Awesome results guys, infact the whole British team did really well!
My thoughts on the surface -
"5.1 SURFACE
Pack able rock free dirt - preferably sifted top soil/clay compound with minimum amounts of sand. Surface should be able to be easily broken and repaired to ensure a consistent and wide racing line. Such conditions have shown to yield excellent racing due to width and consistency of the racing line. Additionally qualifying is fairer as the ability to maintain a consistent surface gives all competitors an equal track that can be enjoyed by those in heats before as well as after his own."
Dry,blue grooved clay is an awesome surface to race on, but not sure the rationale given in ifmar for a dirt surface really makes sense?-
There is a narrow racing line on dirt; either due to the blue groove being by far the fastest line, or if no groove has appeared the dust just off the racing line is really slippery and hence a lot slower - so 'width and consistency' of the racing line just isnt true?
Regarding a consistent surface and 'equal track that can be enjoyed by those in heats before as well as after his own' - the more rubber that gets laid down the quicker the track becomes, and indeed if the surface is damp due to dew or rain the track will become markedly quicker as it dries (true for any surface though.. However clay takes much longer to dry than eg - astroturf, which drains far more easily, and the greater the difference in consistency in the grooved area of the track vs off-line, same if it doesn't groove; the racing line becomes cleaner as its 'swept' by the cars displacing dust/small debris outside the racing line which in turn becomes even slower.
I'm not suggesting the worlds should be on astro or a dirt alternative of some sort but do the reasons given suggest dirt is the best surface? Don't really think so. Theres the other problem of most of the rest of the world running predominantly on dirt, if there were to be a worlds held on astro in the UK for example its quite possible many top world drivers would not attend as they think there will be too much of a home advantage!
Not really a conclusion here, i guess the only solution is to keep trying to gain a few indoor dirt venues in the uk or ifmar bring in flexibility on the surface and the clubs applying to host a worlds judged on a case by case basis not ruled out just because its not on dirt.
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