since the discussion came up in another thread and i didn't want to divert it.

Hybrid racing could be made interesting.
I recall fuel limits back in the 70's on some races.

It could be real simple.
your race is X miles long
you have y fuel.
end of rules.

 

We have put on Green Races here as part of the Watkins Gen Grand Prix Festival. Nothing really formalized and on track, but more along the lines of a rally like event.
Bottom line, I think there is a place for green racing, and if car companies (with luck Honda will pull it off with the CR-Z) would make hybrids sporty and not just frumpy, the cars to race like this would be there.

I remember back in the early '90's of IMSA Camel Continental races the Firestone Firehawk was the support race, and it was run with everything from CRX to Oldsmobiles and it was a hit. I really believe people love watching races knowing the basic car out there on track is what they can buy in the showroom. Sort of like GT or british Touring Car, clearly not like the joke we know as NASCAR.

 

Is it more like a mileage challenge? Get a Toyo Prius or 1st Gen Insight and then whoever has the most fuel remaining in his tank at end is the winner??

 

no, it's managing your fuel so your running at the end but it's a race to a fixed distance.

let's say we gave you 15 gallons for a 200 mile race.
sounds like a lot doesn't it, I mean, we easily do that on the street right?

but under racing conditions it's not a whole lot.
so if you can use kers or something like it to recover lost energy to gain the advantage go for it.

 

So pitstops would not include fuel, and only change would be tires or somethig to that effect?

 

like I said "no other rules. "

If getting new tires every lap makes them go faster great.
If going the distance on one set works, great.
If running a turbine generator and electric motors gets you there, great.
If electric regenerative braking in the corners gives you better performance down the straights, great.
If solar cells attached the drivers helmet works, more power to ya.


The biggest problem I have with F1 right now is everything is so damn predictable.
The rules are so refined that you get no surprises.

In my book, A perfect race would have the winner run out of gas as he crosses the finish line.

and next year, they get Y-1 gallons of fuel.

 

Sounds like GTP/Group C racing. 600L of fuel for every 1000 kilometers.

 

Very cool, sort of reminds me of how F1 used to be before all the over regulating...

 

Fuel economy races do happen, but the goal is to achieve maximum economy, not to go a certain distance the fastest.

http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/2...-this-race.html

Something like what you suggest does happen in endurance racing, since cutting down on pit stops can help a lot.

I do like your idea though. It'd be interesting to see what teams would come up with.