/we could work on parallel parking without relying overly on the parking assist cameras (one day, you’ll have to drive a car without them, so knowing how to do it without electronic aids is a real must). Perhaps backing a trailer. Perhaps learning how to do a bit more DIY when it comes to car maintenance and repairs – not every job requires a mechanic, after all. Or becoming more comfortable with a manual transmission system if you mostly drive an automatic.
- Sort through the collection of CDs in the car and rotate them so I don’t always end up listening to the same thing every time I get in the car. I’ve got rather eclectic taste in music but even so, I’d like a different set of choices from the options I’ve had over the last month or seven (for those interested, they are a collection of Celtic music, an obscure German electronica/trance album, several CDs of classical music and a Chris Rea album). Better still, see about getting a new audio unit that has USB input so I can plug in an MP3 player.
That should keep me busy for a while, anyway. Happy New Year to all of you and happy driving in 2014.
Level 2, 9 Help Street