Formula One Off-Season For Dummies

The 2017 Formula One season has come to a close (cue the tears) and everyone goes into hibernation. Just like last year, and the year before that and many, many years before that. Here, I have drawn up five ideas to help you get your motorsport fix throughout the off-season.

Idea #1: Formula E

With the majority of motorsport series on their annual winter break, there is one championship that has just got underway for its fourth season and this series is Formula E. You've never heard of it? Do you live under a rock? Formula E (or FE for short) is a class of motor racing that uses electric powered cars and has attracted a number of well known drivers throughout its very short life thus far. And, although it sounds like remote control cars racing around the circuit, the driver proficiency provides excellent and close racing. Definitely not one to miss.

Idea #2: Go Racing!

Bored one weekend? Go to a karting track. There are plenty of tracks up and down the country to have a play with. Also, getting together with the crew for a quick race or two provides excellent social stimulation and competitiveness.

Can't afford a trip to the track? No worries, have a race on your gaming console. And if you can, race online with people from across the globe who share your passion for speed.

Also, a quick tip, if you happen to be on holiday or in or near Weston-Super-Mare, UK for one reason or another; they have a perfectly, realistic Formula One simulator at the pier. Thank me later.

Idea #3: Volunteer

You may have read "volunteer" and have thought "WTF?!?" But seriously, have you ever thought of volunteering at a karting track? I have never done this myself but I know people who have and not only do you get the satisfaction of being around motorsport and petrol heads but you get the experience and life lessons to take with you on your next venture. Who knows, you may even get offered a job.

Idea #4: Autosport Show

At the beginning of every year there is the infamous Autosport International Show in Birmingham, UK. A show dedicated to a whole heap of motorsport series, live interviews with some of motorsports well known and a great day out/experience overall. I'm hoping to go, are you?

Idea #5: Re-watch races

Ok, so here we are, #5. The last idea is pretty simple. Why not re-watch races or seasons from long ago? As we known, FOM are tight when it comes to copyright but I'm sure there will be links to races somewhere.

Ok, so that was my top five ideas to keep you sane throughout the motorsport winter period!

Well, That's Not A Good Idea

If you've been active on twitter or read any motorsport news stories recently then you'll know that plans have emerged for a "six-race women-only championship" to potentially get going from 2019 with the champion guaranteed a test with a Formula One team. Personally, I do not like this idea and no, it's not because I, myself, am a woman. Right now motorsport is the biggest sport in which there is not a separate championship for women. But why should F1 follow in this trend?

Ex-owner of Formula One Bernie Ecclestone first spoke of this idea back in 2015 saying "a separate event for women racers would showcase their talents and ease the path to compete in Formula One." When I read this I translate it as "Women will not be able to showcase their talents in F1 and thus will need their own championship in order to do so." Maybe in this day and age there has yet to be a female racing driver with the abilities compete in F1. But, if we look back in history it has happened. In fact in 1980, South-African born driver Desire Wilson became the first woman to win a Formula One race of any kind by coming first at Brands Hatch in the British Aurora F1 Series and Italian driver Lella Lombardi has the most F1 starts (out of the females) and to date is the only woman to score a point in the Formula One World Championship. That was 40-odd years back and since then only a handful of ladies have taken part in the sport. And, when you look at the percentage of women participating in the sport compared to men, you'll see why it is male dominated.

In recent years, women have been making a comeback. But sadly, most of this has been for publicity, example being Carmen Jorda, a driver who would finish a race rarely higher than second to last. However, Sauber's signing of Tatiana Calderon catches my eye. Calderon has what it takes to race up there with the best. She recently scored a podium in Formula V8 3.5, a championship that was once popular with future Formula One drivers. Could Calderon be the first female F1 racer in 40 years? I hope so.

To round this up, women want to race men. Women want to beat men. We're getting to the point where there is a place for women in motorsport, especially Formula One. A women's championship would probably harm or undermine this. And, it's not just about the drivers. It could potentially harm the careers of female team principles, engineers, mechanics. The idea for a womens-only champion is not a good idea. Ever.