Motor Racing as An Olympic Sport - How?

[MatskiMonk]

It would be something like this I imagine...

 

[jcm]

Er, race? Why does it have to be time attack? Time attack is fine anyway though.

Time attack qualifying, sets grid for the race. Time Penalties for illegal stuff, like Maldonadoing past someone. You guys figure out the rest, send it to the IOC, they reject it because they're silly

I don't see why it needs to be there, but I don't see why it shouldn't be there either. Perhaps make it a demonstration event first, see how the public reacts?

 

[Blaze_409]

I agree Ardius.\

And yes they can race. And dont argue "What if they hit each other?" Whats wrong with a little contact sport? Soccer, Basketball, Water Polo? All contact Olympic sports

I dont understand what the issue is.
Tell me a concept of motorsport that isn't already manifested in the other olympic sports....
Whether Motorsport exist or not in Olympic games does not bother me. However to suggest that it isn't a legitamate sport with excuses the dont make the slightest sense is just silly.

If it was an Olympic sport for sure I would watch it and it would help motorsport's world recognition in general to appear as an Olympic sport.

 

[RACECAR]

Why are people constantly referring to the mechanical side of motorsports as a barrier to entry? Do we not have Cycling? Equestrian? Sailing? Shooting? Archery?

Don't see where anyone cited anything mechanical being the problem.

Not sure its really even worth a comparison with those since non of those involve an Engine.

 

[Tornado]

And yes they can race. And dont argue "What if they hit each other?" Whats wrong with a little contact sport? Soccer, Basketball, Water Polo? All contact Olympic sports

Wow. Look at all those team sports where one instance someone getting tripped or shoved or fouled by itself wouldn't completely ruin a team's chances of winning a medal.

However to suggest that it isn't a legitamate sport with excuses the dont make the slightest sense is just silly.

I'm glad to hear that you aren't bothered then, because no one in this thread said anything like that.

 

[RACECAR]

And yes they can race. And dont argue "What if they hit each other?" Whats wrong with a little contact sport? Soccer, Basketball, Water Polo? All contact Olympic sports.

And yet, none of them involve vehicles.

However to suggest that it isn't a legitamate sport with excuses the dont make the slightest sense is just silly.

Wait, what? Who said or even suggested that?

 

[MUSC4EVER]

Im surprised that no-one has mentioned A1GP yet..it was a open-wheel racing competition that ran for around five years where the teams represented the country the drivers were from and had the contries flags on there cars..it was the closest thing that motorsport had to an olympics..

 

[Ardius]

Don't see where anyone cited anything mechanical being the problem.

Not sure its really even worth a comparison with those since non of those involve an Engine.

The point is that there are factors beyond human control..so its not a "pure" sport as some would like to suggest an Olympic sport should be.

 

[RACECAR]

Im surprised that no-one has mentioned A1GP yet..it was a open-wheel racing competition that ran for around five years where the teams represented the country the drivers were from and had the contries flags on there cars..it was the closest thing that motorsport had to an olympics..

While I didn't quite say it, I did refference it (AKA "Olympics of Motorsport")

 

[MagpieRacer]

It would be something like this I imagine...

This.

Just do a race of champions style event.

 

[MatskiMonk]

While I didn't quite say it, I did refference it (AKA "Olympics of Motorsport")

It was billed as "the world cup of motorsports",

Just sayin'...

 

[Zenith]

I still don't see a compelling argument for why we need yet another international level motorsport event besides "it would be cool."

Poking straw holes in arguments for the negative doesn't do much to prove a point and need for action.

 

[MarinaDiamandis]

I don't want to see motorsport in the olympics.

I'd rather see regular, healthy GT grids and competitive F1 seasons than yet another race series that happens once every four years.

 

[MUSC4EVER]

A1GP didnt last long did it? just a few years..could'nt compete with F1..

 

[Ridox2JZGTE]

Biathlon or Triathlon of motorsport could be a great idea ... combine one make car slalom/gymkhana in a parking lot, open wheel time trial ( Ariel Atom ) and a motorcycle time trial ( single make and model 250cc ) both on city street. Everyone use vehicles provided by organizer. This might be possible. This will also narrowed down possible contestant from motorsport field, not every one could do well on all three event.

 

[Earth]

I have to ask why would you want Motorsport part of the Olympics? Is there not enough World championships on a international stage for you?

Swimmers, runners, etc all have World Championships. Spain won the world Cup, the United States won the FIBA Basketball World Cup and there are many others. Besides, these sports (olympics) have the very best of a country come together to compete with others from other countries, thats not the case in traditional motorsports that also feature large differences in vehicle performance.

Tony Kanaan and Felipe Massa would be on the Brazilian team. A more plausible combination would be Robby Gordon and Tanner Foust on the United States team.

The Olympics is the biggest stage possible. How many people even know about ROC?

Olympic athletes train hard at their sports, the drivers should be given the opportunity to train and have practice with the cars before hand as well. This is a bit tricky but I'm sure it can be figured out

Of course it will cost money, but so does every olympic sport. Dont they build new stadiums and compounds just for the olympics? How much would a dozen cars cost compared to all that? Even bicycle races require police officers to be paid overtime to keep the crowd in check and block off streets.

I would still stick with a time trial format, but it would be similar to Formula 1 qualifying. All the cars would be on the track at the same time for a xx minute session to try and turn in the best lap possible. If accidents happen, they happen. Ever watch olympic short track speed ice skating? Guys run into eachother and crash all the time.

Ideally I would like the drivers to race a variety of cars like the Race of Champions with their total time being the deciding factor. The lowest total time across the 3 different cars takes gold.

 

[RACECAR]

It was billed as "the world cup of motorsports",

Just sayin'...

Well either way, kinda had the same purpose the supposed inclusion Motorsports in Olympics would have.

 

[MatskiMonk]

Well either way, kinda had the same purpose the supposed inclusion Motorsports in Olympics would have.

I agree, the thing about the Olympics is it gives people a reason to watch a sport they may well not bother otherwise. For instance, today at work I discussed Fencing and Handball with one of our apprentices, how often do you suppose that happens outside of the Olympics... Never, that's how often.

People like getting behind their nation, and as such will cheer them along even if the sport isn't what they'd normally watch. Even the almighty Formula 1 is "m'eh" to most non car people.

 

[Grand Prix]

Not sure how well the host city would respond to having to build a indoor race track, especially if it was in a region that doesn't care much for motorsport. Would be a waste of money for them.

I wouldn't care about the IOC's stance on motorsport just as long as they got rid of the double standards. That's the main issue for me.

 

[Blaze_409]

I agree, the thing about the Olympics is it gives people a reason to watch a sport they may well not bother otherwise. For instance, today at work I discussed Fencing and Handball with one of our apprentices, how often do you suppose that happens outside of the Olympics... Never, that's how often.

People like getting behind their nation, and as such will cheer them along even if the sport isn't what they'd normally watch. Even the almighty Formula 1 is "m'eh" to most non car people.

This is why it would be nice for it to be an olympic sport.

Because the the non motorsport fan they have no idea what F1 or Le Mans is...

some of you are completely Oblivious to this because your thinking that everyone watches motorsport..

In order for Motorsport to continue it needs more fans because more fans means more sponsors. If more people watched the ALMS then some important manufacturers(Audi, Acura, Porsche) would have stayed in it.

While I realize the olympic motorsports wont be using the cars directly involved in those sports but If you can make a name that people want to follow. Allan McNish or Joey Hand or a Romain Grosjean that will lead them to what the guy actually races.

 

[Ardius]

Not sure how well the host city would respond to having to build a indoor race track, especially if it was in a region that doesn't care much for motorsport. Would be a waste of money for them.

I wouldn't care about the IOC's stance on motorsport just as long as they got rid of the double standards. That's the main issue for me.

Seeing as the next Olympics is being held at Brazil (and after that possibly Japan or Spain)..I hardly think thats a problem.
Heck, just use Interlagos and Suzuka

 

[MatskiMonk]

While I realize the olympic motorsports wont be using the cars directly involved...

I doubt it would get any further than the official automotive sponsor of the Olympics games. If motorsport had been involved in anyway, I would put money on it having been BMW. Have you seen how many bimmers are being used for the Olympics. A few race spec 1M's wouldn't be too much of a stretch after the other 4000 vehicles and motorbikes.

 

[lbsf1]

This.

Just do a race of champions style event.

Apart from the fact that the track is bias. I can't remember which way around it was however I think that it was bias to the inside at wembley in 2008 as they had their slowest lap (the start) with only having the small straight, where as the outside had to accelerate on the longer straight.

If I'm wrong I apologies however on each event I have seen there seems to be a side that had an advantage.

 

[Ardius]

Apart from the fact that the track is bias. I can't remember which way around it was however I think that it was bias to the inside at wembley in 2008 as they had their slowest lap (the start) with only having the small straight, where as the outside had to accelerate on the longer straight.

If I'm wrong I apologies however on each event I have seen there seems to be a side that had an advantage.

Thats why they have a switch-over and do more than 1 lap

 

[lbsf1]

Thats why they have a switch-over and do more than 1 lap

Yes, however by the start of the second lap they are already at racing speed. They only have to go from a standstill once, and the outside on that circumstance had a longer straight where they were going less that racing speed where as the inside track only had a short straight into a tight corner thus was at the racing speed very quickly.

 

[MatskiMonk]

Apart from the fact that the track is bias. I can't remember which way around it was however I think that it was bias to the inside at wembley in 2008 as they had their slowest lap (the start) with only having the small straight, where as the outside had to accelerate on the longer straight.

If I'm wrong I apologies however on each event I have seen there seems to be a side that had an advantage.

I thought they were designed to be equal overall, I don't recall anyone complaining of a bias.

Besides, it doesn't all have to be about circuit racing. Let's get some judged events going on too.

 

[Grand Prix]

Seeing as the next Olympics is being held at Brazil (and after that possibly Japan or Spain)..I hardly think thats a problem.
Heck, just use Interlagos and Suzuka

Absolutely. Could have worked well in UK too, with your abundance of race tracks. I would be concerned with more obscure countries like say... Jamaica, or Algeria, but then I guess they wouldn't be picked as host countries anyway, judging by the list of host countries at least. So at the moment, not a problem then.

Still have the issue of rain for outdoor tracks though. I guess as long as no one complained about the rain ruining their lap it would be fine. But still, 4 years of training down the drain if the track was dry earlier in the time trial session and it's wet for your lap...

Yep, this is why it should be a race and not a time trial session.

 

[lbsf1]

Absolutely. Could have worked well in UK too, with your abundance of race tracks. I would be concerned with more obscure countries like say... Jamaica, or Algeria, but then I guess they wouldn't be picked as host countries anyway, judging by the list of host countries at least. So at the moment, not a problem then.

Still have the issue of rain for outdoor tracks though. I guess as long as no one complained about the rain ruining their lap it would be fine. But still, 4 years of training down the drain if the track was dry earlier in the time trial session and it's wet for your lap...

Yep, this is why it should be a race and not a time trial session.

Cough, cough, heats and finals.

 

[Ardius]

Yes, however by the start of the second lap they are already at racing speed. They only have to go from a standstill once, and the outside on that circumstance had a longer straight where they were going less that racing speed where as the inside track only had a short straight into a tight corner thus was at the racing speed very quickly.

Seems pretty equal to me from what I've seen and remember of the ROC. Most of the races ended up pretty tight unless drivers made mistakes and think all drivers get a chance on starting either side?

Really, the track isn't the bias. Its the cars they are given. Thanks to stupid manufacturer restrictions, some drivers don't drive some of the cars and get to drive their favoured cars more than others. Some of the drivers go much faster in say the buggies than they do in say the S2000 rally cars.

 

[MatskiMonk]

A multi-discipline world tournament is an appealing idea. Rather than having yet another seasonal series.

The ROC is pretty close but it is flawed... it's a bit too much like "just a bit of fun" for the drivers.