While the SCTA mantra is "non-professional" racing and some focus is given
to stop costs from escalating due to technology creep, it seams the most
expensive sport in the world is starting down a similar path. Albeit for
different reasons but it appears cost-containment is one of them. Sweeping
changes are being instituted in Formula 1 racing this year. Traction
Control is banned! Many more hi tech features are to be eliminated. Data
loggers will be restricted to a common type to be used by all. Telemetry
will be eliminated in future years! Most interesting is a requirement for
engines to last two races next year. Eventually in 2005, engines will have
to last 6 races! Goodbye to the 15,000 rpm motors in years ahead.
Nobody expects Ferrari will spend less than its current $450,000,000 yearly
race budget. But there is a definite trend to cut costs in F-1 and to make
the driver more of a participant thereby giving the spectator a better show.
For a better read go here.
http://my.brickyard.com/usgp/press/story.php?story_id=825
The press release is below. I have edited it for brevity. I'm not sure I
agree with a promoters philosophy or justification for it all. I happen to
like the harmony of a 15,000 rpm anything. However, the cost of "ingenuity
in action" may be limiting the field of players and that is not good. Your
mileage may vary.
Press Release:
Greater driver skill and finesse will be required in the second half of the
2003 Formula One season, which includes the United States Grand Prix on
Sept. 28 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, now that the FIA has confirmed
that electronic driver aids, such as traction control and launch control,
will be banned in July.
The FIA published a series of drastic F1 rule changes Jan. 15 designed to
cut costs and improve the spectacle of the races. Some of the main features
of the final rules package include banning traction control, which prevents
rear-wheel spin as the car exits a corner, and launch control, which is used
to start the car from a standstill with minimum rear-wheel spin. Now that
these systems will be banned, as of the British Grand Prix on July 20, more
driver skill will be required as the driver will not be able to depend on
computers to keep the car under control.
* Pit-to-car telemetry is eliminated with immediate effect.
* Car-to-pit telemetry is eliminated from 2004, and a standard data
logger introduced at the same time.
* Traction control and automatic gearboxes no longer will be allowed
from halfway through this season, starting at the British Grand Prix on July
20.
* Launch control will end at the same time, provided the teams can all
operate their current clutches manually.
* Following the Jan. 21 meeting, the FIA is satisfied that the absence
of traction control, launch control and fully automatic gearboxes can be
proved using a combination of new technology and extra (FIA) sensors.
Software inspection remains available to the FIA as a backup, if needed. So
it will not be necessary to introduce a standard electronic control unit
(ECU) in 2004.
/// unsubscribe/change address requests to majordomo@autox.team.net or try
/// http://www.team.net/mailman/listinfo
/// Archives at http://www.team.net/archive/land-speed
/// what is needed. It isn't that difficult, folks.
|