Home » Sports » Auto Racing » A Refreshing Change

A Refreshing Change

© Max J. Davies

Formula One has long been regarded as the pinnacle of motor sport, yet having just switched off my television set, I cannot help but feel there are many lessons can be learned in order to improve the much voiced 'show' aspect of grand prix racing.

The Milwaukee 225 mile CART race has just concluded in America with the Swede Kenny Brack taking his second career victory in a thrilling race devoid of the processional style of Formula One. Having had time to recover from numerous overtaking manoeuvres, breathtaking 'in car' pictures and observing average lap speeds of 160mph plus, it has struck me that although there are numerous sides of the grand prix coin that are as close to perfection as one can get, there is also a great deal wrong with it in terms of the appeal to fellow armchair enthusiasts like myself.

Take, if you will, the differences regarding the 'on board' camera footage. In this department alone CART is simply in a different galaxy compared to Formula One. Frustrated pundits of terrestrial television have, for too long, been deprived the opportunity of racing with their 'on screen' heroes in the course of a grand prix. Whether it be around the tight confines of Monaco, or the picturesque surroundings of Austria, the local t.v directors all seem oblivious to the universal cries of the Formula One public for longer and more frequent visits to the drivers-eye-view. Unless one is actually present at a race meeting, the sensation of speed cannot be transferred to the screen via the wide camera shot which incorporates many cars in the same frame at a distance. The only way to get any real sense of the speed attained by a Schumacher or a Hakkinen in full flight is with the 'on board' camera and I can recall numerous occasions when I have been tempted to throw a heavy ashtray at the screen, such is my frustration with the director's seemingly selfish 'who wants this view?' attitude.

CART however, is different. It's is common practice for the 'on board' camera to stay with a specified driver for long periods of time so as the viewer can fully appreciate the sometimes ludicrous speeds that are attained especially on the concrete bowl racing tracks, otherwise known as 'the ovals'. Sunday's race on the Milwaukee mile, gave me the pleasure of riding with Bruno Junquria's Ganassi Lola for a total of 5 laps, or two full minutes. Personally, I cannot imagine, let alone recall a similar amount of time being allocated for one driver in a single grand prix. Another small yet significant difference in the quality of the 'on board' coverage is that one can actually pan around the majority of a Champ Car courtesy of the camera's ability to rotate and thus follow any driver attempting a manoeuvre on the viewers car. These angles are nothing short of exceptional and give an increased sense, as if more were needed, of the task's CART drivers are required to complete in order to gain track position at break-neck speeds.