Formula GT - a few suggestions for next season

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I_dont_litter/GTP_nternet
I realise that we've got the USGP and one more race to go until the end of this championship, but I've got a few ideas for the competition next season:


Part-timers:

In the current format, we have 22 drivers signing up for 11 teams, and most of them just aren't showing up - myself included. I think that the start of the season, the same 11 teams should be available as full-time teams (with full-time drivers), but competitors should also be able to sign up as part-time drivers. The full-time drivers, should they miss a race, would be able to nominate a part-time driver to take their place so the team doesn't lose points, and the part-time drivers should be able to race without having a "team" in the constructors championship. I think that not requesting every driver to participate in every race would encourage drivers who wouldn't do so to participate, even for one event.

Qualifying in GT mode:

Being able to set up the car to get the most out of it in qualifying was a staple of F1 up until the rules started getting messed about (which I'll arbitrarly state as 1997). Additionally, this should create a bit more suspense for the race as the best qualifier isn't necessarily the most likely winner, as the races would still be run in Arcade mode.

Points system:

No points for qualifying, 10-6-4-3-2-1 for racing, as we simply don't have the numbers to necessitate giving points for eight positions - rarely do we have eight drivers in a race.


Any further ideas or critiques of my ideas are, of course, welcome, but I want to see what people think on this. I love the FGT series (even though I'm often too busy to race in it) and I'd like to see it continue onto next season.
 
The problem I see with the FGT is it's been going on a L O N G time for only a 7-round season. With a change in administration 1/2 way through, little communication, etc, people have just lost interest, as you yourself can attest.

Earth started the series with a sign-up thread the 1st week of JUNE, '07, and it looks like it won't be done for another 4 weeks or more. RACECAR's done what he can to revive the series, but I think the damage had been done.

This is no hit on Earth, as I know how real life can derail even the most dedicated series leaders. But a quicker season would have helped. 1 wk for qual and race, total. FGT races are quick, enough time for a race to be completed and qualifying to end too. Hot-lap qualifying...for me...takes all of maybe 1/2 hour. After that, you're fighting for 1/100ths and it's not going to get any better. This would have kept the racer's interests through the season.

Look at the SuperGT series. There's been a lot of drivers who've asked to join, and a few have made it every race (myself is NOT on that list, and I run the series). Look at the points sheet, a lot of people have either had to withdraw because of the length of the season, or have just flaked off. To those who've had to withdraw, I'm sorry, to the flakes, you may not get another chance to run in my series' again without good reason. I see why Eats left sometimes, it's frustrating when you think you'll have a 20+ car field, and 8 people show up.

But you persevere. and at the end of the season, when those drivers who have stuck with it see they've made every race, the championship winners can bask in their glory, and eagerly await the next season. There's nothing quite like seeing "I can't wait for season [insert number here] to start, great job!" It really makes the work worthwhile. Otherwise...at least for me...I wouldn't do it if i didn't like it.

getting off my soapbox now.
 
However, with the number of newer members joining, the series may be saved just yet, but I would lay off the entry series. I agree mainly with ICallShotgun; as he is an experienced race steward and entrant, his points are very valid (+1 air rep). Perhpas the one point should go for fastest lap, as it did in the 1950s...

Maybe a 'rental' team for all the part-time drivers as an experiment?
 
Part-time drivers should always be an option for your series. While they won't be competing for the championship missing a lot of races, they could become spoilers.

In the GTPLMS series of mine, we always run the "24 Laps of Le Mans", and I actually send out invitations to people like the real Le Mans. Those running the LMS Series are automatically entered, but I'll send invites to prestigious members of GTPlanet, (Jordan, Famine, daan, MrP, Tedehur, etc) and some winners of previous series (Clio Cup, WRS Division leaders, etc) to try and get a big field for Le Mans. I might start doing it for Petit Le Mans as well, but we'll have to see about that.

Part-time option sometimes bring in the "well, i'll try it", and they might stick around. Some of the problem with "new" people, is they think they're fast, and get crushed in the first race attempt. This deters them from trying again. My thoughts on these people, tough poo. I was DESTROYED in my first series...and I didn't race in it for long...but I stuck with it, ran the WRS, and improved...not as much as I'd hoped...but that takes time. but i digress
 
Maybe a disclaimer? Though this should be common sense.

Does Formula One use invitations? However, given the poor showing of racers in the series to start, this likely is not a formidable idea.
 
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