Fuel economy makes racing relevant. In an oil glut?

I would agree with you - must be a creative way for manufacturers to justify participating!

 

Marketing/Politics.

 

Many point to the FIA Group C series of the 1980s as one of the greatest eras of
sports car racing history. Group C participating manufactures included Porsche,
Lancia (with Ferrari engines), Jaguar, Aston Martin, Toyota, Nissan and Peugeot
(sorry if I've forgotten any), so this was a formula which caught on with relevant
manufactures.

Group C was very much a fuel economy formula which ushered in technology such
as electronic controlled fuel injection systems, computer ECUs monitoring all things
from fuel flow to brake temperatures, you know, things that are taken for granted
on today's road going cars.

The current era of WEC LMP-1 racing has raised those stakes by 100 fold with hybrid
technology creating over 1000BHP while running to strict fuel mileage regulations. The
technology which Audi, Porsche and Toyota are gaining from this era will be immeasurable
for their road going divisions.

Hunt, Mario, Enzo, Colin, Bruce, etc. may not have had to drive to their fuel meters
(do we really know that?) but they also raced in an era when drivers were routinely being
killed on a weekly basis.

Things change over the course of forty or fifty years.

Tom Kristensen (nine overall wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and six overall wins at the
12 Hours of Sebring) will be honored with his induction into the Sebring Hall of Fame next
Friday at the Chateau Elan. I'd by happy to set up an introduction where ideas of turning
back the clock on racing to the 1960s may be brought up, I'm sure he'll have an interesting
view on this.

BHW

 

Absolutely.

Racing forces the development of more efficient engines, which are very relevant when the whole planet needs to cut down pollution.

The time of wasting energy resources and spewing toxic fumes is over.

People have to start being responsible for their environment.

 

If people looking to ban racing buy this, I'm all for it, but it must be very difficult to say with a straight face.