European roads = Great Drivers

[Apac102]

I was talking with Brembo on another topic and we were discussing how roads in the USA are different from the roads in Europe. In most motorsports, you see many Europeans dominating and not nearly enough americans. I think one of the main reasons of this domination is because of the setup of the roads. My family and I visited Ireland and you could clearly see that it is extremely more difficult to drive there then in the USA. And...come on, all we have are long straight boring highways. Tell me what you think?

[HeilSvenska]

I say the claims are rightfully justified.

US does have lots and lots of horrible drivers, not only the people who are good at driving yet break laws, but also the incompetent drivers

[chipanggo]

i don't really think it's because of the roads. the racing culture in europe is much different from the one in america. this is the reason why i feel that europeans or european-trained drivers tend to excel in motorsports more than americans.

[fabro_s]

U.s highways are really good for highspeeding, you can pull the pedal in a never ending US straight, but in europe you have this beautiful landscapes and really good curves...... 8)

[X-ale]

So that would emply that because brazilian roads have so many potholes and are such a mess, we are great at zig-zagging at high speeds.... makes sense but i doubt Senna drove in Brazil much..

[SPEEDKILLAR]

I was talking with Brembo on another topic and we were discussing how roads in the USA are different from the roads in Europe. In most motorsports, you see many Europeans dominating and not nearly enough americans. I think one of the main reasons of this domination is because of the setup of the roads. My family and I visited Ireland and you could clearly see that it is extremely more difficult to drive there then in the USA. And...come on, all we have are long straight boring highways. Tell me what you think?


I think your partially right, ppl that don't even know how to drive in Europe tend to get better as time passes.
And we drive more with manuals here, and ooh yes, those beautifel curves, hey just keep on coming and coming, untill your arms hurt :D

[nutsy]

yes you can learn how to drive in the big city of europe, if you can drive there you can drive everywhere. But yes in europe we prefer some good curve than a straight line. And to have your driving test it"s more difficult than in the us, in france 20 hours minimum.
And with manual gear it's real driving everything is in your hand, not like in an auomatic car.
So you are better for things like nascar and we are better for things like rally.

[amanthapar]

yeah qutie true i guess

[dropot2]

Well, perhaps you're right but I think the roads are not the direct cause of the exit. I believe the most important point is the promotional motor events in the country which helps youg people to improve their skills...For example, if we took a single country that more or less has the same type of roads among the country as Spain. Perhaps the roads are more or less the same but my region, Catalonia, has much more regional sport events and circuits to do them than any other part in the country. The resullt is that almost all the elit drivers are catalan or has grown up as a drivers in Catalonia, you see:
In F1:
-De la Rosa (catalan)
-Marc Gen?? (catalan)
-Fernando Alonso (started his career in Catalonia)
In the Cart:
-Oriol Servi?? (the driver of my signature) (catalan)
WRC:
-Dani Sol?? (a young driver, catalan)
-Carlos Sainz is sponsored since his begginings by a catalan sponsor)
In motorbikes:
-??lex Crivill?? (catalan)
-Carles Checa (catalan)
-Sete Gibernau (catalan)
-Rub??n Xaus (catalan)
-Dani Pedrosa (catalan)
-Toni Elias (catalan)
-Jorge Lorenzo (catalan)
...and others. I mean that obviously the roads affects to the rising of drivers (all we know how difficult is to win scandinavian drivers in snow), but I think it's not the main point to be in mind.
And USA also has had incredible drivers, at least in motorbikes. Nobody who loves the MotoGP championship will never forget "King"Kenny, Freddy Spencer, Eddie Lawson, Kevin Schwantz, Wayne Rainey...
(sorry for the lenght!) :wink:
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[ravenpaua]

Just a correction


-Jorge Lorenzo (catalan)


Jorge Lorenzo isn't catalan, is from the Balearic Islands, like me 8)

[TT]

Well, I live in a country were the Alps takes a pretty big portion of its geography :D enough said :D

[dropot2]

Just a correction


-Jorge Lorenzo (catalan)


Jorge Lorenzo isn't catalan, is from the Balearic Islands, like me 8)

Sorry, then he started his career in Catalonia
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Marriage Advice (http://www.love-help.org/marriage-advice/)

[graywolf624]

Its due to the racing culture.. Here they like nascar for some reason.. :roll:

I can show you plenty of roads here that are just as curvy as yours that I drive every day.

Street driving and track driving are two completely different animals.

[LotusGT1]

BS.

European drivers are no way better or worse than US citizens.

Check this link, this is a topic about Autobahnization of the US Interstate System on another forum I visit:
http://www.exoticcarforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5784

[KramRS2]

I think that it is totally non related to country roads. The real good drivers start their career far earlier than even have a license.

It is much more country couture. Europeans like twists tracks :twisted: , American only turn left. :roll:

And we try to win all :mrgreen:

[rebel88]

I would agree that it is not the set-up of the roads that determine a countries dominance in motorsports, but more of a culture. I think as WRC, F1, etc. become more popular here in the states you will see many American drivers competing with Europeans who grew up on twisty roads. Take for example basketball. As this sport has become more popular it has grown to encompass all nationalities and all compete at the smae level regardless of they condition of their court they grew up on.

[bobafett]

It is definetly a cultural thing. Of course, training begins at age 2 for the really great drivers (karting, etc.) - but that mentality comes mainly from people who thrive in a nurturing culture.

Living in the US, it's amazing how many people (racing fans,s upposedly) simply have no concept of what racing really is. Turning left and crashing into things does not count...

--Dan

[fabro_s]

But hey, what about Montoya, he is from Colombia and I can saw Colombia has real shitty highwas, even more than here in Mexico and he is a good F1 driver, what about Senna from Brazil...... :?

[coombsie66]

If you are meaning on average drivers have more car control in europe due to the nature of the roads commonly driven on, i think you are correct. Driving through normal and very common day to day A-roads and B roads in england is a lot more challenging than the majority of roads in america i have seen. You could say this is due to the poor road network in england, which is partially true, but i like it (as long as there aint traffic!).
I think roundabouts are a key to: 1. good car control, knowing when to pull out/filter is challenging at busy times, 2: knowing where the corners of your car are.
I detest great huge wide roads with rows and rows of stop lights. Yeah they are great to drag off of but its boring!
I like the duel carrigeway roundabout networks that can commonly be found in english towns/citys, they are challenging to drive fast and good fun to race on.

Kinda strayed off topic now so i shall stop! :oops:

[moan786]

well said coombsie, you guys are all correct. Americans and their beloved grid system practically cripples the need for corners.Any fool can floor it in a straight line but the true testament of a drivers abillity is how he deals with the twisties, theres a lot involved in accurately reading the road ahead in responce to cornering , judging your speed,positoning your vehicle and breaking in time and kissing an apex correctly (try driving in north wales EVO readers should be well aware as this is where they test 99% of their cars)
and over here in Europe Manual cars are the rule not the exception as is in the states.

Then theres the racing the biggest and most popular forms of motorsport stateside are nascar and indycar , yea they require great skill from the drivers but when all your doing is going round a banked circuit over n over again its hardly a preparing ground for highspeed cornering as experienced by dtm and F1 and rallying (which imo has to be the hardest form of motorsport) drivers.

A part of me does envy americanos as they have straights ( in some states) so long that they can max out any supercar in this world (given the conditions are correct and there is little or no volume on the roads) but the challenge presented by our roads is one to relish.

[graywolf624]

are great to drag off of but its boring!

Those are in the cities.. I wish I had a video camera.. Some of the roads I drive over to visit my dads would make you british and germans drool.

No car for miles.. 2 lanes.. no road damage.. curvy, hilly, woodsy.. Beautiful.

Drive in chester county if you ever have the chance..

[ahmedgiyab]

I think Germans and Italians are the best!!!

I think they drive with passion....like me.... :lol:

US ppl...... :?

[Apac102]

Oh well...just a theory. i can see both sides now but I still believe the roads still are a main reason. But yes of course you have acceptions like montoya.

[rachaderua]

the afirmation u sad has no sense..it´s not because the roads your driving skills will be, it´s because your type of practice and intensity of this...not because your street is uphill or downhill, or long or short..this is stupid :(

There´s not such enough good american drivers because they just race in oval, most of times, and, just turning left isn´t a good practice and even funny. Ok there are some road circuits as Laguna Seca, Waltkins Gleen, but they are in too few inside USA.

[Apac102]

Im not saying that americans are bad drivers, but what I am saying is that they aren't as good as European Drivers. From the races I have watched, when an american and a European drivers are racing each other....usually the european drivers win....We do have good american drivers out there, I agree but not as many as Europeans. And again...its just a theory. I think both the societies pressure and love for motorsports is higher in Europe then america...no doubt about it, but I also think that the roads systems also contribute to European drivers. And practice does help I agree, but it also helps when you drive on roads that are curvy then normal...its just that there roads woudl keep you on your toes more then americas roads do.

[rob_e1]

Just look how many Rally world champions come from scandanavian countries. Their dominance has GOT to be something to do with the conditions they have up there - the kids are all driving (off road) from a very early age, and every driver there needs to know how to handle driving on low grip/snow/icy surfaces cos they get a LOT of practice ... :shock:

[Ford Capri 2.8i]

I dont think that the roads of a country depends directly or mostly of its drivers result in rallying of formula 1....in rallying perhaps there is some influence, because the Sweeden rallye is done in when snowing, and the 1000 lakes rally is done through very fast curves and jumps......where for instance France or Spain doesnt have as many fast curves on gravel as Finland, or in Spain and France it doesnt snow as frequently as in Sweeden....and consequently a latin driver gets a bit more time to get used to the snow or quick bends than a Russian driver......
On the other hand....the success of a driver in formula 1 depends mostly in his ability in tracks, the ability of setting the car up, the ability of overtaking the car, the ability of his strategy on the race, regardless the roads of the driver is question are in good conditions or not....thats my point of view...farewell