Historic Formula 1 Championship?

"Jonathon Klein" (jonathon-klein)
04/22/2014 at 12:17 • Filed to: Formula 1 Historic Series

What's old is new, and what's new is old, as the saying goes. Or at least I think that's how it goes. Well in the racing world, what's old might be coming back to the track. According to the Wall Street Journal, a fairly reputable source, Bernie Ecclestone, the mad titan of Formula 1, wants to bring a new series to life by using classic Formula 1 cars. Something like a Formula 1 Master's Series. They would bring back old cars, and old drivers and have them compete once again. Now I doubt that they would be using the cars from the 60's through the 80's just because of the safety hazards with driving those cars, reports are leaning towards the monster V10's of the 90's, and that my friends could be a really great race. Now this still should be taken with a grain of salt since nothing has been confirmed just yet, but everyone is aware that Bernie is not happy with the current state of Formula 1. He has complained about the noise, the new rules, the new regulations on fuel, and a whole host of other old man grumblings. With those grips and very public issuances of displeasure, one could see him trying to pull together a racing series that highlighted a decade that gave us Schumacher and Senna.

Right now, the only evidence of this race series coming into existence is a European trademark application filed by Formula 1 Licensing to protect the name "Historic Formula One". In the application it goes into minor detail that it would be covering "sporting events."This "sporting events" is what has everyone thinking that a racing series could be in the works. Who knows what Bernie has in mind, but I for one would like to see a historic F1 series, however, I can see it detracting from the actual Formula 1 series. With so much negative press lately coming from Bernie's camp, I feel like this is a dig at the regular series. I think it could be a great series, so long as they execute it correctly, such as the Ferrari Challenge races that are held before the normal F1 race. If they put on a series that can travel with the F1 calendar and be a support race, I think both the fans, and the teams would be happy. If it becomes its own separate racing series, then problems might start to erupt. Whatever the outcome, it could be very interesting for fans. Who wouldn't want to see old V10 Ferrari's screaming down the front straight at COTA?

Here's the original !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Find me here on !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

And check out Why !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! should bring their racing tech to the street.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Photo Credit to McLaren

DISCUSSION (20)

For Sweden > Jonathon Klein
04/22/2014 at 12:18

Bringing back old drivers to pilot V-12 and turbo F1 cars seems like a bad idea.

tromoly > Jonathon Klein
04/22/2014 at 12:22

I'll just leave this here.

http://www.themastersseries.com/race-series/it…

Jonathon Klein > tromoly
04/22/2014 at 12:37

This might actually be going away, and they might combine the two series, or just do away with this one entirely.

Jonathon Klein > For Sweden
04/22/2014 at 12:39

Could be, but I think they want people like Coulthard, Mansel, Webber, more recently retired F1 drivers. OOOOOOHHH I JUST THOUGHT HAKKINEN COULD COME BACK!!!!!!!!

ddavidn > Jonathon Klein
04/22/2014 at 12:44

I would be ALL up in this. That would be awesome. But I won't hold my breath.

tromoly > Jonathon Klein
04/22/2014 at 12:47

Source? All I saw in the article was that the name is licensed and the name agreement may end, nothing about the end of the series.

Jonathon Klein > tromoly
04/22/2014 at 12:50

" Although there is no equivalent in motor racing, there is a series called Masters Historic Racing which allows the owners of classic F1 cars to compete against each other. They visit 10 historic tracks including Silverstone, Spa in Belgium, Germany's and Nürburgring Brands Hatch. Its championship is known as the "Historic Formula One Championship" and Ecclestone licenses the name to them. Since the license is under Ecclestone's control he could use it for his series once the agreement with Masters Historic Racing comes to an end. "

tromoly > Jonathon Klein
04/22/2014 at 13:02

Again, does that say the series is going to end, or does that say the use of the name may end? Meaning the series could continue under another name?

Jonathon Klein > tromoly
04/22/2014 at 13:03

The way I read it is that Ecclestone has control over it, and when they agreement is up, I think he will cancel it to do this series.

PardonMyFlemish16 > For Sweden
04/22/2014 at 13:21

Yea def not an old man's sport. Those cars are terrible safety wise too.

merlyn11a > Jonathon Klein
04/22/2014 at 16:28

I think the previous version of this type of competition would be the Grand Prix Masters series which only lasted 1 season and half and used a very nice spec car with v8s and F1 drivers. Good ol' Nige was right there but the thing blew up and ran out of money. IMHO, superior to this idea or the Masters Historic version as it used cars which were safer and pitted driver vs. driver. Plus the cars were far easier to maintain vs. a classic F1 car. It must be hard enough to find bits for something like a Ferrari 642 after all this time. F1 builders have enough on their hands let alone building bits for really old cars.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Jonathon Klein
04/22/2014 at 18:40

It's a nice thought but it won't happen. Older drivers aren't up to it, it won't be competitive and it therefore won't be much fun.

I don't think any drivers will sign up to it either.

Jonathon Klein > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
04/23/2014 at 07:58

Maybe Jackie Stewart, Mansell, and Prost won't sign back up, but I guarantee you would have a few like Webber's age, or even Hakkinen could be coaxed back into the cockpit.

HeathWilkie > tromoly
04/23/2014 at 08:33

How about we just bring back V10's to F1 and leave the power plants to Formula E. The current hybrid technology is a waste of time anyway it's totally reliant on a combustion engine an fuel so what's the point. Electric cars are the future and that's what Formula E is for. Other facets of F1 will always drill down to road cars.

Gabor Vajda (@Gabor_V) > Jonathon Klein
04/23/2014 at 12:53

The historix GP of Monaco has been a spectacle for a while, no wonder someone pushed to tour something like it through Europe.

http://www.grand-prix-monaco.com/formula1monaco…

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Jonathon Klein
04/23/2014 at 15:34

What I'm struggling to get my head around is where will the money come from? Who's going to pay the old guys enough to get back in the cockpit? At that age, do they really want to push themselves like they did between 25-30.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see it happen! I just can't see it ever being finalised.

Jonathon Klein > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
04/23/2014 at 15:46

Most of them still race in one series or another, so I doubt that the pushing hard part will be a problem, and Bernie has enough money and enough connections to find sponsors to pay them.

pdish > Jonathon Klein
04/24/2014 at 23:57

would the race be for the winning drivers an constructors or the current owners of the chassis? What would be the requirements for entry? I think it would be great to see, but logistics become a nightmare. I don't think current F1 constructors would want to see winning chassis from 199X lose to a 200X car.

Jonathon Klein > pdish
04/25/2014 at 10:08

That's true, it would be pretty hard to pull that off, maybe they would get people to build exact replica's?

pdish > Jonathon Klein
04/25/2014 at 12:07