They run timed qualifying at Bayford and it works pretty well. I'd quite like a more relaxed meeting format. Practice, Timed Qualifying, Pre-Final, Final but with the races over a longer distance. Get rid of safety scrutineering and drivers briefings (accept for novices, first timers etc) too.
The mixed grid format does work and is enjoyable, but it rewards over-aggressive driving too highly. The slower drivers are passed very easily, the "quick enough" drivers get battered for a few laps until the over-aggressive front runners have come through or fallen off, the talented front runners always make it to the front and regularly score podiums.
As it stands, those that are "quick enough" come off worse all the time. I'm sure we all experienced the growing pains from being a novice to being within 0.5s-1.0s or so of the ultimate pace, being battered around for a season or two, being told you're being punted because you're too slow (rightly or wrongly it is true) and finally getting to the point where you can run with and beat the front runners.
The only downside to timed qualifying is for those drivers who may not have the ultimate pace but have the intelligence/experience/racecraft to come through the field quickly and score some good results.
Dave
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