Sometimes it is fun to look at the ‘If I had all the money in the world case studies.’
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Back when I built scale models it was fighter jets and F-1 cars. Pretty much the same thing in parallel universes. 
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I’d love to see numbers on research dollars spent… I remember, I think, reading Mercedes spends $1 million /day on F1 research.
It costs a lot of money to carbon fiber all the things…
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Just watched Bahrain Grand Prix - in Spanish ch 49.
Article merely scratches the surface of the technologies involved and developed.
When the rules were being changed to go hybrid, someone proposed Formula Un
Engine and aero unrestricted. Restrictions on weight and dimensions.
Budget Caps. Everyone uses same fuel - no additives, same tires, etc.
Fuel allotment for each race based on average mpg.
mpg ratcheted up each season.
Probably would resulted in more usable technology filtering down to production cars.
Improvements in cad/cam/cnc/fea/materials are courtesy of high end racing.
Dallas hosted a F! race at Fair Park back in summer 1984.
Too bad politics and other nonsense got in the way of F1 returning.
For those interested in racing technology, I can recommend 2 mags:
Racecar Engineering - http://www.racecar-engineering.com/
Race Engine Technology - https://www.highpowermedia.com/all-issues
Not cheap.
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F1 & restrictions = sad but true
Same sadness in LMP1 racing
I miss the more freewheeling days, sure, but any “formula” race has restrictions. I kinda like how the LeMans rules generated several solutions. And who woulda thunk we’d have Diesel racing cars? I wish Audi hadn’t dropped out though.
Edit: bring back Can-Am!!!
Bring back the legendary Mulsanne straight
Bring back the legendary Mulsanne straight
Oh, hell’s yeah!
And bring back rules to allow another 4-rotor Wankel to contend!
Did they get booted AGAIN for winning too much?
They left “to focus on Formula E.”
http://blackflag.jalopnik.com/why-dieselgate-forced-audi-to-quit-le-mans-1788252715
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No thanks - electric is not my cup of tea, never will be.
The only all electric cars I enjoyed (past tense) were the giant Eldon and later the tiny HO Aurora slot cars of my youth.
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I like the power and engineering behind some of the hybrid supercars like the Mclaren P1, but I can’t imagine watching electric car racing. Just doesn’t seem to have the same thrill.
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Yes, and Audi’s Diesel hybrids were great - but all electric ? why not eliminate the drivers and go engineless and driverless …not racing at all.
Might as well be left with this
Looks like a Miata !
I’ll take vintage racing - back when HUMAN minds were engineering marvels on wheels…
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They’ll have to take a lead from the Mustang…pipe in car noises…
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You must mean the fixed wing plane because there is nothing great about a mustang on four wheels
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Ah diselgate. The gift that keeps giving. 
The upside to e-racing: it will allow more petrol to be used for vintage events!
I find these as exciting as I find the Prius, but with less headroom…
I’ll take exception to that. I love the sound of a V8. American ones in particular. The Mustang is at the top of that game, in my opinion. And they were certainly not the pioneers on the cockpit sound game; they’re just following the trend.
I’m good with watching electric car racing, as long as the drivers are actually driving. It DOES lose much of the appeal, given that we all love the SOUNDS of racing, which are lost. And please don’t try to fake it to the audience. Faking to the driver is one thing, and actually COULD have some upsides, especially in all-electric, but probably shouldn’t.
I have to say watching e-drag racing is one of the biggest thrills in watching auto-racing, but I’d be be even MORE bored tuning in for e-NASCAR than I am for regular NASCAR. Which is not to say if channels are being flipped, and there’s a race on, I won’t sit a few minutes to see if we’re close to a conclusion, when things get interesting. And watching some Swedes drift some electric rally cars? Hell yea! Still will miss the vroom vroom, but I’d watch. Unless they pipe in fake sound for the audience. Then, I’m out.
I’m a long time F1 fan and haven’t missed a race in years. I was curious how many other members watch regularly. Any interest in having watch parties in the lecture hall for races? I usually only watch SkySports broadcast that London friends send a couple hours after the race.
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