Originally Posted by Radio Active

I'm personally glad to see the 12th Worlds back on Asphalt, not because I don't like Carpet, or because I think Asphalt is better, but because Asphalt is a surface that 12th is raced on. ROAR races 12th on Asphalt, so does FEMCA. I don't know about FAMAR. Ok, so EFRA doesn't, that's still at least 50% of the IFMAR blocs. As I posted in another thread, to me having the Worlds only ever on carpet would be like having Tennis at the Olympics only on Hardcourt. There are a variety of surfaces on which 12th is raced around the world. Given the Worlds are a one off race, the surface we compete on each time at the Worlds should vary in line with that – it should reflect the local racing scene of the host as well as the World racing scene.

Keeping the Worlds on a variety of surfaces is good for the health of 12th scale too, because it shows potential competitors and clubs that they have more options for running the class. More options for racing locations means more numbers. If 12th is seen as carpet only it hurts numbers particularly in countries with a dearth of carpet tracks. There are flow on effects to lower numbers worldwide including fewer "name" manufacturers, and fewer kits produced leading to higher prices. The same is true for 1S ESCs and anything else that is specialised 12th. Prices in general are pretty cheap right now I must say, but they could be even better if the class was more popular around the world. That's just the economics of manufacturing.

Lastly, 12th scale has a history of being raced on a variety of surfaces. Obviously, it's the oldest EP class there is. The construction rules have changed very little in 30 years. 12th is our link to the past. I think that makes it even more important that we retain as much of its heritage as possible in the way we race it now.

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If the tyres really are as much of a concern as some people make out then I don't think a control tyre is the answer. Tyre options are really fundamental to the way a 12th scale works, and the way we race it. I have no problem at all though with a rule that says tyres used by factory drivers must be commercially available in all blocs within a certain time frame leading up to the event, or something like that.