A1GP coming back, rebranded?

[FTHurley]

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/23/report-a1gp-back-this-fall-as-a10-world-series/

I don't especially care either way. The world is full of different racing formulas of varying popularity and viability. If Speed could show these during the winter instead of Pinks reruns, it would certainly break up the off-season, but otherwise this just seems like another pass at the windmill.

[GoodStone1969]

I liked A1GP, and attended the 2006 race at Laguna Seca.

[indyracefan]

I liked A1GP and how it was basically spread throughout the world. I don't care that the new A10 World Series will be based in the 'emerging motorsports markets' such as the Gulf states and Far-East though.

[iocat]

The more open wheel racing in the world, the better. Hell, I'd have supported the Split if it had grown the fan base instead of dividing and destroying it!

[Bombardier R142]

I liked A1GP and how it was basically spread throughout the world. I don't care that the new A10 World Series will be based in the 'emerging motorsports markets' such as the Gulf states and Far-East though.

I guess they think that's the better market.

[Indy-hp]

I liked A1GP and the fact that I could watch it in the IndyCar and F1 offseason. When I could no longer get it on my TV, it became irrelevant. I don't care where they race, really, just when, and that I'm able to watch.

I wish these new blokes good luck. If the last several upstart series are any indication, they'll need a lot of it.

[prell5713]

Maybe they will use the delta wing.

[Sweaty Teddy]

Ready everyone?
And a one...
And a two...
And a three...

WHY?!?!?!

Why does everyone and his brother try to create the next latest, greatest open-wheel series? You would think that with the relative size and success of NASCAR that more of these guys with deep pockets and little to no common sense would go the touring car or stock car route.

[FTHurley]

Ready everyone?
And a one...
And a two...
And a three...

WHY?!?!?!

Why does everyone and his brother try to create the next latest, greatest open-wheel series? You would think that with the relative size and success of NASCAR that more of these guys with deep pockets and little to no common sense would go the touring car or stock car route.

I think for A1GP, it's because there's that gap over the northern hemisphere winter when there is no racing to compete with. You can convince yourself that if the cards fall right and you can get some solid teams and drivers, you can get on TV and then you'll be the only racing happening.

I actually think it could be a good place for the DeltaWing. There's no reason it actually has to be traditionally open-wheel. IndyCar has the historical pressure of the 500 partly dictating the technical package, but A1GP? They have some flexibility. Hell, they could go with a modern take on the old sixties grand prix cars, taking downforce out of the equation - at least there would be some differentiation. The biggest hurdle they face is that frankly, it seems like yet another AAAA like Superleague or World Series. It's clearly not F1, but it's not clear how far below it is. Is it more like IndyCar? More like GP2? More like Formula Ford? For like Star Mazda? If you're going to sell something, you need to be able to tell prospective buyers very clearly what it is they're buying and why.

I actually like the idea of a winter road racing series that runs old-school-style cars. Call it Formula Classic. Big-ass tires, lots of power, and no downforce. Whooo!!!

[iocat]

Ready everyone?
And a one...
And a two...
And a three...

WHY?!?!?!

Why does everyone and his brother try to create the next latest, greatest open-wheel series? You would think that with the relative size and success of NASCAR that more of these guys with deep pockets and little to no common sense would go the touring car or stock car route.

Because open wheel racing rules and NASCAR's success is a weird artifact that can't be replicated -- people have tried. NASCAR is bringing DTM to the USA soon though.

[Formula Indy]

As a former fan of A1GP, a Middle East/East open wheel series does not interest me in one bit. Count me out.

[stnkypete]

As a former fan of A1GP, a Middle East/East open wheel series does not interest me in one bit. Count me out.

So it's Jan 12th and you have a choice between elk hunting, bowling and A1GP version 2, you wouldn't watch it?

[bduddy]

A1GP was really not a bad series. Pity they overstretched themselves with the ridiculous Ferrari stuff. Still, considering the reason for its existence was international competition, I can't see this working...

[stubaru]

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/23/r...-world-series/

I don't especially care either way. The world is full of different racing formulas of varying popularity and viability. If Speed could show these during the winter instead of Pinks reruns, it would certainly break up the off-season, but otherwise this just seems like another pass at the windmill.

You mean like they show British Touring Car, Aussie V8 Supercar, and DTM during the winter? I just spent all afternoon with the football games on one TV with the sound down, watching 6 rounds (18 races) of BTCC I'd had saved up for such an occasion on the one with the DVR. It was awesome.

And somebody, I think it was Setanta Sports North America, used to show A1GP. It was pretty good, but one thing Setanta did sometimes was show it - although tape delayed - like they showed their soccer matches, i.e. commercial free. *THAT* was awesome.

Given the choice between Elk Hunting (prob. on VS) and this A10, I'm watching A10.

[gsabass3581]

Ready everyone?
And a one...
And a two...
And a three...

WHY?!?!?!

Why does everyone and his brother try to create the next latest, greatest open-wheel series? You would think that with the relative size and success of NASCAR that more of these guys with deep pockets and little to no common sense would go the touring car or stock car route.

You mean like the Speedcar series, which ran Nascar-esque cars on road courses in 2008-2009? Well, it closed down in 2009 and the organizing company went bankrupt in 2010, I believe. The series was focused (if memory serves me right) on the Middle East/Asia, which sounds like those emerging motorsport markets the article references. Speedcar even had some (relatively) big names as drivers (J. Villeneuve, C. Fittipaldi, F1 folks like Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Johnny Herbert, Stefan Johannson, Gianni Morbidelli, Jean Alesi, etc) but it didn't seem to succeed.

I'd love to have another open wheel series to follow (especially over our off-season), but I'll be skeptical until there are more details about the series and, more importantly, who is paying for it.