Knock Knock Joke....

... after weeks of relative calmness in Formatwatch, another ridicolous format came to light, at the Knockhill qualifier...

There were just under 30 cars, so if it was a domestic it would have been 2/3rds. As it was a world qualifier, that rule now applies also. As a result of poor turnouts at Arena and Crimond in previous years, the powers that be said that 2/3rds format could be used if there was insufficient cars.

Knockhill decided to dispense with tried and tested 2/3rds and went with an all in heat 1, top 8 to go through, an all in heat 2, minus the 8 who went through, and then the Consolation, where top 6 went through, at the third time of asking.

It was kind of like the B finals and repocharges that prevail in Olympic sports such as Judo and Rowing. 3rd time lucky!

Now whereas most people would take a maximum of 2 attempts to qualify, the Fife track gave people 3! Is this actually fair?

(watch from about 7:40 for an apt moment)

Now what should be addressed next season is that, in the interests of fairness, is that any track that fails to get  full format for a WCQR, should be "on report" and 2 seasons with low turnouts would mean there WCQR status is revoked. Higher turnouts are achieveable with better fixture planning. Last year the Scottish QR's were in a batch, and it encouraged many visitors. It was deemed a success, so why did they drop them for 2011? In 2009 attendance records were smashed at the Cornish venues becuase they did them back to back, with Taunton on the way home - the lowest figure was 70 cars! With more cooperation between promotions, a speed week of World Qualifiers could and should work.

More should be done by promotions to get a decent turnout for the Qualifiers by making sure that there potential travelling force that can bolster a semi decent turnout.

It's something that needs to be addressed over the closed season!