Unpopular Motorsport Opinions

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I actually kind of like the Baku circuit.

Not the new one, though. I mean the GT circuit with the ridiculous chicanes and narrow streets that really made someone think about timing their next move.
 
GOTMAXPOWER
Haas had the fourth best car this season but the team had no idea to run it/develop a really strong base.
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A strong base means nothing without development though, so even if they did have a base car which was 4th best at the start of the season it would be somewhere near the bottom by the end.
 
C_R5_575TLR
A strong base means nothing without development though, so even if they did have a base car which was 4th best at the start of the season it would be somewhere near the bottom by the end.
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To an extend they would but even with the minimal improvements they could still stick both cars in the top 10 at a race like Japan at the end of the season (a race they didn't score in). Their main problems were operational and failing to unlock the potential of a very solid midfield car.
 
GOTMAXPOWER
Haas had the fourth best car this season but the team had no idea to run it/develop a really strong base.
Click to expand...
IIRC they didn't do any development after the European leg of the season, they focused all their efforts on the new regs for 2017.

As for my unpopular opinion: If the Sepang and Bahrain tracks were in Europe, they would be considered great. Likewise if COTA or Barcelona were in the middle east, they would be considered terrible.
 
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The GP3 race this year was abysmal at Barcelona. the whole field was within a second of the car in front and nobody could overtake there.


Lets open another can of worms.
There are no good race tracks in Spain. Barcelona, Both Valencias, Aragon, Jarama, Jerez, Navarra etc are all terrible.
 
GT3 you mean. That was on the F1 version brain dead track. Barcelona Moto is a very good track, Ricardo Tormo Valencia is interesting, Jarama is technically good and Jerez, without the chicane, is very good as well. I have no view on either Aragon or Navarra.
 
I'm going to miss the DP vs LMP2 vs DeltaWing battles in IMSA and wish there had been more potential from them with better tires for the DW and P2 cars.

That kind of mixed prototype racing doesnt come around often and while it ends up being boring, the potential is exciting.

That being said, the DPi vs LMP2 battles should be even more competitive even if there isnt the visual contrast.
 
Jimlaad43
The GP3 race this year was abysmal at Barcelona. the whole field was within a second of the car in front and nobody could overtake there.


Lets open another can of worms.
There are no good race tracks in Spain. Barcelona, Both Valencias, Aragon, Jarama, Jerez, Navarra etc are all terrible.
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Care to explain or give specific reasons for your opinion? Like, it seems like you constantly rip on tracks, and a lot of tracks which are highly regarded (like Suzuka), but I don't really recall reading logical reasons as to why you think they're "terrible".

Seriously, what the hell is wrong with Aragon?
 
I think the WRC will be the best mainstream championship next year. And the last time that happened was in 2003.

The calendar is as good as it's been in a long time. Not perfect, mind - no Acropolis, no Safari, and I'll take Sanremo over Sardegna any day. But none of the locations this year are stupid, such as, say, China. (If they want to head somewhere new, there's plenty more obvious options...maybe the USA, for instance? Or Japan?) And what they have got on the calendar is spot on.

The cars, meanwhile, are coming back to what Group B was. Which is obviously exactly what the championship needed. With modern safety there's no reason not to. In fact I'd let the teams go further still, go berserk with the possibilities.

The one thing that could put a spanner in the works is the driver line-up. If you look at the last properly good WRC in 2003, the driver line-up was jaw-dropping. Solberg, Loeb, Sainz, Burns, Martin, Gronholm, McRae, Makinen, Auriol, even Panizzi, Rovanpera, a young Mikko Hirvonen and more. And if you look as far back as even the beginning of the World Rally Car era, it seemed like literally everyone in it managed something in the WRC. But three years later most of them were gone, and now we have Ogier, a few decent blokes and then a bunch of nobodies.

But this year, Ogier's in a Ford, and for all their time in the WRC, the last time they had the best car in the championship was before the 80s. And the competition is strong - Citroen have been at it on their C3 since last year, Hyundai are no shrinking violet and the last time Toyota were in the business, they won the constructors' title. (Although 1999 was a long time ago now...hopefully Makinen can run a team as well as he drove one!) So even if Ogier does still win, I suspect he'll have been made to work for it this time around. Which means he'll have something to do other than whine. I mean, he did that so well last year he got rid of the one rule that made last year's WRC the best since it went wrong - and that was still a foregone conclusion. This time he should at least have someone on his back. Whoever it is, I don't care. But I don't see it being a one-horse race this time around.

I suppose since I'm calling it the best mainstream championship this year, I guess I could also say why everything else won't be. F1's regulations change might shake it up a lot, but the last team to benefit from that is now the team that has dominated F1 for 3 seasons. And given the variables needed to succeed in this F1 era, I can't see Mercedes losing their grip. IndyCar and NASCAR could be among the best if they weren't being crushed by their own internal problems. GT racing is only relevant in one championship, the WEC is much worse off as a two-way battle and the best thing that could happen to the WTCC right now is its death.* I suppose MotoGP could be best of all, as it's coming off two superb years and is now rebounding hugely as a result, but motorbikes are a different kettle of fish in my mind so I've kept that separate.

So that's why the WRC will be the best mainstream championship in 2017. Not the best championship period, mind - that'll be Super GT, again - but the best that sees people at the top of their category, that's for sure. Let's be clear, it's still not gonna be what it once was. But if it's the best championship that really, really matters this year, by god I'll take it.

*If anyone could link me to a thread where I could explain how to make these series better, show me it so I can write about them too.
 
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C-ZETA
But none of the locations this year are stupid, such as, say, China. (If they want to head somewhere new, there's plenty more obvious options...maybe the USA, for instance? Or Japan?)
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China was included because the manufacturers wanted to go there. There hasn't been any interest from America, and the Japanese didn't show much enthusiasm once the Japanese manufacturers withdrew. It's pretty expensive - not to mention a huge logistical challenge - to establish a rally.

That said, the FIA have earmarked a sixteen-round calendar as a very achieveable mid-term goal, and they have received fourteen proposals from new and returning rallies (including the Circuit of Ireland; the Rallies of Turkey, Japan, New Zealand and China; the Safari Rally; and new events in Abu Dhabi and Chile, the latter of which they are apparently very impressed with).
 
Good job there is a manufacturer from Japan now. If Toyota ace their first year it'd be a no-brainer. New Zealand is another great rally, I wouldn't mind a return to Ireland (a good year for Breen would make that one a no-brainer too) and from what I've seen of Chile I reckon it would impress everyone else too. But they've gotta make room for the Safari somehow. They just have to.
 
C-ZETA
Good job there is a manufacturer from Japan now
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I wouldn't make the assumption that a Japanese manufacturer means a return to Japan. The manufacturers want to take the sport to new markets, and in that sense, a return to Japan does not offer them much.
 
twitcher
Care to explain or give specific reasons for your opinion? Like, it seems like you constantly rip on tracks, and a lot of tracks which are highly regarded (like Suzuka), but I don't really recall reading logical reasons as to why you think they're "terrible".

Seriously, what the hell is wrong with Aragon?
Click to expand...
You know what my problem with Suzuka is? Fuji. I only find myself watching one race in Japan over a year, and that's the Japanese Grand Prix. In 2007 and 2008, we had two of the best Japanese Grand Prix I've ever seen since I started watching in the early 2000's. There was a wide track with some good corners, a massive straight and overtaking a-plenty. We then have Suzuka, which all the drivers laud about, but all in all, you have a disappointing race track. Turn 1 isn't a good overtaking spot. I like long straights followed by big braking points.
The esses are so well designed they spread the cars out on lap 1 instantly. Tracks like Korea and India sucked, but the first sector of the first lap was always incredible, as you effectively had three runs down to the first corner with everyone in a big bunch.
Back to Suzuka, corners like Degner and 130R are impressive, I can't deny that, but I don't get the hype over the Esses and Dunlop, they're too medium-speed instead of high-speed. But my main problem is the final chicane. Like the Bus Stop at Spa, it's a clunky chicane that has to be there, but completely ruins any flow the track offers. Plus, as the biggest braking point on the track, it's a terrible overtaking spot. 130R means that the cars have to be strung out, so are rarely side-by-side, and then the track starts to curve right as you brake. This in effect makes an already easy-to-defend narrow piece of track even easier to defend.
I like tracks that offer RACING, as I am a fan of Motor Racing. I turn on the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, and always feel disappointed after it because it's always a track people look forward to, and then turns out to be a boring race. At least at Monaco you know nothing will happen.
So yeah, Suzuka sucks. I have never seen a good Grand Prix there that wasn't affected by rain. 2005's wet quali affected grid and the soaked 2014 races were good, but apart from that, it's a race that 22 people enjoy, rather than the millions watching.


Barcelona has only one overtaking opportunity, Turn 1, and that is ruined by the final corner, because the cars need so much aero in the acceleration zone there that they cannot stay close. I'm sure there are years when more moves are pulled off at Loews at Monaco than the entire Spanish GP.
Valencia street circuit sucked terribly, but somehow produced an awesome race in 2012.
Valencia Tormo would work better if they swapped directions, apart from that it's just a mix of uninspiring corners stitched together so close that it strings a field apart.
Jarama is too small for anything anymore.
Jerez has never had straights long enough for meaningful races.
Aragon might have a good layout buried in the many configurations, but they never use it.
Turn 1 at Navarra was such a stupid idea.
 
Jimlaad43
You know what my problem with Suzuka is? Fuji. I only find myself watching one race in Japan over a year, and that's the Japanese Grand Prix. In 2007 and 2008, we had two of the best Japanese Grand Prix I've ever seen since I started watching in the early 2000's. There was a wide track with some good corners, a massive straight and overtaking a-plenty. We then have Suzuka, which all the drivers laud about, but all in all, you have a disappointing race track. Turn 1 isn't a good overtaking spot. I like long straights followed by big braking points.
The esses are so well designed they spread the cars out on lap 1 instantly. Tracks like Korea and India sucked, but the first sector of the first lap was always incredible, as you effectively had three runs down to the first corner with everyone in a big bunch.
Back to Suzuka, corners like Degner and 130R are impressive, I can't deny that, but I don't get the hype over the Esses and Dunlop, they're too medium-speed instead of high-speed. But my main problem is the final chicane. Like the Bus Stop at Spa, it's a clunky chicane that has to be there, but completely ruins any flow the track offers. Plus, as the biggest braking point on the track, it's a terrible overtaking spot. 130R means that the cars have to be strung out, so are rarely side-by-side, and then the track starts to curve right as you brake. This in effect makes an already easy-to-defend narrow piece of track even easier to defend.
I like tracks that offer RACING, as I am a fan of Motor Racing. I turn on the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, and always feel disappointed after it because it's always a track people look forward to, and then turns out to be a boring race. At least at Monaco you know nothing will happen.
So yeah, Suzuka sucks. I have never seen a good Grand Prix there that wasn't affected by rain. 2005's wet quali affected grid and the soaked 2014 races were good, but apart from that, it's a race that 22 people enjoy, rather than the millions watching.
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If we judged tracks by whether they produce good F1 races there wouldn't be any "good" tracks. It isn't the circuits that are the problem...

Seriously though, you need to watch at least a couple different series on a circuit before you can truly judge it. Suzuka doesn't provide great racing in high downforce open wheelers, but it's awesome for GT and production based cars. Watch the Super GT race they hold there, and then tell me with a straight face that the track is the problem.
 
Jimlaad43
You know what my problem with Suzuka is? Fuji. I only find myself watching one race in Japan over a year, and that's the Japanese Grand Prix. In 2007 and 2008, we had two of the best Japanese Grand Prix I've ever seen since I started watching in the early 2000's. There was a wide track with some good corners, a massive straight and overtaking a-plenty. We then have Suzuka, which all the drivers laud about, but all in all, you have a disappointing race track. Turn 1 isn't a good overtaking spot. I like long straights followed by big braking points.
The esses are so well designed they spread the cars out on lap 1 instantly. Tracks like Korea and India sucked, but the first sector of the first lap was always incredible, as you effectively had three runs down to the first corner with everyone in a big bunch.
Back to Suzuka, corners like Degner and 130R are impressive, I can't deny that, but I don't get the hype over the Esses and Dunlop, they're too medium-speed instead of high-speed. But my main problem is the final chicane. Like the Bus Stop at Spa, it's a clunky chicane that has to be there, but completely ruins any flow the track offers. Plus, as the biggest braking point on the track, it's a terrible overtaking spot. 130R means that the cars have to be strung out, so are rarely side-by-side, and then the track starts to curve right as you brake. This in effect makes an already easy-to-defend narrow piece of track even easier to defend.
I like tracks that offer RACING, as I am a fan of Motor Racing. I turn on the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, and always feel disappointed after it because it's always a track people look forward to, and then turns out to be a boring race. At least at Monaco you know nothing will happen.
So yeah, Suzuka sucks. I have never seen a good Grand Prix there that wasn't affected by rain. 2005's wet quali affected grid and the soaked 2014 races were good, but apart from that, it's a race that 22 people enjoy, rather than the millions watching.


Barcelona has only one overtaking opportunity, Turn 1, and that is ruined by the final corner, because the cars need so much aero in the acceleration zone there that they cannot stay close. I'm sure there are years when more moves are pulled off at Loews at Monaco than the entire Spanish GP.
Valencia street circuit sucked terribly, but somehow produced an awesome race in 2012.
Valencia Tormo would work better if they swapped directions, apart from that it's just a mix of uninspiring corners stitched together so close that it strings a field apart.
Jarama is too small for anything anymore.
Jerez has never had straights long enough for meaningful races.
Aragon might have a good layout buried in the many configurations, but they never use it.
Turn 1 at Navarra was such a stupid idea.
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Fair enough, that's you're opinion. But I fully agree with @aarror that you need to watch other racing there. I also find it difficult to comprehend the idea that because circuit B creates a certain type of action, it somehow makes circuit A terrible.

Motegi actually has more heavy braking zones than Fuji, so does that in turn make Fuji boring??

Honestly, it seems like your issues with Suzuka could be solved if you watched SuperGT at Suzuka and Fuji.

Seems like you prefer tracks where it is difficult to defend, but easy to overtake. Personally, I like a variety of tracks on the calander. Some track like Bahrain are great for that - Quali is less important because opportunity to pass is readily there. However, at Suzuka, or Barcelona, or Hungary, the layout of the track changes the approach to the weekend. Quali becomes extremely important (which puts preasure on the drivers, I like watching drivers deliver the goods while under pressure), and it makes seeing an overtake on these tracks that much more impressive. Your discription of the difficulty passing into the final chicane at Suzuka is accurate, but it's exactly that difficulty that makes a move like Hulk on Bottas so bloody impressive.

I wouldn't want all tracks on the calander to be like Suzuka, but I certainly wouldn't want them all to be like Bahrain or China either.


Lastly, you're reason for Aragon being "terrible" is a little...lacking. Question...if all you watch from Suzuka is F1, what racing are you watching at Aragon?
 
Motegi is shorter straights and only slow speed corners. The final turns are awful to drive, and the only medium speed corners (the long chicane) don't do much for it.

Fuji at least had a really long straight and some good high-speed turns.
 

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