2010 TTXGP to include cars?
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The TTXGP hasn't yet dropped the flag on its inaugural 2009 edition and already the organizers are scheming about how they can make next year's event even more exciting. It's occurred to them that one way to accomplish their goal is to tip over the two-wheel apple cart and include a couple events for cars. Their preliminary concept is to have two classes, one for single-seaters and another featuring saloons. Hopefully, more detailed specifications will be made available soon as one year is not really a lot of time to build a competitive car or two from scratch. We can easily imagine a long list of teams potentially interested in participating in such a profile-raising event, not to mention at least one driver.
Bringing in the 4-wheeled cages doesn't mean the organizers have forgotten about the bikes; there are plans afoot for changes there as well. Next year will see a new Pro2 class that will complete two laps of the 37-mile course with a battery hot-swap pit stop. Hey, perhaps Better Place might get involved in that one.
[Source: TTXGP]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
GoodCheer 11:28AM (6/08/2009)
I think this is a colossally good idea. A high-profile race for EVs would do a huge amount of good for publicity and technology development.
PS. I'm somewhat irked by the lack of information about the Auto X-Prize... schedules, events, etc. I know they have bigger goals, but they're just taking soooo long. I would think a non-scoring publicity race or two would serve them well.
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Stan Wellaway 12:00PM (6/08/2009)
The original mailings I had from TTxGP organizers when the event was first mooted, suggested the very first event this year would include four-wheelers and two-wheelers. Presumably at that time they didn't thing there would be enough electric bikes to run a bike-only race -- and modified those plans later when so many bike makers did appear.
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cWINFIELD 2:21PM (6/08/2009)
The cars are fine, but the thing I'm most interested in seeing is if mainstream motorcycle and car manufacturers will be motivated to participate in next years TTXGP. It seems pretty sad that big Japanese and European marques are not involved this year. Good on the little guys though!
www.EnvironMoto.com
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DaveD 12:44PM (6/08/2009)
There will come a day where there will be electric and/or hybrid-electric racing series. It will be interesting to see who is smart enough to get in front of it and own the rights.
Think of the advances that racing could bring to the auto industry as they try to find a way to increase from one 37 mile lap per charge to two laps, and then on to three. The things they could learn about battery swapping.
TTXGP is showing lots of foresight and this is wonderful news. But I'm betting my money on someone creatieve who is willing to try new technologies and change like the American LeMans Series. They have existing tracks, races and rules that allow for an easy way to add an EV or HEV Class and then grow it as it becomes more mainstrean and better performing.
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DasBoese 1:18PM (6/08/2009)
Who knows, it might evolve into a full-blown electric racing series a few years down the road.
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