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Barcelona

08/04/2001

Race 1

Preview

There are two ways to look at this.

Number 1 - the largely European based prototype series has an entry of over 20 cars for the first round (perhaps as many as 25, as listed), it has the backing of the FIA and it has a variety of exotic sports prototypes from a wide range of manufacturers which ought to provide close racing. That's the positive side of the series, so let's expand on that.

It also has the likes of John Nielsen, Jan Lammers, Gary Formato, Christian Pescatori, Jean-Christophe Boullion, Ralf Kelleners and Alex Caffi. This group, plus a number of others, ought to be enough to provide the close racing that John Mangoletsi regularly refers to. It has a mix of new and older chassis, with regulations that allow the older cars to compete with the newer ones. It has four new SR1s at the first round, three of them making their racing debut; the two Domes, the Courage C60 and the Reynard are state of the art customer chassis. Early leaks indicate that the Dome could be the car to have, and that John Nielsen will recover from his disappointing 2000 to stamp his mark on this series once again.

The series also provides a playground for Ferrari 333 and R&S Mklll chassis, which were good enough to win last year and may do so again. The Ascari fits in between these brand new and older chassis. It's a year old, and is set to make the grade now.

None of these cars could compete with Audi, but as none seem to in the ALMS, the close competition has to be a strength of the FIA SCC, compared to the one marque domination of the ALMS.

There's an SR2 class that boasts one of the best run Lights class cars you'll see anywhere - the Swedish Lola. The rest might struggle to keep up with Oberto and Bjork, but the likes of Ian Flux and Ben McLoughlin will be close, with a number of Italians in with a shout too. These cars are quick and reliable, in the right hands.

Number 2 - this is the alternative view. There were indications from within that the series could have 40 entries this year. It hasn't. The FIA tag doesn't seem to have elevated the series to a new level. There are new cars, but there aren't enough of them. Manufacturers could come and run but they don't. There are a few new cars, but not many. The Dome is an exciting prospect, but what does the casual fan know about this Japanese marque? The rules encourage close competition, but there are insufficient top class drivers to create the close racing that is needed to lift the series.

The Dome might be the car to have, but it might be marooned among the older cars; therefore why buy a new car if it is no quicker than what you had before? There is only one Lola in SR1, and that is the early Kremer model, uprated. Why can't Lola find customers for their prototypes - in Europe?

There is only one Lola in SR2. Why have the Americans bought so many and the Europeans so few? How can race fans outside Italy identify with Lucchinis and Tampollis? Where are the Picchios? Why does the Bruneau entry always have some odd symbol listed before the Bruneau name?

It's make or break this year. There's so much competition from other series that this one needs to rise to FIA GT standards, or it will whither before our eyes. It's down to eight races for 2001, but that may be a good thing. Eight good races would be better than ten less well supported ones.

But the bottom line is that Donington's ELMS follows one week after Barcelona. Comparisons will be inevitable. Donington wasn't the first choice to open the ELMS and it isn't an F1 track (so what?), but it will draw the UK fans, in numbers. Will Barcelona attract Spanish spectators?