Traction Control banned for the 2008 Formula 1 season.

[Kowalski]

Move this thread to the Motorsport discussion area.

Traction control will no longer be legal in Formula One racing from the start of next season. The change is just one of a number to the 2008 regulations agreed by the teams and FIA at a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council earlier this week.

Article 9.3 of the newly-revised technical regulations states: “No car may be equipped with a system or device which is capable of preventing the driven wheels from spinning under power or of compensating for excessive throttle demand by the driver. Any device or system which notifies the driver of the onset of wheel spin is not permitted.”

Outlawed in the 1990s, traction control was legalized for the 2001 season when it was felt that sophisticated electronics had made policing the ban impractical. From next season, however, standardized ECUs should make enforcement far easier.

Under other changes agreed, the regulations regarding engine homologation will be relaxed slightly, with teams able to make in-season adjustments to a longer list of components, including fuel injection and exhaust systems.

More information at:

-www.formula1.com

-http://f1.gpupdate.net
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No traction control, equals no launch control plus sliding which equals lots more of worn out tires and more danger.

[Butz]

No traction control, that oughta' make things fun

[Realist]

So they've frozen engine development, and now they are getting rid of traction control? How stupid is that? Traction control will certainly make it more fun and exciting, but also a lot more dangerous. Traction control was originally put into F1 machines for a good reason; it saves lives. I really don't know what the FIA is thinking.

[funkietowne]

F1 is slowly becoming a spec series. The funny thing is that the new Champ Cars are similar in pace to the F1 cars. Are you insinuating the lack of traction control killed Senna? I don't know about that one.

No t/c puts more control back into the hands of the drivers and will provide more opportunities for overtaking. Hopefully it won't take 10 laps for the superior Ferrari to pass the Hondas anymore.

[fastball]

Sheesh. F1 is turning in to NASCAR. Regulations up the wazoo.

They might as well just put robots into the race cars.

[benroethig]

Originally Posted by Realist

So they've frozen engine development, and now they are getting rid of traction control? How stupid is that? Traction control will certainly make it more fun and exciting, but also a lot more dangerous. Traction control was originally put into F1 machines for a good reason; it saves lives. I really don't know what the FIA is thinking.

Aw, those poor F1 drivers are going to have to actually drive their cars again. Whatever will they do. This is a major step in dismantling the engineering champion ship formula snooze and bringing back Formula one. If they can't hack it or think it's too dangerous they don't belong in what was once the Pinnacle of Autoracing. It's time that second tier drivers stop winning all the races because they have a half billion dollar budget and driving aides that don't allow them to make a mistake.

[FordFan]

What are they going to ban next year?

[bone]

It makes sense to bring the driver back into F1 racing. The GrandAm prototype coupes no longer have traction control ad this has made for more exciting racing. Thank goodness Nascar has never allowed it though some teams have apparrently used it and not got caught.

[PocoToro]

Originally Posted by fastball

Sheesh. F1 is turning in to NASCAR. Regulations up the wazoo.

They might as well just put robots into the race cars.

Racing started out as a way to develop new technology and to prove the technology that you have..........now it's becoming a reason to drive fast around a track...........

[unkillsam]

Originally Posted by Realist

So they've frozen engine development, and now they are getting rid of traction control? How stupid is that? Traction control will certainly make it more fun and exciting, but also a lot more dangerous. Traction control was originally put into F1 machines for a good reason; it saves lives. I really don't know what the FIA is thinking.

Removing TC and freezing engine development might slow the cars down, thus making the sport safer, not more dangerous.

[GotAWD]

Originally Posted by fastball

Sheesh. F1 is turning in to NASCAR. Regulations up the wazoo.

well at least F1 does develope things you see in your car. last i checked the cars are very sophisticated.

sadly safety regulations turn things into a NASCAR type of race but i think your able to not have to micro manage all things in the Sport.

Although if i died driving a race car around a race track, you could consider me happily dead.

[jbernie]

Personally I think F1 would be great again if we could have Muray Walker commentating again.. he provided way more fun than the cars themselves...

for some quotes: http://www.shanemcdonald.com/laughs/...ay-walker.html

[Realist]

Yes, it's true that Grand Am no longer uses traction control, but those cars run at only a fraction of the speed F1 cars run at. F1 cars also pull much higher G forces than Grand Am prototypes.

If the FIA is also introducing more safety measures at every track, and making the crash protection of the cars more stringent, then lack of traction control won't be so bad safety-wise.

I'm all for putting more emphasis back on driver skill, and letting drivers have more control over the car, as long as safety isn't greatly compromised.

[Member17739]

Originally Posted by Realist

So they've frozen engine development, and now they are getting rid of traction control? How stupid is that? Traction control will certainly make it more fun and exciting, but also a lot more dangerous. Traction control was originally put into F1 machines for a good reason; it saves lives. I really don't know what the FIA is thinking.

The reason traction control was mandated is because some of the teams were cheating and it's next to impossible to prove it. I wonder how they plan to enforce the rule this time. Average driver in the F1 is more than capable to control the car without the TC.

[drew630]

Originally Posted by benroethig

Aw, those poor F1 drivers are going to have to actually drive their cars again....

Hahaha, yeah, poor things!!!