Formula One head boss Bernie Ecclestone might be known as a bit eccentric, but his newest plan might actually bring some excitement to the racing sport.
It seems the boss would like to introduce artificial rain to some events in order to crank up the exhilaration.
Formula One has been through its share of initiatives to try and improve the on-track racing, such as the KERS system, which is like a turbo boost button that will be reintroduced for the 2011 season, and an adjustable rear wing, which will make its debut this season.
Yet, nothing is able to deliver the same sort of excitement in F1 as a wet track with water coming down from the sky. Torque News
The sport’s supremo said ‘‘overtaking is almost impossible in dry conditions’’ and the most exciting races were held in the wet, so creating wet conditions would increase the suspense.
‘‘Let’s think of making rain,’’ he said. ‘‘In the dry there is only one line good for maximum speed because of the rubber on the track, [and] you have a completely different picture when it is wet.’‘
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Australian Grand Prix Corporation chief Andrew Westacott suggested last year’s dry opening round in Bahrain was less than entertaining, but said making rain at the Albert Park track was not on the agenda. The Age
“There are race tracks you can make artificially wet and it would be easy to have such systems at a number of tracks. Why not let it ‘rain’ in the middle of a race for 20 minutes, or the last 10 laps? Maybe with a two-minute warning ahead of it. Suspense would be guaranteed,” he added.
With drivers and teams already expressing concerns about the introduction of crowd-pleasing devices, the prospect of fake rain showers will do little to dampen talk about excessive manipulation of Grand Prix. Times of India
UPDATE: March 7, 2011 08:40 am
Mark Webber has poured cold water on Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone’s idea of using ‘fake rain’ during Grands Prix races.
Ecclestone caused a storm this week after saying a sprinkler system would help liven up the show.
Asked whether the sport needed it and whether he is in favour, Aussie Webber snapped: “No and no!” The Sun
“Yes, it can be more exciting when we have some different weather conditions.”
“But you think of guys like Ayrton Senna and Jackie Stewart and Jimmy Clark – masters in the wet – and they would be, well Jackie is still here, but the other two would be turning in their graves at the thought that we would have sprinklers and hoses lined up around the track.” Telegraph.co.uk
“It wouldn’t be the most sophisticated way to make the show more entertaining,” added Webber.
Mercedes GP chief executive Nick Fry was also unconvinced.
“I think Bernie’s putting forward some entertaining ideas but… Formula One is about contending with the conditions that prevail at the time,” he told Reuters.
“I think that fiddling with those conditions artificially is not the nature of Formula One.
“The beauty of Formula One is that there is now huge variety… we have races in the evening and during the day and halfway between the two and I don’t think anyone could say that last year was boring. It was tremendous and I’m sure that this year will be better still,” he added. Montreal Gazette
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